Hi, all therapists, therapists-in-the-making, and therapy enthusiasts!
I would love your perspectives on knowing when it's time to leave a therapist.
For context: I had previously worked with a wonderful therapist for about 3 years. During that time, she helped me make significant strides in my life, and I can honestly say I've never been healthier. I'm deeply grateful to her. About a year ago, I needed to take a break from therapy for financial reasons and to focus on some other priorities (all the tasks associated with a cross-country move and settling into a new community).
Now I've come back to the therapist to address some trauma material we hadn't previously worked with, and I am almost shocked at the disconnect. In retrospect, I found that I was reverting to an outdated version of myself, and it did not feel good. The best way I can describe it is that, while I wasn't in therapy, I was continuing to do the work in my own way, and now I feel like I've leaped ahead from where my therapist would like to pick up the work. I fully intend to have a conversation with my therapist about this, but our next session isn't until mid-May, so in the meantime, I've started to wonder about whether my work with her might be done.
I've never had to even consider terminating therapy in this way, so my questions are:
– What are some signs that a client and a therapist have completed the work they can accomplish together?
– As a therapist, can you tell when a client has outgrown you? What is your side of that experience?
– Are you able to discern if a client reverts to an outdated version of themselves with you?