The therapist-client relationship is an intimate one and yet we often end them abruptly or just drop off. Alana Massey learns approximately a different kind of breakupMy last therapist always told me that whether I was considering ending our sessions,we would need to talk approximately it for at least four sessions before deciding. But when I decided to walk away, I didn’t give him any warning. After what I felt was an unprofessional response to a traumatic life event, or I canceled my standing appointment through the reception desk and never went back. But I never look back and regret the way I unceremoniously cut ties with my therapist through a proxy,and I certainly don’t regret that I didn’t give it four to six sessions worth of thought. And when it comes to disregarding the feelings of my therapist in the termination phase, I am hardly alone.
The language people utilize around discontinuing therapy is telling. Some call it “breaking up”, and others refer to having “ghosted” – a term most often used to represent the phenomenon of a romantic interest dropping off the radar without notice. This is not the same language we utilize for our yoga teachers or our gastroenterologists – it is the language we reserve for our more intimate relationships. And yet,when it comes to ending this special relationship, we don’t treat it with the same thoughtfulness or care that we would to a romantic interest or friend. We often leave them without notice, and suddenly quit scheduling appointments without explanation. But why?Continue reading...
Source: theguardian.com