therapist behaving badly?? URGENT help plz!

[noonar]

Hi, i've been seeing a pschotherapist for 10 mnths, and, have plucked up the courage to tell her that tonight is my last session. trouble is, i know that she's going to try to talk me out of leaving.

have been going for depression, but mainly anxiety. tried to leave back in jan, but she told me in no uncertain terms that i wasnt ready. when i gave notice over the phone last week, she did the same. and implied that unresolved issues wont go away and could come back with avengence if i dont carry on going.

have made it clear that i dont think i'm 'cured!', but need a break and cant afford to carry on atm. i feel she's being a bit manipulative, trying to press my anxiety button. 'what if you leave and get worse..?!'(she didnt actually say that)

i know she has to give prof opinions if she thinks it'm not ready, but she seems really annoyed with me for leaving. am dreading tonight as i know what she's gonna say. help!

I'm currently training to be a therapist and we've been taught (and lots of research backs this up) that any counselling or therapy-based relationship should be time-limited.

This is so that people don't become dependent on their counsellor/therapist.

I know that in some circs this isn't the best thing, but like i say, that's what I've been taught.

Hi noonar

I have worked as a psychotherapist - there are many different approaches, some time-limited and some not. Some people stay in psychoanalysis for decades !?! My preferred therapy is called CAT (Cognitive Analytic Therapy.) It is time limited either 12,18 or 24 sessions. This is agreed after an assessment period of 4 sessions. IMO it is much better. You focus on the problems in hand and it has a beginning, middle and end. You know how much you will pay from the start and how many sessions you have left. If you are interested in this type of therapy for the future there is a good website that can tell you more and put you in contact with trained therapists it is www.acat.org.uk