Therapy can offer immense support and guidance at all stages of life and recovery. Successful treatment can help you improve your mental health and achieve meaningful goals. That said, it's important to understand what terminating therapy means and when it may be time to end your work. Let's get into what you need to know.
You Have Achieved (Or Closely Achieved Your Treatment Goals)
Mental health is fluid, and it's normal to experience ups and downs. But it may be time to end therapy if you feel like you've met most of your initial treatment goals.
Some signs indicating that you've achieved your treatment goals include:
feeling like your symptoms are consistently improving
being able to practice more self-compassion and kindness during difficult moments
consistently practicing positive coping skills in daily life
being able to acknowledge personal growth
You Feel Stagnant With Your Treatment
Therapy should facilitate continuous introspection. You should feel like you're truly getting something out of every session (or at least most sessions). And while the therapy relationship can resemble that of a close friend, it shouldn't feel casual.
If you feel like you're having mundane conversations- or simply recounting details of your week- it may be a sign that you're ready to terminate therapy. Stagnation could look like:
feeling like you're just talking about the same things without much resolution
lack of progress toward your intended treatment goals
unclear or inconsistent goals (you're not really sure what you're working toward)
feeling like you've reached a plateau with your therapist and that they can no longer provide you with the resources or support you need
Your Needs Have Changed
Maybe you started therapy with one intention, but over time, you've needed different treatment. For example, you might have initially sought treatment for drug addiction, but as you progressed through recovery, you needed more support for your trauma. Or, you may have entered individual therapy only to realize you could really benefit from couples work.
There's nothing wrong with your needs changing- this speaks to the natural evolution of growth. But it may be a sign that it's time to reconsider your current therapeutic process. This is especially true if your presenting concerns aren't within your current therapist's expertise.
You No Longer Connect Well With Your Therapist
Therapeutic ruptures can happen when a therapist misattunes to what a client needs. In many cases, when the rapport is positive, these moments can be resolved. But some ruptures can be serious- you may struggle to trust your therapist or question their competence.
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Connection is one of the most important parts of therapy. You want to feel like you're working with the right therapist for your needs. Research supports this benefit and consistently shows that the therapeutic relationship is one of the most important predictors of treatment success. So if the relationship feels shaky, it may be time to reevaluate your needs.
How to Make the Most of Your Termination Process
The end of the therapeutic relationship can evoke mixed emotions. It's normal to feel sad, anxious, or upset about the change. You may also question whether you're really ready for this transition. Here are some considerations to keep in mind:
Taper down your therapy sessions: Ending therapy abruptly can be jarring. With that in mind, most therapists agree that it can be beneficial to reduce the frequency of your sessions over time. For example, if you meet weekly, you might transition down to biweekly. Then, you might consider a few maintenance sessions before having the final session.
Review your goals and progress: You deserve to reflect on how far you've come throughout therapy. Consider writing down what you have learned or sharing it directly with your therapist. You can also consider asking them to share their input about your progress.
Plan for your final sessions together: Every therapist has a unique process for saying goodbye. Some may plan for termination well in advance; others might focus on this process within just 1-2 sessions. Regardless of the approach, there is no right or wrong way to say goodbye.
Gather referrals: An ethical termination typically includes referrals to other providers. Even if you don't move on to a new therapist, having access to other professionals can be helpful if you start struggling again.
Discuss the parameters for reaching out again: Therapy termination is not necessarily final (unless your therapist is moving to a new location or changing jobs). Many therapists have open-door policies where you can return to treatment with them if you need additional support. You can always ask your therapist about their procedures for this.
Making the Most of Therapy With Resurface Group
At Resurface Group, we deeply respect the value of individual, family, and group therapy. Our therapists utilize evidence-based treatment to support your ongoing treatment needs. We are confident our program will offer you the customized treatment you need to improve the quality of your life.
Wherever you are on your journey, we are here to help you or your loved one. Contact us today to learn more about our unique services, including Resurface Connect, our virtual IOP.
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