Chapter 8 Flashcards
ending it
termination
closing a counseling relationship has been associated with…
loss, not directly related to microskills
positive life changes that come about as a result of suffering or struggling with natural or human-made traumatic events (hurricanes and wars)
post traumatic growth
Important Functions of Termination
signals that something is finished
grounds counseling relationships in reality
opportunity for client to put insights/abilities into action
reminder to the client that he/she has matured
What questions should be asked to make sure the timing of termination is right?
Has the client achieved contract goals?
Can the client concretely show where they have made progress in what they wanted to accomplish?
Is the counseling relationship helpful?
Has the content of the initial counseling relationship changed?
How does termination happen?
client, counselor, mutual
How to Close Individual Sessions
"Our time is up for today." "We have 5-10 minutes left." Nonverbal gestures Summary of what took place/main points Preview what to talk about next time Any homework
How does a counselor know when it is time to terminate?
More humor, less denial, anger, withdrawal, mourning, dependence; have symptoms been eliminated?, better coping skills, verbal commitments to future
Areas of concern when deciding to end a counseling relationship
Has the client’s initial problem or symptoms been reduced/eliminated?
Has stress-producing feelings that led to counseling been eliminated?
Assessing client’s coping ability and degree of understanding of self and others and is able to love/be loved
Has client acquired abilities to plan and work productively
Can client better play and enjoy life?
a gradual decrease in the unnatural structures developed to create desired changes
fading
by giving clients the tools and skills to problem solve, they can learn to cope without a counseling relationship; from counseling experience to life
generalization
Client Resistance to Closing
Asking for more time at the end of a session
Asking for more appointments once a goal has been reached
Development of new problems
Successfully Dealing with Loss
Determine ways to make your transition a gradual process
Discover the significant that different activities have had in your life
Describe this significance to others
Delight in what you have gained and in what lies ahead of you
Define areas of continuity in your life
Unsuccessfully Dealing with Loss
Deny the loss
Distort your experience any over glorifying it
Denigrate your activities and relationships
Distract yourself from thinking about departure
Detaching yourself abruptly from your activities and relationships
sent to clients who fail to keep an appt and do not call to reschedule
“no show” letter
Benefits from an Exit Interview
May help the client resolve any negative feelings resulting from the counseling relationship
Serves as a way to invite the client to continue counseling if he/she so wishes
Consider another form of treatment if client desires
May increase the change that the next time the client needs help, he/she will seek counseling
Five Possible Reasons for Premature Termination by Client
1) to see whether the counselor really cares
2) to try to elicit positive feelings from the counselor
3) to punish or try to hurt the counselor
4) to show the counselor that the client has found a cure elsewhere
5) to express to the counselor that the client does not feel understood
Preventing Premature Closing
appointments, orientation to counseling, consistency of counselor, reminders to motivate client attendance
clients would be more likely to stay with counseling if they had this
orientation to counseling
“GOOD” reasons for counselor to terminate
illness, working through countertransference, relocation, end of internship/practicum, extended trip, realization that client needs could be better served with someone else
“POOR” reasons for counselor to terminate
feelings of anger, boredom, anxiety
still vital to make sure goals are made and to review clients’ progress
permanent counselor-initiated closing
4 Guidelines for Closing on a Positive Note
1) be aware of client’s needs and desires and allow the client time to express them
2) review the major events of the counseling experience and bring the review into the present
3) supportively acknowledge the changes the client has made
4) request followup contact
checking to see how the client is doing, with respect to whatever the problem was sometime after the closing as occurred
follow up
short term follow up
3-6 months after
long term follow up
at least 6 months after closing
Four ways to follow up
invite the client for a session
call
letter
mail/e-mail questionnaire
involves arranging other assistance for a client when the initial arrangement is not or cannot be helpful
referral
Reasons for a referral (IC)
client has a problem the counselor does not know how to handle
counselor is inexperienced in area, does not has skill
counselor knows a nearby expert who would be more helpful to the client
counselor and client have incompatible personalities
relationship between counselor and client is stuck in the initial phase of counseling
Referrals involve a what, a what, and a what?
A how, when, and who
an alternative when the counselor thinks the counseling process has not yet worked but can be made to do so re-examine all phases and goals!
recycling
