Termination

  • the counseling relationship is time limited; at some point, it will end

  • termination - process through which a client ends or stops receiving services from a particular counselor or agency

    • may be final open

  • referral - process of recommending that a client seek services from another counselor or agency

    • must be related to availability/appropriateness of services or competence level

    • ACA code of ethics prohibits referral based on personal beliefs/values or because we do not “like” a client


When to Terminate

  • when ending is natural, clients

    • consistently report feeling better and able to respond to difficult situations in new ways

    • consistently respond to the counselor in new ways

    • significant others provide feedback about how they are different/have changed

  • unnatural/imposed endings

    • graduate student placement ends

    • counselor client moves on for other personal reasons

    • client decides to end prematurely (before goal attainment) or can not longer tolerate treatment

    • counselor feels treatment is no longer helpful or ineffective (unethical to continue to charge)

  • abandonment and neglect

    • leaving clients without services and assistance

    • counselors assist in making appropriate arrangements for the continuation of treatment, when necessary, during interruptions such as vacations, illness, and following termination

    • emergency plans for unexpected absences

    • appropriate referrals

    • counselors cannot be accused of abandonment if the client ends the relationship

What we (counselors & clients) may feel at termination

Client

  • pride

  • satisfaction

  • anger

  • blame

  • abandonment

  • disappointment

  • sadness

  • loss

Counselor

  • pride

  • satisfaction

  • anger

  • guilt

  • inadequacy

  • disappointment

  • sadness

  • loss

Goals for Termination

  • accept the relationship must end

  • process client’s feelings about ending

  • remain affirming and non-defensive

  • review and evaluate the work thus far

  • acknowledge work still to be done

  • reinforce changes the client has made and would still like to make

  • reinforce planned self-care and coping strategies

  • agree upon a plan for future counseling/treatment

  • say goodbye

Toward a Positive Ending

  • talk about ending in advance

    • build up to it gradually - at least 4-6 weeks in advance

    • consider whether client will show up for last session, and respect this limit

  • invite & accept the client’s feelings of anger, disappointment, sadness without defensiveness

  • talk about the meaning of termination in the context of past endings in their lives

  • discuss the meaning of the relationship

  • say goodbye

Closing Questions & Comments

  • what have goodbyes been like for you in the past?

  • what progress have you noticed in yourself since you first came into counseling?

  • what steps are you taking to maintain that progress?

    • how will the client handle specific difficult situations?

  • how have your relationships with others in your life changed?

  • how are you feeling about our relationship as our time together comes to a close?

  • counselor’s parting with client

    • what have you learned from the client?

    • how was the client influenced you?

    • what do you like most/what will you miss about client?

    • how will you remember the client?


Closing for Counseling Techniques