This time, I think I’m a little more prepared and ready to switch to every two weeks. I’ve been thinking about it for a month. My relationship with H is better, so I can rely on some support from him and hopefully I’ve learned a few coping skills as well. . .
My life and thoughts have felt so dominated by the absorbing work of therapy the last two years and I am wanting to scale back and refocus. I have some mixed feelings about “leaving” T, even though this is hardly leaving. But seeing her only twice a month is bound to have a distancing effect. Therapy will be more like maintenance and support; we won’t be working together as intensely. In some ways, that is what I’m aiming for because while we’ve done good work together and she cares about me, I believe I or my issues trigger her some, and that’s occasionally been difficult.
I wonder if I really *am* ready, but for these and other reasons (convenience, finances, interest in other things), I feel impelled to try again. I miss her already! Tomorrow will be my last session before switching to the new schedule. *If* all goes well, I will keep it up for the next few months and try reducing to once a month by the New Year. Leaving permanently is something I may never do. I told T I might just see her once a month forever and she said that would be perfectly fine.
She doesn’t plan on ever retiring (she told me one of her mentors in the field was still practicing in her 80s and she’d like to do the same) and said she has no intentions of moving either, because all her friends and family are here. I suppose she might get sick or die someday but I don’t have to worry about that now. I may end up relying on the forum a bit more as I adjust to things. So consider yourselves warned.
At any rate, I will update and let you know how things go. Encouraging words, support, or hellos are equally welcome.
