Posted by winsome on July 28, 2013, at 13:36:18
In reply to Re: second therapist for help with primary therapist » winsome, posted by Dinah on July 17, 2013, at 9:04:07
Dinah, Thank you for the very supportive advice. It helps so much to know you have been through a similar experience. I continue to see my therapist as his practice doesn't close for another 6 weeks. During the first session after his decision to close his practice, he was somewhat defensive. I had not seen this in him before. Then, he told me that the huge, new burden of insurance paperwork was causing him to be unhealthy. (little sleep, no time for exercise, etc.) He seemed sad and desperate. Wow, my anger toward him was joined by sincere compassion for him. It has allowed me to see him as human!
Before my last session, I felt like I was walking on egg shells in therapy with him. I am having grief feelings of abandonment, anger, fear, etc. but thought I should not mention them lest he decide not to continue seeing him. He was able to pull that out of me and said it had to be discussed for therapy to continue. I was amazed and reassured. I only confessed to me abandonment feelings (not the anger) but he mentioned he would expect me to have these abandonment issues but many other feelings, too. He seems to read my mind.
As I am the only patient with whom he is continuing therapy after the practice closes, I also feel guilty because I am so lucky. He told me that wasn't necessary and he was seeing me because of all the hard work I had done. He said to be happy! This is about the nicest thing to happen to me.
Thanks, again.
poster:winsome
thread:1047293
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20130309/msgs/1047938.html