Familiarity with legal and ethical duties, a thorough informed consent procedure and advance planning are all useful in promoting smooth and effective transitions. in this article, the term “termination” refers to the discontinuation of treatment by a particular psychologist. the term “transition” is used more broadly to refer to all types of situations that involve discontinuation of treatment, including transfers to another mental health professional or setting.
Full Answer
What ethical standards apply to termination and abandonment of therapy?
The enforceable Ethical Standards relevant to termination and abandonment are: Standard 10.10, Terminating Therapy, requires that the psychotherapy relationship be ended when the client is not benefiting from treatment, is not likely to benefit from it, or is likely to be harmed from it.
Is termination and abandonment a proactive approach to ethics?
Termination and abandonment: A proactive approach to ethical practice. [Web article]. Retrieved from: www.societyforpsychotherapy.org/termination-and-abandonment-a-proactive-approach-to-ethical-practice
What is the difference between termination and transition in psychology?
In this article, the term “termination” refers to the discontinuation of treatment by a particular psychologist. The term “transition” is used more broadly to refer to all types of situations that involve discontinuation of treatment, including transfers to another mental health professional or setting. Ethical and legal framework
When does a psychotherapist initiate treatment termination?
A range of issues may also result in the psychotherapist initiating treatment termination such as a planned retirement from practice or leave of absence, or if the psychotherapist will be at the treatment site for a limited period of time such as a trainee on internship.
Is it ethical to terminate treatment when a client can no longer pay?
reads in part, “Counselors may terminate counseling when in jeopardy of harm by the client or by another person with whom the client has a relationship, or when clients do not pay fees as agreed upon.” If the counselor is not receiving payment, it is acceptable to terminate the counseling relationship after attempts at ...
What are some of the ethical issues in termination of the group?
Ethical issues attending endings in group therapy are explored through a discussion of informed consent, time and role boundaries, privacy and confidentiality, unplanned endings, therapist-initiated termination, and competence.
What does the code of ethics say about termination of services?
(a) Social workers should terminate services to clients and professional relationships with them when such services and relationships are no longer required or no longer serve the clients' needs or interests. (b) Social workers should take reasonable steps to avoid abandoning clients who are still in need of services.
How do you terminate the therapeutic relationship How do you say goodbye?
How to Say Goodbye: 5 Tips for Ending TherapyFigure out why you'd like to leave. Are you feeling bored? ... Don't stop abruptly. Honor the commitment you made to yourself and the therapeutic process. ... Talk about it. ... Be honest. ... Plan for the end in the beginning.
What are some legal and ethical issues in counseling?
Ethical Issues In Counseling With Children And AdultsMaintaining Boundaries.Professional Ability.Personal Problems.Maintaining Confidentiality.Respecting Client Differences.Getting the Authorities Involved.Maintain Their Role.Maintaining Therapy.More items...•
What is the most common ethical violation for health professionals?
The most prominent violation in all of the lists with statistical data was a sexual relationship with a client. Both the APA and ACA code of ethics require a minimum of 2 years between the termination of the counseling relationship and the beginning of a sexual relationship.
What are the grounds of termination?
Just causes of termination refer to serious misconduct, willful disobedience or insubordination, gross and habitual neglect of duties, fraud or wilful breach of trust, loss of confidence, commission of a crime or offense, and analogous causes.
What should a counselor do when terminating a client?
Be clear, direct, and compassionate no matter why the client is leaving. Never blame the client, even if you must terminate therapy because the client is difficult or you are not a good fit. Be willing to answer questions about therapy termination, such as where a client can seek additional help if necessary.
What are the 7 principles of ethics in social work?
Ethical Principles. The following broad ethical principles are based on social work's core values of service, social justice, dignity and worth of the person, importance of human relationships, integrity, and competence. These principles set forth ideals to which all social workers should aspire.
Why is termination important in therapy?
If done ethically and competently, termination can help solidify counseling gains, empowering clients to integrate their experiences and bravely face their next chapter in life. Termination can also help model healthy boundaries and a natural and appropriate end to a relationship.
Why is the termination phase of a client and Counsellor relationship so important?
The agreed ending These endings will have allowed time to work through feelings brought up by the prospect of ending together, and will allow for a return in the future should circumstances change, or if you need additional help in the future.
Why there is a need to terminate the helping relationship with the client?
The purpose of termination, first and foremost, is to provide closure. It allows an opportunity for both the client and therapist to assess and process what they accomplished during their time together and models healthy boundaries as well as a natural/appropriate end to a relationship.
What is termination in psychology?
Termination is defined as the “ethically and clinically appropriate process by which a professional relationship is ended” (Younggren & Gottlieb, 2008, p. 500). This clearly implies that how the termination process is carried out has significant clinical and ethical implications.
Why do psychotherapists terminate their therapy?
In keeping with Standard 10.10, Terminating Therapy (APA, 2010), the psychotherapist may initiate termination because she or he no longer possesses the necessary competence to be able to assist the client ( either due to the client’s changing treatment needs or due to problems of professional competence relevant to stress, distress, burnout, illness , etc.) and/or because the psychotherapist believes that continued treatment would likely be harmful to the client (even if the client wants to continue treatment).
What does it mean to abandon a psychotherapist?
Abandonment, instead, is when this process does not occur, which can be stressful for both the client and psychotherapist. The clients may feel sadness, loss, confusion, and anxiety, or blame themselves for the termination of psychotherapy (Penn, 1990). The psychotherapist may feel “personal failure” and ending the psychotherapy relationship in ...
What are the ethical standards for abandonment?
The enforceable Ethical Standards relevant to termination and abandonment are: Standard 10.10 , Terminating Therapy, requires that the psychotherapy relationship be ended when the client is not benefiting from treatment, is not likely to benefit from it, or is likely to be harmed from it. Circumstances relevant to this standard include if ...
Why is it important to support a psychotherapist's termination decisions?
This is also especially important for supporting the psychotherapist’s termination decisions when dealing with clients who do not want to terminate but who have completed all treatment goals and with clients who are not complying with treatment recommendations and who are not making progress in treatment.
When does abandonment occur?
In contrast, abandonment occurs when the treatment relationship ends, but this necessary process does not occur, such as by ending a client’s treatment abruptly when the client no longer can afford to pay for treatment.
Should termination be discussed openly in treatment?
Remember that ideally, termination should be planned for, discussed openly in treatment, and be an essential aspect of the treatment process that assists the client toward effective independent functioning.
Why does a therapist end a client's treatment?
Some of those reasons include: Client has mental health needs that are beyond the social worker’s area of expertise.
What is termination in social work?
The NASW Social Work Dictionary defines termination as: “The conclusion of the social worker –client intervention process; a systematic procedure for disengaging the working relationship.
What happens if a social worker does not terminate a client-therapist relationship?
If the social worker does not properly terminate the client-therapist relationship, the social worker exposes himself to allegations of abandonment which could lead to a lawsuit, a complaint to the state licensing board , or a request for professional review by the NASW Ethics Committee. [3] .
What is abandonment in mental health?
Abandonment is a specific form of malpractice that can occur in the context of a mental health professional’s termination of services. Abandonment, also referred to as ‘premature termination,’ occurs when a social worker is unavailable or precipitously discontinues service to a client who is in need.
What is a client failure?
Client fails to make adequate progress toward treatment goals or fails to comply with treatment recommendations. Client fails to participate in therapy (e.g., non-compliance, no shows, or cancellations). Lack of communication/contact from the client.
What is the lack of communication/contact between therapist and client?
Lack of communication/contact from the client. It is recommended that therapists have a final session with their clients to review the overall progress before ending therapy, but sometimes this cannot happen , e.g., when the client stops communicating with the therapist.
How to prepare for termination?
Tips for Termination. Prepare for termination from the beginning. Termination should be discussed early so both parties can have a number of sessions to discuss ending therapy. If continued treatment is needed, provide referrals to several mental health professionals, with addresses and phone numbers.
Ethical Requirements For Psychotherapists
Ending The Psychotherapy Relationship
Termination by Mutual Agreement
Psychotherapist Initiated Termination
Client Initiated Termination
Meeting Our Clinical, Ethical, and Legal Obligations
Recommendations For Ethical Practice
- Include discussions of treatment termination and possible interruptions of treatment, to include emergency contact procedures and treatment coverage arrangements in ongoing informed consent discuss...
- Include processes and procedures in employment and practice contracts that ensure that client treatment needs will be met should you leave the practice setting or be otherwise unab…
- Include discussions of treatment termination and possible interruptions of treatment, to include emergency contact procedures and treatment coverage arrangements in ongoing informed consent discuss...
- Include processes and procedures in employment and practice contracts that ensure that client treatment needs will be met should you leave the practice setting or be otherwise unable to provide nee...
- Maintain documentation in the client’s treatment record of agreed upon treatment goals and the client’s progress toward achieving them. This will help both psychotherapist and client determine if g...
- Consult with colleagues to obtain a second (or third!) opinion on when termination should oc…
