Breaking up is Hard to do: Why the Termination Session is Important

When we "think" We're Healed

Therapy and therapeutic progress can sometimes be compared to taking antibiotics. When we feel sick, getting that medication and eliminating the uncomfortable symptoms is urgent. When we start to feel better we "think" we are healed and forget to take the rest of the antibiotic. Sometimes, this can result in the illness returning since we did not allow the antibiotic to run its full course. When we begin to mentally feel better and gain effective skills the therapeutic session become less of a priority. A client may start to miss a session here and there and then eventually stop all together. The therapeutic process has multiple stages. Discontinuing sessions before completing these stages or at least having a termination session can result in unfinished goals and future setbacks.

Why is a Termination Session Important?

A termination session is important because it allows closure and a smooth transition out of therapy. The session(s) will include reflection on progress, achievements, and completed goals. It gives the client an opportunity to plan for a future without ongoing sessions to process new events, emotions, and distress. Effective termination can encourage ongoing growth after the session. The client and therapist can also identify signs or symptoms that indicate a potential need to return to therapy.

Therapeutic termination is most effective when the goals have been achieved. The client and therapist should agree that the goals have been met, and no further goals have been identified. However, in some situations a client may choose to terminate prematurely. In this situation, it is even more critical to attend a termination session. Be open with your therapist about your feelings towards your progress and priority to attend sessions. This allows the opportunity to plan for termination a few steps ahead and avoids abrupt termination without closure. Although the ultimate goal of therapy is termination after all the goals have been achieved, we understand this is not always possible. Allowing the opportunity to still hold a termination session will increase the effectiveness of learned skills being utilized long term.

We don't like to say goodbye either.

It is a bittersweet end when a client has reached their full potential and feels confident to terminate sessions. If life starts throwing more bricks and the weight becomes too heavy, we are always here to support you again.