Termination is a tool to make you self-reliant. Alike parents raise their children to be capable of flying high independently, so leaving the shield of their parents is necessary; this is supposed to happen in therapy as well, when the client is consciously becoming aware to own their place out there as an individual. Termination is a final stage of therapy, but not the final goodbye to your therapeutic relationship.
According to Gelso and Woodhouse (2002), termination is the last stage in which the client and therapist intentionally bring an end to the series of sessions; it sometimes comes unknowingly. It is a fresh start for applying what you have learned so far in the real world, and again, taking the route of an autonomous approach. Termination in psychotherapy is all about managing with sensitivity and skill, offering clients the opportunity to reflect on their journey, internalise their progress.
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Understanding Termination in Therapy
Termination in therapy is often found to be a useful and insightful experience for clients. And therapists can tailor an evaluation-based approach based on the last stages in therapy. This can bring both together. There might be so many reasons for this, but it came across mutually, while unfolding layers. The reasons such that both are ready to test what they have learnt, or the client might not afford the expenses.
While conducting therapy, attention and healing intentions are required as it is required earlier. Long-term therapy allows a therapist to dig deeper and address more adverse issues, like traumatic adversity. Short-term therapy sessions are goal-oriented, so their final stage is already decided. Anyways, in both approaches, termination might get difficult to handle because it comes suddenly into the flow of sessions.
After connecting with a therapist, sudden termination might leave you incomplete, and unsettled emotions from your past are triggered. A well-designed, organised, and informed termination phase can help clients to step into the outside world confidently and with strength.
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The Therapeutic Value of Termination
The lens of perspective about termination is changed and tackles the closure with clients more thoughtfully then which will show us many benefits. Because this care and genuine concern can create a supportive environment. It can enhance the client’s sense of autonomy and resilience (Joyce et al., 2007; Gelso & Woodhouse, 2003).
1. Peep into the soul
Sometimes we just go with the flow, but do not pause and reflect. And at the end of your journey with a therapist, you might get the free space to indulge in introspection, self-reflection. This can be insightful as you can see a clear picture of the challenges and progress, which can help you move ahead with knowing what to do and what to avoid. Such awareness about their surroundings and themselves makes them mentally strong to be empowered and flexible. According to Quintana (1993), this can help clients to recognise their personal growth through their efforts.
2. Consolidation phase
As therapy comes to an end, clients can reexperience the session as a coherent whole as a result of the integration of all insights. They can get it wide view of all learnings, unlearnings, coping and other strategies. This can ensure that change is not just situational but sustainable.
3. Recognised a power within to make a decision
While attending the last sessions, the clients’ healing journey came to a turning point in self-efficacy. Clients are getting assurance from within that they can do better in managing their emotions, which can uplift their relationships (Rogers, 1961).
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Psychological Impacts of Termination
There is always some uniqueness found in responses from clients. Because of different childhood experiences, the nature of your bond with your therapist. Because with insecure attachment styles, there are hindrances to building a therapeutic relationship with the client, and they are the ones who experience fear and anxiety about what if others abandon them. Other types of clients can also feel the future void and sadness (Quintana, 1993). Extreme and moderate types of emotional responses can be managed during sessions, especially in the termination period. This can teach a client how to self-validate and be self-aware, thereby facilitating psychological growth. The termination process can inculcate positive attachment.
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Research Insight
The study by Bhatia and Gelso (2017) highlights the significance of the final ritual in the therapy world, which is just as important as rapport building. Whenever termination occurs, people often feel more bonded with the therapist, expressing every bit of what their heart is saying and truly understanding each other. This therapeutic relationship is then fondly cherished and utilised to achieve goals and foster sustainable growth. Negative transference cannot affect the overall progress of treatment because termination helps clients to control those emotions. The result says that therapists should be empathetic and caring with clients who have innate sensitivity to loss, so their reactions can be extremely intense.
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Conclusion
Termination is a significant and impactful phase that promotes development, introspection, and independence rather than merely marking the end of therapy. When managed carefully, it turns into a life-changing procedure that enables clients to internalise their therapeutic benefits and confidently use them in everyday situations. Clients gain self-confidence, emotional pattern recognition, and the ability to continue their healing process independently through conscious closure.
A therapist’s meaningful approach can resolve emotional imbalance and enhance overall strength through awareness, which is backed by studies and research. At last, it is seen as a therapeutic tool used to give a final push to a person’s belief that, while they have support from others, they are also capable of navigating their journey on their own.
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FAQs
1. What is the therapeutic value of the termination process?
It helps clients to consolidate all the therapeutic benefits and encourages them to apply them, so they can feel confident in their lives to face challenges. Self-awareness is the core value that can lead to autonomy.
2. What is termination in the helping process?
Ideally, it is a reminder of all therapeutic gains and can be used to channelise self-confidence and other skills.
3. What are the other stages of the therapy?
- Relationship building
- Assessment
- Goal setting
- Counseling intervention
- Evaluation
- Termination, Referral
References +
Bhatia, A., & Gelso, C. J. (2017). The Termination Phase: Therapists’ Perspectives on the Therapeutic Relationship and Outcome. Psychotherapy, 54(1), 76–87. https://doi.org/10.1037/pst0000100
Joyce, A. S., Piper, W. E., Ogrodniczuk, J. S., & Klein, R. H. (2007). Termination in psychotherapy: A psychodynamic model of processes and outcomes. American Psychological Association. https://doi.org/10.1037/11562-000
Quintana, S. M. (1993). Towards an expanded and updated conceptualisation of termination: Implications for short-term individual psychotherapy. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 24(4), 426–432. https://doi.org/10.1037/0735-7028.24.4.426
Rogers, C. R. (1961). On becoming a person: A therapist’s view of psychotherapy. Houghton Mifflin.
Gelso, C. J., & Woodhouse, S. S. (2002). The termination of psychotherapy: What research tells us about the process of ending treatment. In G. S. Tryon (Ed.), Counselling based on process research: Applying what we know. Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon
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