And they definitely leave, because psychotherapy (even long-term) is not forever. Our task is to help a person learn to live in a new way and let him go with this skill. Everyone leaves, but they leave in very different ways. Some at the very beginning of the process, without even having time to start work. Such clients, it seems to me, are those who want changes, but do not want to change. After a couple of meetings, it becomes clear that there is no magic button here, that you will have to go to therapy, spend your time and money on it, work with your soul. Well, the person understands that this option is not for him. There are those who are broken by resistance. When the first stage of establishing trusting contact has been completed, we begin to approach important and sometimes painful topics. And this is difficult, and the person makes a choice in favor of leaving everything as it is. Some leave therapy for reasons beyond their control. The birth of children, moving... And there are those who leave. They leave having done a great deal of work, having walked the Path together with the therapist, meeting and over and over again coping with resistance, addressing hidden needs, meeting painful feelings, step by step noticing changes in themselves. They leave, uttering sincere words of gratitude. And such care is a holiday, it is the best gift. Hearing that the work done has changed your life, that now you are completely different from yourself before the start of therapy. It's great to hear that. The heart is filled with joy and respect. I remember Bugental, who said that psychotherapy is perhaps one of the most important events in your life. Good therapists for us. And good clients!