My question
is about termination. I began seeing a psychotherapist eight years ago for
sexual abuse issues & marital difficulties. After two years she took
a two year sabbatical. During that two years I periodically & briefly
saw several other counselors to help me cope with a mentally ill daughter.
When I ran into my counselor four years ago I resumed seeing her four-six
times a year. During the last four years I have considered her more a counselor
than a therapist for me, although it was therapeutic. I’ve felt for
the last year and a half that I should be working toward termination but
didn’t discuss it with her until four months ago. Although she encouraged
me to expand my network of friends & helpful resources I never felt like
she was pushing me to leave. We share similar religious values and views
and she’s been a valuable resource, spiritually. . . .
Anyway, I finally talked to her about terminating four months ago & thought
I probably wouldn’t see her again. But last week I wanted her input
on an issue with a family member, so I called her. Is it necessary to terminate
a relationship that provides valuable help for me?
Not at all.
Back in
the 1960s, the psychologist Nick Cummings predicted the
managed-care model
of treatment—a model than now rules main-stream psychotherapy—before
anyone even knew what managed care was. Cummings himself invented a model
of psychological care known as “focused intermittent psychotherapy
throughout the life-cycle.” This model stated that throughout a
person’s life there can be times when psychological help may be needed:
leaving home and family for the first time; getting a job or changing jobs;
getting married; having children; mourning deaths; retiring; and so on.
“Why,” Cummings argued, “shouldn’t one psychotherapist
follow one person throughout all these events?” And the answer, of course,
is “Why not?” That’s how physicians practice. And it makes
just as much sense for psychotherapists.
No
advertising—no sponsor—just the simple truth . . .
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
THIS WEBSITE
PROVIDES a vast amount of
freewill information
about the practice of Clinical Psychology. On the
Introduction page,
you can discover the website’s purpose and philosophy.
And, if my work has been informative
and helpful, please send a freewill
donation, even
if it’s only a few dollars, to help offset my costs in making this website
available to everyone without advertising.
“Ingratitude
is like indigestion in the soul.” (Anonymous)
Raymond Lloyd Richmond,
Ph.D.
San Francisco
Credentials
Contact
Me
 his is a
FREEWILL WEBSITE with NO
ADVERTISING. If you find this page to be informative and helpful,
please send a freewill donation, even if it’s only a few dollars, to
help offset my costs in making this website available, without charge or
advertising, to you and to all.
|
|
|
|
|
Huh?
Freewill website?