End of therapy -do I bake cookies for her?

[journeymom]

Anyone have experience with ending long term therapy? How did you handle it? Is there protocol? Expectations? Did you hug your therapist? Give the therapist a gift?

I've been in therapy for two years now. My therapist is a psych med student, and she's graduating in a month. I've never made this much progress with a therapist, and she's done a wonderful job. I know I'm the one who did the hard work. But she put me at ease, she challenged my assumptions, she led me through logical thought processes. She's the one who consistently didn't allow me to beat myself up.

I have some affection for her, also. She was pregnant during part of the therapy. It was nice to see that she kept what I'm pretty sure was a breast pump/bottle cooler pack under her desk for a few months after she came back from maternity leave.

I really don't want to cry, though. It's going to be odd and uncomfortable and I'll probably make a lame joke and laugh just a bit too loudly.

Anyone been there??

[Amatullah0]

I think it sounds like a great idea. If you had a good relationship with her, and especially because you feel like you've made a lot of progress with her, you should do something to celebrate. Who cares if you make a lame joke? crying is ok. you're mourning the loss of a great therapist. laughing entirely too loudly is perfectly fine too

I've hugged my therapist before, and I gave my midwives presents because I really liked them, and I thought they were awesome(they took me on at 33 wks!). It would be completely appropriate to do anything that you mentioned above. Do what you feel comfortable with(which may be nothing at all). Its up to you, and I doubt your therapist would be expecting anything from you. (except maybe a hug, shes probably gonna miss you too)

[miami mommy]

I had to end therapy with my fantastic therapist because I moved away. She really meant a lot to me, she felt like a second mom, so I was really sad. I thought about giving her a present, but instead I gave her a huge thank you and I told her how much of a difference she made in my life. She really lit up when I told her that. for great therapists!!!