Ending Therapy

I ended therapy a few weeks ago. It was my first experience with therapy and I had gone every Friday for 7 months straight. We had to end due to my sessions being up. I go to therapy at my school’s counseling and psychological services and students are only allowed a certain number of sessions with a counselor.

When I ended therapy, it was so hard. Both my therapist and I cried. It was very emotional for the both of us, but I felt so grateful that day. I’m eternally appreciative of this experience. I was ok the first week or so. I felt myself and I was still feeling good, but now it’s starting to hit me where I’m like: Oh, shoot. I’m on my own now. I don’t have someone to constantly talk about my problems and give me reassurance about my life.

I don’t have a supportive family. They never even knew I was going to therapy once a week and even if they did know, I know they wouldn’t be supportive of therapy. They don’t know that I suffer from anxiety. I don’t know why it’s suddenly become a problem for me that I’m no longer going to therapy. It’s been such a change for me and I don’t know why it’s been so hard. I didn’t wanna admit that it’s been bothering me, but tonight I finally accepted it and broke down into tears.

I guess what I’m asking for is advice on how to keep those tools and everything gathered from therapy into your daily life. How can someone let all their feelings out and talk about their problems without having to go back to therapy? I’m having a hard time adjusting and I just need some words of wisdom.

It's hard to terminate therapy under the best of circumstances. You need to decide if you have a support system in place. If not, you may need to employ a therapist to help you learn to apply your skills in your life. Sounds to me that your therapy ended too soon and that is unfortunate.

Can you try to give yourself reassurance about your own life? Ideally, that would be something you could learn to do, although I do understand anxiety can feel very overwhelming.

Are there any groups that you might be able to join at your campus counseling center that deal with anxiety? I think mine has a group. You might be allowed to take part in that even though you already did individual therapy with them.

Did your therapist give you any guidance at all on how you could cope moving forward? Did you work on any coping skills?

It was a long relationship. It is understandable how losing her support would be so hard.

Can you join social groups, activities or clubs? Also, reach out / get together with friends or try to make new friends. Isolation will only make it harder.

If at all possible, it may be worth considering seeing another counsellor or going private.