[ECHOES]

My long time therapist of 17 years has moved away. It was abrupt, but that was a possibility for the last few years. She went to part time, with the understanding that if her husband needed her at home, she would stop. I moved away and we did phone sessions for a year. When I moved back she no longer had an office and she was seeing a limited number of clients in her home, if I was interested in doing that. I was and we did that for 2 and a half years. It was very special to me to have that opportunity. Several times she told me that they might need to move to Assisted Living, and reminded it might be abrupt. And she added that it would not be abandonment. I knew they had toured some facilities. I knew my time with her was now limited. Although I denied it really, because I enjoyed seeing her so much. I love her SO much. She has been there for me consistently, kindly, and so caring, although it took me years to see all that. I always texted her to 'confirm' (remind her) that my appointment was the next day and if that was not ok to let me know. Last week she replied Yes it was ok. And she wanted to give me a heads up that they were having to move to another state, and apologized for the suddenness. So the next day was my last session. I wasn't prepared for it to be my last session. I was crushed. I will be calling her in a few weeks for a phone session and to sort out what she wrote in that text 'keeping in touch' and 'what to do about therapy. I hope we can keep in touch/do therapy. I don't know what's going to happen though. She's gone off to live out the days of her life, do something new, and she is looking forward to making new friends. I am left behind, feeling alone and lost. I don't know what to do without her in my life. She walked me out to my car in her driveway as usual, and said to me when I was in the car, "You're an important person in my life". Her last words to me. How wonderful it was that to hear that. How do I stop crying all the time; we haven't even had that call yet?haven't even had that call yet?

[Therapy reviewed]

Hi Echos.. This is similar to my therapy ending.. That was 5yrs ago... I still miss, it/her. I write a yearly email... I'm thankful that I was fortunate to find her.. Some days I think what was the point of it all? But then I remember how I was before I met her then it all makes sense again. Treasure your walk to the car... Alas my ending was more sudden..

[ECHOES]

Originally Posted by Therapy reviewed

Hi Echos.. This is similar to my therapy ending.. That was 5yrs ago... I still miss, it/her. I write a yearly email... I'm thankful that I was fortunate to find her.. Some days I think what was the point of it all? But then I remember how I was before I met her then it all makes sense again. Treasure your walk to the car... Alas my ending was more sudden..

Thank you so much for your kind reply. I'm sorry your therapy ended very abruptly. I'm still heartbroken, but I'm also grateful for the time I had with her and happy for her that she is doing what she wants and needs. I will treasure her parting words.

[ScarletPimpernel]

Echoes,
I’m so sorry you’re going through this. I can relate to the sudden goodbyes. They hurt. And for me, it was confusing.

I hope the phone call goes well. Is there any way you can keep in touch? Like I write T monthly. And a different therapist when I was 19 allowed me to write monthly too. It’s not the same, but it’s a way to maintain a connection. I’m sort of doing it weekly. I keep track of anything important and send it to her Sunday nights.

I’m just wondering if there’s a way you can still have contact so it’s more a gentle goodbye.

Sorry if I'm butting into this, but I was very moved by this description of your therapist-relationship coming to such a bittersweet but very graceful close, despite it being sudden. It sounds like there was a lot of communication about the stages of transition, and I wonder how it felt anticipating those changes. I'm sorry you're having to part ways after such a long time. The fact that your therapist said those words to you must be very comforting but also very sad, saying goodbye. I know that it might be very hard to think about right now, but do you plan to find a new therapist at some point? I know I can't really know what it was like, but the way you tell the story, it sounds like there was a real sense of gratitude.

[Fuzzybear]