In this master thesis, the author sought to answer the question of which aspects of therapy termination are highlighted by therapists on the basis of their experiences.
Nine participants with a therapeutic education took part in the study. The author applied grounded theory to analyse the semi-structured interviews and categorise the results into seven main areas: understanding termination in the broader context of the therapeutic process, the dynamics of terminating the shared journey, the therapist as a (non-)blank slate, whether all clients are the same, how to say goodbye, what remains after termination and when there is no termination. In the concluding section of the thesis, the author examined the relationships within the main categories and collated them with other subcategories and existing literature.
Termination of therapy is not a one-off event, but rather a process and an important phase of the therapeutic process that reflects all the previous phases. Several factors influence the conclusion of the shared journey between therapists and clients. As some of the most important factors on their part, therapists identified their past experiences with separations and their personal experience with therapy termination. How much attention should be devoted to termination depends largely on the client’s past experiences with loss and separation and the significance of the therapeutic relationship for the client.
Since it is important for both the client and the therapist, it is prudent to devote sufficient time to terminating the therapeutic relationship. Among the most important topics during the termination process, therapists highlighted reflecting on the therapeutic process and the therapeutic relationship, as well as outlining plans for the client’s future. Although the client and therapist will no longer meet, the therapeutic process does not end with the final session, but continues through the client’s internalised experience of their relationship with the therapist.
Premature termination of therapy is an integral part of therapeutic practice that often leaves therapists with several unanswered questions. The question remains how to adequately prepare therapists to deal with client dropouts where therapy is not properly terminated and how therapists can terminate the therapeutic process without the client’s participation.
The thesis makes an important contribution in shedding light on the broader understanding of the final phase and termination of therapy and their significance for therapists. While the topic of termination has been well researched in foreign literature, it represents a major gap in Slovenia in both literature and the educational process for therapists. The results of this research constitute a significant contribution to the clinical practice of therapists and offer an opportunity to reflect on how to give termination, similarly to the start of therapy, the attention it deserves.
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