Therapy Termination Worksheet

What is a Therapy Termination Worksheet?

There can be many reasons for a client or therapist to terminate their therapy sessions. Clients' needs may change and become outside of the therapist's scope of practice, the therapeutic relationship may not be a great fit, a client may move away and no longer be able to attend sessions, or the client and therapist may reach the natural end of their progression in therapy.

Regardless of the reasons for termination, ending therapy can be a daunting prospect and should be handled with care to ensure the best possible outcome for both the client and the therapist. This is where the Therapy Termination Worksheet comes in. It is a structured tool designed to address the conclusion of regular sessions between client and therapist. Proper termination can reinforce coping strategies learned during therapy and promote self-compassion as clients move forward independently.

This approach aligns with the principles of positive psychology, encouraging clients to recognize their growth and capabilities while acknowledging the natural progression of the therapeutic journey. Therapy Termination Worksheets help clients articulate their thoughts and feelings about termination, often resulting in more positive body language, outlook, and increased confidence about continuing their journey independently. It helps document how therapy draws to a close while reinforcing progress made during treatment.

How to use our psychotherapy termination worksheet

Our printable Therapy Termination Worksheet can be a useful tool for thoughtfully closing your client's time with you and ensuring their personal growth. We've created a simple step-by-step guide for you to start using this worksheet in your mental health practice.

Step 1: Access the worksheet

Access the template from this guide. You can click "Use template" to open it within the Carepatron platform, where you can customize this tool. Alternatively, you can also click "Download" to get a free fillable PDF copy of this form.

Step 2: Preparation and timing

Set the final session date so you both know how many sessions are left or when their sessions with you will be terminated. You can then introduce the worksheet approximately 2-3 sessions before the last session. This timing allows sufficient opportunity to process responses and address the client's readiness or any concerns that emerge.

Step 3: Assess the client's progress

Guide clients through the progress review section, which examines initial goals and achievements. This helps establish therapeutic gains and reinforces positive changes.

Step 4: Future planning

The worksheet's future-oriented sections help establish a comprehensive post-therapy support structure. Work with clients to identify specific warning signs and develop concrete action steps.

Step 5: Resource integration and closure

Conclude by accurately recording all emergency contacts and resources. The final reflections section serves a dual purpose: it provides closure for the therapeutic relationship while creating a personal reference point for future challenges.

Benefits of Therapy Termination Worksheet PDF

Using a Therapy Termination Worksheet can also offer several benefits to different practitioners in the field, such as behavioral, humanistic, or psychodynamic therapists, along with their clients. These benefits include the following:

Ensure your clients are heard

Your clients will undoubtedly have thoughts and feelings about the end of the therapy process. Additionally, they may have concerns about therapy ending and how they will cope without their sessions with you. The worksheet ensures that you are able to understand and address their concerns.

Self-reflection

The information in the completed Therapy Termination Worksheet can also be of benefit to you as a practitioner. Your clients will be able to highlight key learning points, positive experiences, memories, and what they found most valuable from therapy. These answers can be great for informing your clinical practice and reflecting on your own work.

Address client concerns

Our Therapy Termination Worksheet gives your client space to process their concerns about ending therapy. You can then work through these concerns with your client in your final sessions to best prepare them for life after therapy.

Correspond electronically

A great benefit of this worksheet template is that it can be completed digitally through the interactive PDF textboxes, meaning you can send and receive the completed worksheet without either of you needing access to a printer.

Plan your final session(s)

Finally, your client's responses in this worksheet can help you to structure their final session with you. This may include reflecting on their progress, reviewing outcomes of treatment goals, addressing their concerns, or just giving them (and yourself!) a big pat on the back and wishing them the best of luck.