Termination may be the best answer, but only if you end the relationship properly. This is a great way to provide visual representation of how each person in a group has an effect on everyone else in the group. Initiate discussion of how you view your progress in achieving . Depending on the clients interests, the case can take on a variety of forms (e.g., a purse, an athletic shoebox, a favorite cereal box). For the purpose of this module, it is assumed that follow-up is not an option for counselors-in-training who are participating in temporary counseling placements. Considering cost, flexibility, and other factors when deciding between telehealth and in-person therapy. On the other hand, it is normal to feel a sense of impotence, or the feeling that the relationship was not at all helpful to the client and that the client will be helped more effectively by a different therapist. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Stay in the loop! If you feel that way. Client follow-up should be conducted by a HUD certified housing counselor. If a client who came to therapy with anger issues, for instance, feels that hes identified triggers and developed effective strategies for coping with them, he will likely feel therapy has reached its goal. When the time comes to end the therapeutic relationship, it is natural for there to be feelings of grief and loss and even an adjustment period. Termination refers to ending the therapeutic relationship with a client. Doing so does not allow for the proper amount of time for counselor and client to process what termination means, how the client will handle the conclusion of the counseling relationship, and what follow-up contact or transitioning needs to happen for the client. This will be the most common type of termination that you will face as a Masters student. Possible writing prompts include One thing I remember from counseling is or The most memorable moment of counseling was Although counselor creativity can yield limitless possible prompts, it is important that the goodbye letter be narrowed to focus on the most relevant moments of the counseling process. A plethora of additional problems may suddenly arise, and sessions may be missed in an attempt to draw out the process or avoid termination. On the contrary, not all counseling relationships or sessions close on a good note, which may precipitate premature termination. Clients can then reflect how their resilience has allowed them to overcome previous barren seasons. If this is the case, it is your responsibility to make appropriate referrals and to obtain the professional training that would enable you to work with similar clients effectively in the future. You can also ask clients what they would like to focus on during their remaining time with you. Offering suggestions to group members about ways in which they can successfully incorporate what they have learned into their daily lives. July/August 2009. Unresolved issues surrounding past relationships can be played out in the termination process, but if you handle the process ethically, sensitively, and honestly, you are in a wonderful position to provide your client with a healthy end to a productive relationship that they can look back on positively and feel comfortable with. Client Follow-Up and Termination Guide - HUD Exchange Syracuse University School of Education |, Engaged BIPOC Scholar-Practitioner Program, Office of Professional Research and Development, Instructional Design, Development and Evaluation, Center for Academic Achievement and Student Development, Center for Experiential Pedagogy and Practice, Types of Termination & Anticipating Reactions, Positive Endings to the Counseling Relationship, Remind clients of the approaching ending of the sessions with you. Chronic worry by definition is hard to stop. If a client later claims you abandoned them, the termination letter may offer some protection. This can leave counselors feeling as though they are abandoning their clients just as good progress could have been made, and can lead to a sense of feeling responsible for whatever might happen to the client as a result of the end of the relationship. Defining the Counseling Process and Its Stages - PositivePsychology.com Discuss termination with your clients early on in the counseling process. Termination is often required before you or the client feel ready (forced-termination). 0{-&EDj~ Rh.?g& IFNS0{#XV D =g` `7p _30}$T;JE#@ I Counselors should continually assess for termination readiness when working with clients. It is most likely to occur if you do not mention termination until very close to your intended departure from the relationship. Is Online Therapy Cheaper Than In-Person Therapy? Allow clients to discuss their feelings of loss surrounding termination and the counselor must process your own feelings surrounding the process as well. You may have resistant clients who are mandated to see you, or clients who volunteer to engage in the process with you but who bring so many concerns with them that it is difficult to decipher what needs to take precedence. If unsuccessful, after two attempts to conduct a verbal follow-up session, the counselor must write a letter or . But both client and counselor have the right to crisply terminate the relationship while providing an explanation that while . You will find that you are not alone in feeling the way you do about ending your relationships with clients, and this camaraderie can make a world of difference when you are in the infancy of becoming effective helpers. Your email address will not be published. Some other strategies include: Copyright 2007 - 2023 GoodTherapy, LLC. For example, if a client who entered therapy with a particular problemsuch as depressionbegins to present with new issues (such as substance abuse or sexual assault) that are beyond the therapists expertise, the therapist may determine that termination and referral are in the clients best interest. When a client achieves their goals, it may be appropriate to transition them to a new therapist or to terminate therapy altogether. Is it normal to have mixed feelings about ending therapy? Many adhere to the once a client, always a client rule; they leave the door open for clients to return to therapy after termination, and aim to maintain firm boundaries in case that occurs. Counsellors should ensure that following termination of practice client records are secured long enough to meet these obligations and that they are accessible to clients for treatment, legal, or personal needs. Termination may even be a bridge to resolving some of these issues. Be willing to answer questions about therapy termination, such as where a client can seek additional help if necessary. The counseling process is a planned and structured dialogue between client and counselor. For example, you might emphasize that the child has made so much progress, they no longer need you. This will be done to some extent when you and your clients discuss terminating your relationship, but offering an opportunity for clients to express things concretely on paper for you both to keep can be a good way to summarize the experience for you both. But for most people, there will come a time when therapy no longer feels necessary or progress has stalled. Clients can even draw pictures, along with using the stickers, to illustrate a story of their time in counseling. . Next, punch a hole in each flower and thread them along the string. Discuss the therapeutic processboth what went well in therapy and what could have been better. They write their name across the top and pass it to the person sitting to their right. Jason N. Linder, PsyD on April 1, 2023 in Relationship and Trauma Insights. If therapists decide to terminate treatment, they should give adequate notice and provide referrals for other treatment opportunities if more treatment is needed" (p. 204). This is particularly important if you terminate the relationship because of fit issues or because you are unqualified to treat the client. A stick of Carefree gum could remind your client to take time out to play and enjoy life. PDF Guidelines for an Effective Transfer of Cases: The Needs of the 2. Rather, it is a resounding note that acts as a gateway to new beginnings. Anticipated Reactions: Sometimes, clients will resist the termination process. Termination should be among the first topics that you and your client discuss. Marisa T. Cohen PhD, LMFT on March 1, 2023 in Finding Love: The Scientific Take. Kramer (1990) clearly articulates this when he writes: The therapist must be clear from the first contact, unless there are mitigating circumstances, that the intent of treatment is to help the (client) function without the therapist. As a counselor, you are ethically bound to communicate to your client how long you will be available to counsel them, to discuss openly the timeline of your relationship, and to make appropriate referrals or recommendations at the conclusion of your relationship. Adding prompts or sentence stems for clients to complete can add a degree of structure to the letter. After all, the counseling relationship may be one of the only times, if not the only time, in their lives when they have experienced safety, trust, compassion and care. Termination in Therapy: The Art of Gently Letting Clients Go In such cases, it is important for counselors to work to become comfortable with that feeling of not knowing. It may not be for some time that a client himself realizes if and how a counselor has been of help. and either rip them up, color over them, or simply fold them neatly. For the activity, paper flowers can be cut out (clients can select the color of the materials to enhance autonomy). I feel like she cares. She uses trauma counseling with those who have been involved in the sex trafficking industry. Many, M. M. (2009). When terminating with a client who has difficulty processing rejection. 4) Power issues in the post-therapy relationship. A.11.c. Do not argue with the client or use the discussion to ease your own hurt feelings. When the doorbell rings that lets me know the client has let him/herself into the waiting room: 1. Outline the focus of the therapy. Both of these interventions allow child clients to take a tangible item with them as they end the counseling process. In such cases, counselors often feel a sense of insecurity in their ability to effectively connect with and counsel clients, guilt about losing a client, and possibly relief at being rid of a relationship that they were uncomfortable with. Help clients to review the success they have had in counseling. When a therapist and client agree that its time to move on, both may have mixed feelings. Remaining transparent about termination, from the initiation of counseling, can help clients invest in reaching their goals while concurrently empowering them to voice when they feel they are ready to end counseling. For a therapist, overcoming or outgrowing suffering will likely give them a deeper understanding than learning about symptoms exclusively from textbooks. Given that these virtues are basic human needs, it makes sense that clients may be reluctant to end the counseling relationship. place their trauma narrative materials into the container, tape the container shut, and decorate the container as they see fit. For tips on how to get the most out of counseling, see this page. Practice Improves the Potential for Future Plasticity. Even when counselors introduce the discussion of termination in the initial stages of the counseling relationship, it is natural for many clients to experience some anxiety and disillusionment with the idea. Here are some options. For many counselors, a sense of frustration exists at not having finished the job or achieved the goals set out by the counselor and client. Some of the things that group leaders can do to increase the chances of ending a group successfully include: To increase the likelihood of successful termination with your clients, take heed of the following suggestions: As counselors-in-training, you are in the unique position to be able to utilize your site supervisors and on-campus supervisors and professors as resources when dealing with the issues surrounding termination.
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