What happens when a therapist terminates a client?

Therapy termination can make both the therapist and client feel insecure. Therapists may wonder if they did enough to serve the client and may feel defensive if the client is unsatisfied. Clients may worry that termination is their fault or may fear leaving therapy means they will no longer have support.

How do you deal with a client who doesn’t like their therapist?

1 Explain to the client that your job is to ensure they get excellent care and that you do not feel you can meet their needs. 2 Give the client space to process their feelings. Some clients will feel rejected, particularly if they felt therapy was going well. 3 Offer a referral to a therapist who might be a better fit.

When is it appropriate to terminate a therapy session?

When terminating with a client who has difficulty processing rejection. When terminating with a client because of a poor fit. Therapy should ideally have clear and specific goals. When a client achieves their goals, it may be appropriate to transition them to a new therapist or to terminate therapy altogether.

What happens at the end of therapy?

The end of therapy can be a positive experience with a long-lasting impact on both the client and therapist. When successful, termination is an opportunity for closure. Together, the client and therapist take a step back and look at the personal growth that has slowly unfolded over the course of treatment—growth that may have gone unnoticed

How do I tell my therapist I want to end therapy?

Instead, the client should tell their therapist that they are thinking of ending therapy and why. Together, therapist and client should review progress and determine if terminating would be in the client’s best interest.

Why do people quit therapy so unexpectedly?

“This must be added to the list of reasons why people quit therapy abruptly: because the therapist is an incompetent moron.” Holy smokes.

How do you end a therapy session with a client?

When therapeutic goals are nearing completion, discuss the client’s readiness to terminate and their feelings–whether positive, negative, or ambivalent–related to ending therapy. The client maintains a significant reduction in symptoms or issues related to their presenting problem.

What do you do when a client wants to leave therapy?

Discuss the therapeutic process—both what went well in therapy and what could have been better. Discuss any feelings of grief or anxiety about ending the treatment relationship. Talk about personal growth as an ongoing process and give the client guidelines for when it might be appropriate to return to therapy.