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Therapy Termination Guide

The document outlines a termination checklist for therapists with 17 principles and strategies for ending therapy. The checklist includes preparing clients for termination, processing feelings of both the client and therapist about ending, reflecting on client gains, discussing future functioning and coping, and helping clients apply new skills beyond therapy. The goal is to emphasize positive progress and acknowledge satisfaction with the therapeutic relationship while also normalizing that challenges are part of life and growth continues beyond therapy.

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Juan C. Vargas
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450 views1 page

Therapy Termination Guide

The document outlines a termination checklist for therapists with 17 principles and strategies for ending therapy. The checklist includes preparing clients for termination, processing feelings of both the client and therapist about ending, reflecting on client gains, discussing future functioning and coping, and helping clients apply new skills beyond therapy. The goal is to emphasize positive progress and acknowledge satisfaction with the therapeutic relationship while also normalizing that challenges are part of life and growth continues beyond therapy.

Uploaded by

Juan C. Vargas
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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The Termination Checklist

Principle Strategy Completed/Plan?


Prepare Explicitly Discuss what went well in therapy, consider what the
for Termination ending will be like, and remind patients when the
therapy will conclude.

Process Feelings of Exploring the client’s feelings about the treatment


Client and relationship, including the sense of loss about ending the
Therapist sessions as well as both positive and negative reactions
to the therapy and the relationship.

Reflect on Client Emphasize positive gains made, assess improvements,


Gains help the client understand the changes, and saying
goodbye.
Express Pride in Attribute gains to client’s effort, taking pride in the new
Client’s Progress skills achieved, acknowledging satisfaction in working
and Mutual together, and expressing some of the therapist’s feelings
Relationship
about ending the therapeutic relationship.

Discuss Client’s Process risks for relapse, thinking about the future, and
Future opening the door to possible return to therapy if needed.
Functioning and Discuss the client’s development in therapy of new
Coping skills, capacities and tools for dealing with future
stressors.
Help Client to Use Discuss plans for continuing to practice in the “real
New Skills Beyond world” new behaviors and understandings acquired in
Therapy therapy. Emphasize that the client will continue to learn
to master new problems as they apply what they learned.

Frame Personal Normalizing the idea that problems are a natural part of
Development as life and the expectation that more will be learned by the
Unfinished patient up ahead. It may also result in discussing
resources that may be helpful with unresolved future
problems
Anticipate Post- Point out that the treatment achievements are likely to
Therapy Growth carryover to symptom reduction and better functioning in
and Generalization other areas of life

Source: Norcross, J., Zimmerman, B., Greenberg, R., & Swift, J. (2017). Do all therapists do that when
saying goodbye? Psychotherapy, 54, 66-75.

P.O. Box 180147 Tel: (773) 404-5130


Chicago, IL 60618 Fax: (847) 841-4874

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