Counseling Termination Activities: Process and Examples
This quiz and worksheet combo will help you quickly assess termination of the counseling process. It covers essential counseling termination activities, the process, and specific examples to guide practitioners.
Counselor Initiated Termination
When considering the timing and method of ending the therapeutic relationship, Counselor Initiated Termination should be brought up by the counselor in advance. This ensures a professional transition rather than being done immediately, like pulling off a band-aid.
The Importance of Follow Up
Follow up is a critical component of the termination phase. Follow up allows for a client to:
- Tell the counselor of their stability
- Inform the counselor of positive developments since termination
- Inform the counselor that negative developments have occurred since termination
Making a Referral to Specialized Services
Appropriate referrals are necessary when a client's needs evolve beyond the counselor's specific expertise. For example, a counselor trained in grief may have a client who wishes to continue therapy after their personal grief has subsided. In such cases, the counselor should consider:
- Making a referral to a counselor who has training in the area of the client's needs
Core Components of the Termination Process
Based on the clinical process, here are the primary actions for effective termination:
- Communication: Termination should be brought up by the counselor in advance.
- Client Feedback: Follow up allows for a client to inform the counselor of developments since termination.
- Professional Ethics: Making a referral to a counselor who has training in specialized areas when the current treatment focus (like bereavement) has subsided.