My therapist quit on me
I haven't really talked about it much, but a little over a year ago, I earned a degree in counseling with the goal of shifting to school counseling - a move that has not happened due to education positions in Texas being heavily cut across the board. Since I am not sure I'll be able to get into school counseling at all in the near future, I've been instead preparing to take my test to pursue licensure for private practice. Not to replace my career in education, but to supplement it.
All this is to say that, while I know what is taught about ethical and professional behavior for counselors, I haven't had practical experience yet.
This is relevant because I've returned to seeing a counselor myself for the past few months. I went to tackle my worsening anxiety, but also with my mindset. I have been receiving therapy on and off for about ten years (a previous therapist convinced me to go to Big Bend, for example), as I occasionally need help re-establishing control over my anxiety.
However, at the end of July, my current therapist left the office he worked for. His office didn't reach out to me about it until two days before my next appointment. When I tried to work with the office to find a new provider, I was ghosted.
I know life happens sometimes, and that there is often a gap between what is learned in university, and what can actually be done in real life. After all, my teaching certification program had some huge gaps in expectations and reality.
However, professionally and ethically, a counselor is supposed to help their client with a reference before terminating the relationship. The bitter work of therapy occurs because of the unique therapeutic relationship between the client and the counselor. Thus, continuity of care is considered vital to ensuring a client does not quit therapy when life occurs for their therapist.
I was able to experience how important continuity of care is first hand.
My initial thought was that I had said something to cause my counselor to drop me or quit - like after our last session session when we talked about our favorite places to hike for a few minutes. Had I crossed a professional barrier and made him feel uncomfortable?
I managed to talk myself down from where my brain had gone - but it's a similar thought process that I've used to destroy many budding relationships. I will worry I am being too friendly or casual, and will withdraw because who ever I am talking to might dislike what they find.
I did find a new professional - I have my initial session with them next week. But this small logistical and likely innocent error almost sent me spiraling. If I had been new to therapy, it might've caused me to stop altogether. Fortunately, I already had some tools in my tool box to put out the fire when it was still in the pan, and before it spread to the rest of the kitchen.
While the ideal of an outgoing therapist arranging for continuity of care may not always be feasible, it feels like this is an expectation that should generally not have a gap with reality.
Just a thought.