Therapy Termination Worksheet

## **What is therapy termination?** When we speak of therapy termination (or counseling termination, if it's counseling), we speak of the end of a therapist's therapeutic relationship with their patient. This means they will terminate treatments or therapy programs (counseling relationship, counseling processes, and counseling sessions, if it's counseling) because the patient/client has reached the end of their ongoing treatment plan or they've achieved their therapeutic goals (Marschall, 2022). Of course, there can be other reasons for therapy termination. It's possible for the clients' needs to change and fall outside of the therapist's scope of practice, like requiring professional psychology moving forward (clinical psychology), or requiring a certain kind of treatment that requires a clinician's professional judgment. Another reason for termination could be that the therapeutic relationship wasn't a great fit, the client had to move away and can no longer attend sessions in person, or maybe because of legal reasons on the part of the therapist or their client, such as the violation of boundaries, the therapist and client develop a personal relationship, client is confirmed to be involved in something criminal/illegal, etc. At the beginning of a therapy program, the professional will inform the patient about therapy termination as part of the informed consent process; it's one of the ethical responsibilities of the therapist, and being able to be clear about it is a mark of their ethical competence. They must inform their client that terminating therapy is a normal thing and has to happen at some point because continued treatment has to be justified as necessary.

## **What is a Therapy Termination Worksheet?** 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, and hopefully end on a positive note. This is where the Therapy Termination Worksheet (sometimes called a psychotherapy termination worksheet) comes in. It is a structured tool designed to address the conclusion of regular sessions between the client and the therapist. Having your patient/client answer it can be the termination activity/the final thing they do under your therapy program for them. Proper termination can reinforce coping strategies learned during therapy and promote self-compassion as clients move forward independently (Sutton, 2021). 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. ### **Why should I use this kind of worksheet for my final session?** 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. 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. 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. It also 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. 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.

## **How to use our therapy 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. Our worksheet is divided into four sections: - **Progress review**: They will discuss the goals that were set for the program, which goals they've achieved (hopefully all of them), what changes they've noticed in themselves after all this time with you, what they've learned, and what they've discovered about themselves. - **Planning for the future**: Here, they will list down the key people in their support network, acknowledge where they still need support, discuss healthy coping strategies, and their plans for dealing with crises. - **Resources and emergency contacts**: Here, they will indicate the resources and emergency contacts they can rely on should they face a crisis they can't face without support. - **Final reflections**: They can write a short letter to their future selves here, and also write something they would like to say to you after undergoing your therapy program. They will have enough space to write what they want. 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.

## **References** Marschall, A. (2022, June 23). What to Know About Therapy Termination. Verywell Mind. https://www.verywellmind.com/what-to-know-about-therapy-termination-5323830 Sutton, J. (2021, May 4). Termination in Therapy: The Art of Gently Letting Clients Go. PositivePsychology.com. https://positivepsychology.com/termination-in-therapy/