Termination in the helping professions is often viewed as the last and final stage of therapy. This stage occurs when the client and/or therapist sees fit to discontinue therapy sessions. There are both healthy and unhealthy ways and reasons for the termination of therapy, and it is important for both the client and therapist to approach the subject in a reasonable and responsible way. There are instances in which the therapist is the one to end therapy, but often times it is the clients that wish to terminate. The factors that lead up to this decision can range from logical, to spur of the moment. It is important for the therapist to work with, and bond with the client enough to asses their needs and determine if they are ready to terminate
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In most cases, therapists terminate when they feel that the client is well enough and will not be harmed if therapy sessions were to end. (Behnke, 2014). Because therapists have such a large responsibility when it comes to treating clients and ending therapy, it is very important for them to both understand and closely follow ethical principles and standards (Gelso & Woodhouse, 2002). It is essential for a therapist to have a good connection with their clients and be attuned to how they are responding to treatment, as well as being cohesive enough to discuss matters of termination collectively and in a manor that is not abrupt. In many instances the way termination is approached directly affects how he client thrives after the sessions have ended. Generally clients who have positive experiences of termination reported that the therapists took the time to openly discuss termination, as well as how they will cope once therapy has ended. Most of the clients that do have positive experiences reported that they ended therapy for logical or financial reasons and that those reasons were discussed fully with the therapist before the last session. On the other hand, clients who had negative experiences with termination admitted that the therapy ended in an abrupt way, and that the therapists did not fully discuss the …show more content…
Student population, low-income individuals, and certain ethnic groups have an increased rate of pre-mature termination. In several universities, the psychology departments and health centers put a certain limit on how many sessions a semester students are allowed to receive (Hatchett, 2004). Due to the fact that many college age students can not afford therapy without the help of the schools psychology department, they are not likely to continue therapy once their free allotted sessions are used up. Although they might not have reached their goal, and do not feel better, they terminate early simply because they cannot afford to continue treatment. A client’s ethnicity and cultural background might also play a role in how termination might take place. Hispanic, Middle Eastern, and Asian cultures have a certain stigma about mental health and therapy. These cultural influences often play a role in the productivity of clients in session and may lead to premature termination of therapy. Individuals from low social economical class are prone to early termination due to financial reasons, but also because they are mostly looking for a quick fix. These individuals underestimate the amount of time it takes for sessions to yield results and because of this they grow impatient and decide to terminate
In most cases, therapists terminate when they feel that the client is well enough and will not be harmed if therapy sessions were to end. (Behnke, 2014). Because therapists have such a large responsibility when it comes to treating clients and ending therapy, it is very important for them to both understand and closely follow ethical principles and standards (Gelso & Woodhouse, 2002). It is essential for a therapist to have a good connection with their clients and be attuned to how they are responding to treatment, as well as being cohesive enough to discuss matters of termination collectively and in a manor that is not abrupt. In many instances the way termination is approached directly affects how he client thrives after the sessions have ended. Generally clients who have positive experiences of termination reported that the therapists took the time to openly discuss termination, as well as how they will cope once therapy has ended. Most of the clients that do have positive experiences reported that they ended therapy for logical or financial reasons and that those reasons were discussed fully with the therapist before the last session. On the other hand, clients who had negative experiences with termination admitted that the therapy ended in an abrupt way, and that the therapists did not fully discuss the …show more content…
Student population, low-income individuals, and certain ethnic groups have an increased rate of pre-mature termination. In several universities, the psychology departments and health centers put a certain limit on how many sessions a semester students are allowed to receive (Hatchett, 2004). Due to the fact that many college age students can not afford therapy without the help of the schools psychology department, they are not likely to continue therapy once their free allotted sessions are used up. Although they might not have reached their goal, and do not feel better, they terminate early simply because they cannot afford to continue treatment. A client’s ethnicity and cultural background might also play a role in how termination might take place. Hispanic, Middle Eastern, and Asian cultures have a certain stigma about mental health and therapy. These cultural influences often play a role in the productivity of clients in session and may lead to premature termination of therapy. Individuals from low social economical class are prone to early termination due to financial reasons, but also because they are mostly looking for a quick fix. These individuals underestimate the amount of time it takes for sessions to yield results and because of this they grow impatient and decide to terminate