Therapist Is Leaving

[Cammy]

Shadows: I am so sorry that this is happening to you. Of all people, your therapist should know how sensitive we are to change, trust, and issues of abandonment. I can't imagine what situation would have created this sudden need for her to leave, unless something profoundly unforeseen happened in her life. I would hate for you to find out that she simply got offered a really good position, and just packed up and left. So much for trust and loyalty. If it were me, I would definitely be sending her a letter, and telling her that at the very LEAST could she please give you a referral to someone comparable so that at least someone gets your file and a verbal consult from the one T to the other. Even if you don't stay with the new T, at least there is SOME continuity in your case file.

I have lost four major health and mental health care professionals over the past year and it has just been too much. My main tower of strength and support was so suicidally depressed and PTSD'd that he couldn't continue being a doctor any longer. Then my psychiatrist retired, earlier than he said he was - I'll never be able to replace him at all. I also lost my dentist that I've had for decades, and since then no one has been able to freeze my mouth, so my teeth are messed up bad right now. My old dentist knew about the DID and somehow he managed to get it to freeze. Then I lost my second doctor and I was fit to be tied. When doctor MD #1 left he had the decency to send out letters and a referral to a replacement.

Your situation makes me feel like there is a possible case for abandonment here. I would consider reporting the incident to whatever professional college she is registered with. It is NOT cool to do what she is doing, and I don't think that it is considered ethical by college standards. I am fairly well aware of the criteria for patient abandonment for MEDICAL patients, but I don't know a thing about mental health patients. However, on the surface, it seems to me that she might possibly be guilty of patient abandonment, especially if she's leaving without warning and without a referral. You may be entitled to some kind of compensation or relief of some sort. This would involve going to the website for her professional body (registrar/college) and looking at their regulations. This will give you a good idea of where you stand legally. I know you are likely extremely upset right now, but if possible, do not let her get away with this if she's violated her college's code of conduct.

Again, Shadows, I am SO sorry about this. I really do know how horrible it feels to be discarded in this manner - and that's exactly what it felt like when it happened to me, I felt 'discarded' like a piece of garbage. Honestly, someone in her profession should know better. At the very least, whether it is required code of conduct or not, she could have told you or written you, and then provided a list of alternative therapists who are accepting patients. This whole thing feels so incredibly unprofessional, which makes me wonder if she didn't have some kind of big personal emergency in her private life. Still, that doesn't make it right. Please keep us posted and let us know how you are doing. Perhaps something is forthcoming that explains things and sets them a bit more right.

Big psychic hugs. Cammy.