Comments on: Termination: 10 Tips When Ending Psychotherapy

By: KKnATL

KKnATL — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 03:38:08 +0000

Kathy G
Just saw your comment and am so concerned. I think it was irresponsible for your therapist to allow you to continue in therapy, dependent on her for so long. I pray that you found your way.
KKnATL

By: Kimesha Baker

Kimesha Baker — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 19:14:31 +0000

I am not sure why some therapists allow clients to continue with them until they feel that they (therapists) are not doing anything for them. What about referrals to care with a professional who would be able to recommend care within the institution for short periods? Or, am I missing something here as being the reason for allowing the (paying) client to continue?

By: lovemydogs

lovemydogs — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 06:40:50 +0000

Hi Richarda, I hope things are going better for you. Last week I just finished up with my therapist after 8 years. I also felt that I wasn’t getting as much help as I needed during my sessions, and thought about stopping for a few months.I finally realized that I needed to decide what was best for me. It was hard, really hard to bring the topic up- but I have confidence in myself now, and she was so understanding and helpful. Part of me loves her still, and part of me knows it was just a professional relationship. I have both feelings inside & thats ok.

We agreed to end after 3 – sessions one month apart. That gave me time to make sure I was strong enough to stand on my own. I am still grieving the loss a little bit since thats what it really is. But its a healthy reaction and I know I’ll be fine. She saved my life, and helped me to stand on my own and I’m so grateful. And smiling, and whole. Finally. My thoughts & prayers of graceful courage are with you.

By: Richarda

Richarda — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 10:53:08 +0000

I am also currently going through a very difficult time in ending my therapy. I have known my therapist for just over 5 years now. Initially I started, because I was training to become a counsellor myself. I only needed 36 sessions per year, so only saw her for those sessions in the first 3 years. 2 1/2 years ago I had an abortion and finally with a lot of post (taking the pill and wearing a contraceptive implant) trauma to deal with, my body and mind were overwhelmed with feelings of depression. I started seeing my therapist regularly once a week. At the moment I really feel therapy is not helping anymore. It feels as if we have come to a dead end. I have also started taking anti-depressants for the first time (although very low dose). I really want to stand on my own two feet, since not feeling that we are going anywhere, but also feel scared to end therapy. Any advise from anyone, who had similar feelings or circumstances? I don’t want to be more dependant and in therapy for longer!!!

By: Ngene Grace

Ngene Grace — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 03:46:07 +0000

Yes! I believe dat everything dat has a begining must surely has an end. Termination phase is truely a difficult phase between the client and the therapist because the therapist will make sure that the client is responding or has attained mental health before announcing termination to him he cannot announce it when he does not see a change in him.”MASTER” my question is will a therapist announce termination when a client is under resistance of all types?

By: dragon_girl

dragon_girl — Thu, 19 May 2011 19:13:18 +0000

i’m rather surprised at the level of involvement folks have with their therapist. is that how therapy is supposed to work? i can understand cases where there is a genuine need for extended therapy and support from a professional… i’m worried for folks who are capable of learning techniques to depend on themselves but are instead staying within their comfort zone of a therapist. i thought therapy was a professional relationship and that there is a line between therapist and patient, but am surprised to see the level of dependency. maybe i’ve got the idea of therapy all wrong. i personally see a therapist when i feel overwhelmed, but i go with the end in mind – to get a grasp on the problem and get pointers to go do further work on my own – so its pretty clear off the bat that i’m the one who’s gonna do the ending, unless the therapist is able to articulate to me some compelling reason for me to continue.

i’m genuinely sorry if i’m coming across too blunt.

By: bating

bating — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 00:10:52 +0000

Kathy,
I just saw your Oct 8, 2009 entry and am wondering how you are doing.
bating

By: Kathy G.

Kathy G. — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 13:21:10 +0000

This will blow your mind but I have been seeing the same wonderful therapist for forty two years straight, two times a month. I am 56 years old and I started seeing her at age 15. She is about 12 or 13 years older than me and I love her like a mother. She told me the other day during a session that she is going to finally retire at the end of the year. (2009) She has been everything in the world to me. What concerns me is that I’m having fleeting thoughts of suicide and have in fact been trying to die already “by accident.” I am a diabetic and I ate 22 cookies the day after she broke the news to me and I left it up to Que Sera Sera as to if I woke up again or not. I am numb now. She says she will get together with me once every six months and that is wonderful of her but I don’t think I will make it thru this alive. I’m really worried about myself but will not tell anyone of my plans. Any similiar experiences would be appreciated because there is stilla part of me that would possibly like to go on living. Thank you.

By: Amber

Amber — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 17:51:20 +0000

My therapist and I have mutally decided to finish up our work together. (I don’t like the word “termination.”) I have been seeing her for 2 1/2 years. We’ve talked about it in the past, but just yesterday, we decided that I have learned and utilized some very helpful coping tools. It is time for me to continue to put those skills into place.

We decided we will first switch to meeting every other week. She then took it a step further by helping me to set a termination date. That was somewhat scary for me, but we were able to come up with a mutually acceptable date.

This therapist has literally saved my life. How do you thank someone for that? It will be so very hard to say goodbye to her, but I know that it is finally time to do so. I also know that I will never forget her.

By: iferjn

iferjn — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 00:02:26 +0000

thank you for your post, jacki

By: Jackie

Jackie — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 14:36:26 +0000

iferjn I wish you well in your search for help.

My therapist, who I refer to in my previous post, came to the profession after tragedy in her own life and I wonder if that makes her more understanding than most. She had counselling herself and as a result she decided she wanted to return to college and retrain as a therapist.

She makes me feel as though I am the only person she has to focus on, yet she has to cope alone with a teenage family and has many more clients.

I’m blessed I know but giving their undivided attention for the allotted time is the way true professionals should behave. It is discourteous to eat and drink during a consultation with a client, as for yawning in your face…

Perhaps you should investigate more reliable therapists to help with your negative thoughts. I found such destructive thoughts extremely difficult to cope with alone and needed another perspective to sort out my head and my heart. I would never have managed it alone so I hope you find help soon. Professionals reading these posts may be able to advise you.

By: When Depression Sets In | Life Management Ideas

When Depression Sets In | Life Management Ideas — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 04:47:58 +0000

[...] Termination: 10 Tips When Ending Psychotherapy (psychcentral.com) [...]

By: iferjn

iferjn — Sat, 30 May 2009 19:48:59 +0000

I wish i had therapy to end. I have been to several therapists and felt that they were no help at all. I prefer to see female therapists as i am a female myself and can be better understood. However, i felt that yawning in my face and eating and drinking were a destraction when these therapists did so. I pretty much do my own research and still wonder if i can handle being off meds and reasoning with my own negative thinking.

By: angelhelen47

angelhelen47 — Sat, 30 May 2009 18:32:45 +0000

I am in the process of ending my sessions after 3 and a half years. I have been in and out of counseling over the years as needed, and always felt it was a good way to get help through tough times.
This last wonderful counseler is the first that actually got to the deep childhood problems that most likely caused many of the “hard times” I encounted throughout my lifetime. I am 62. I feel that 3years ago I was finally ready to take the time to work on me. My children were grown and had their own families, it was time for me to take back my life and live it, again.
She helped me deal with old feelings and fears stemming from incidents, that were never understood orhealed. We did talk of ending the sessions and at first it scared me, yet after thinking about it I realised I was ready, my life had become quite busy with doing things I wanted to do. It took that couple of weeks to come to terms with the loss of our friendship, and realise that I could walk alone again. Also know I could always go back if needed, made it easier. Your tips came right on time. I think it was a good idea to put them in writing, to help other’s see them. I did not need or use medication. I found that I had some disasociative issues that needed to be worked through. I now understand those free floating emotions. Julie is the best.
Helen

By: winterbaby

winterbaby — Sat, 30 May 2009 16:50:50 +0000

Endings are hard, God bless those therapists who take termination seriously and prepare the client for it as much as they can and understand the sadness that can go along with it. In my view, those therapists are the REAL DEAL.