Finding a good therapist can be a difficult task. You need someone who you feel comfortable and safe with, who can understand you and can guide you in the right direction in a way that works best for you. When you find that perfect fit for you, the relief is indescribable and can really throw you when they leave. In this post, I am going to offer some tips to help you move forward in your therapy journey when your therapist leaves.
Disclaimer – Please remember therapy is completely personal and I am not a trained therapist. These tips are just ways that have helped me when this has happened to me.
Initially the first feelings I have felt is pain, abandonment and sadness. All feelings I am very used to. It feels like a loss. Realising you have to start again with someone new can be a daunting task. Remember it needs to be right for YOU. Once you are ready to start with someone new, they need to be the right fit. In my experience, therapists don’t get offended if you decide they aren’t the right fit for you because their job is to help people make strides in their mental health. They only want what is best for their patients and if that is another therapist then so be it.
Try something different if you can’t find someone local
If traveling is an issue and you can’t find anyone local to you that is a good fit, there are other therapy platforms you can use. I can recommend Better Help. This is an online platform that gives you 24 hour access to message your therapist, once a week video meetings and access to group therapy classes. It is affordable and accessible from anywhere. Definitely worth looking into if you can’t find someone local.
Ask for guidance
I have found that getting guidance from my current therapist to help with the transition from them to a new person is extremely helpful. Asking for recommendations, what to expect and support through the process before they leave is imperative.
It’s ok to be upset
It is a very tough thing when your therapist leaves and you can even feel a sense of abandonment. That is perfectly natural. My therapist has taught me in the past to acknowledge those feelings. Once you have done that ask yourself, am I really being abandoned or are they moving forward in their lives and doing what is right for them? This one has been hard for me. Sometimes we have to accept that therapists are as much people as we are and they need to do what is best for them as well.
Take the time you need
Take the time you need to process and come to terms with this situation. In my experience, ignoring it is due to happen, doesn’t stop it from happening and to be honest I have felt worse when I have ignored someone leaving until they actually go and then I can’t cope with it. Don’t just pretend it’s not happening because it hurts. It is happening and who better to help you with the transition than the therapist that you’ve been working with.
Hope you have enjoyed…
Until next time…
This was some really interesting and useful information for those who have a therapist that leaves/moves on; it does sound like there would be a period of adjustment so this info will really help those in the middle of it. Thanks for sharing!
I’m glad you enjoyed it. It’s a subject I have felt strongly about