Author Topic: Ending a therapeutic relationship  (Read 7020 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

kaleda

  • Probationer
  • *
  • Posts: 7
    • View Profile
Ending a therapeutic relationship
« on: June 13, 2008, 07:14:33 PM »
Hello.

I would like to know what people think about how a psychotherapeutic relationship should end, from a therapeutic, ethical and legal persepective?

Or is there a concise description of how psychotherapy should end?

And this includes:
1. when the psychotherapy is ended because the psychotherapist's style and methods are not effective any more and the patient and psychotherapist is not seeing changes.

or

2. when psychotherapy is ended because the goals have been met.

I'm not asking for specific advice on how to achieve anything for my self I'm just wondering if there are rules on how to end a therapeutic relationship.

cognitive

  • neophyte
  • *
  • Posts: 87
    • View Profile
Re: Ending a therapeutic relationship
« Reply #1 on: September 20, 2008, 07:04:53 PM »
Legally, the patient has the right to end the therapy anytime he considers appropriate without having to give any explanation for that .

Ethically, a relation may end due to the therapist not respecting the ethical code of the profession ( like giving  information about the patient to a third part without his consent , or falling in love with the patient etc ...) .

If everything goes well, the relationship should end when the goals stated in the contract are achieved .

"Coincidence is God's way of remaining anonymous."
Albert Einstein

corwin137

  • zelator
  • **
  • Posts: 182
  • Gender: Male
  • Tired of typing things I'd rather say.
    • View Profile
Re: Ending a therapeutic relationship
« Reply #2 on: September 22, 2008, 07:16:44 PM »
Am always a fan of recommending my "hero" Sheldon Kopp, who wrote a book with some great stuff on this subject called "Back to One".  It's a tome about doing therapy in a private practice context, beginning, middle, and end.  It's outta print, but can be found on Amazon.
"THIS is your pain- it's ALL RIGHT HERE.  Don't deal with it the way those dead people do!"
-  Tyler Durden

Shell

  • zelator
  • **
  • Posts: 276
  • Gender: Female
  • Love is the Law
    • View Profile
Re: Ending a therapeutic relationship
« Reply #3 on: September 22, 2008, 09:21:30 PM »
The book sounds interesting, I read a couple of the reviews!

I do believe (and I'm not speaking with experience as a psychologist, but as a patient) if you or your client decide to end the relationship, that recommending or giving the patient tools that will keep him/her on track to bettering themselves.

When I left my first therapist due to a change in assignment, she gave me relaxation cd's that she had put together for me, and some "reminder" booklets on PTSD and depression.  Those things helped me cope with my issues while I was on my own.  And I was given her e-mail address in case I needed recommendations for another therapist in the area I was heading to.

Of course, that may not always be fitting depending on the reason for terminating the relationship, but if you are ending on good terms then I think it is good to let your patient leave knowing they will be okay.

SWM

  • Global Moderator
  • *
  • Posts: 2114
    • View Profile
    • counselling in liverpool
Re: Ending a therapeutic relationship
« Reply #4 on: March 29, 2009, 10:59:05 PM »
in my counselling training i was taught that planned endings are best. when therapy has taken place and a client has made the changes they wanted to make, an agreed ending session that focuses on consolidating therapy and also saying goodbyes is beneficial for client and therapist. in practice this rarely happens cancellations and non-attendence are more common. this seems to be truer in private practice where client is paying for every session. this is my experience anyway. in counselling endings are something that are sensed at a certain point in the therapeutic process either by the client or therapist and they are worked out from then.

i am learrning different in CBT. endings are planned from the first session. the endings are agreed early on in therapy and worked towards from the beginning. CBT is more structured and goal directed than counselling there is definite agendas which are agreed and maintained for therapy to be effective.

i dont have enough experience to comment on how successful this yet.
And the  LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as  one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever:

oujdaboy

  • neophyte
  • *
  • Posts: 17
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
Re: Ending a therapeutic relationship
« Reply #5 on: May 06, 2009, 10:50:00 PM »
It's hard these days to find a good psy !? in my own opinion

WildChild

  • neophyte
  • *
  • Posts: 10
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
Re: Ending a therapeutic relationship
« Reply #6 on: October 01, 2009, 12:43:05 AM »
Yah. its really hard to find a good psy....
WildChild

 

Related Topics

  Subject / Started by Replies Last post
1 Replies
1339 Views
Last post June 07, 2008, 11:56:19 AM
by SWM
22 Replies
2288 Views
Last post October 16, 2010, 01:49:31 PM
by S. Earl Martin
16 Replies
2288 Views
Last post July 29, 2010, 11:55:01 AM
by Voix_Celeste
1 Replies
804 Views
Last post September 22, 2009, 05:16:05 AM
by Ajna
13 Replies
1901 Views
Last post January 03, 2010, 05:05:08 PM
by ConsciousPuppet
0 Replies
117 Views
Last post December 02, 2011, 08:48:57 PM
by sakoz