1. Facilitate the counselling relationship
CHCCSL503B
Facilitate the counselling relationship
#5: Bringing the counselling process to an end

2. Lesson outline Closure of individual sessions
Ending a series of sessions
Identifying the closure stage
Reasons for terminating therapy
Evaluating impact of earlier issues
Planning closure
Inform clients of further support
Discuss ongoing client needs
Documenting the termination

3. Closure of individual sessions:
Ending a session
Closure of individual sessions:
A good way to terminate a counselling session is to summarise the important awarenesses that have emerged during the session.
Give some positive feedback
Additionally, if necessary, identify areas that the client may want to discuss in future counselling sessions.
At this time avoid asking a question or reflecting feelings/content as it invites the client to continue the conversation

4. Ending a session
Talk about the need for ongoing appointments; if you don’t the person may believe you don’t think they need any
You may need to be assertive if the client lingers
Don’t feel that you have to follow this process strictly. Instead, allow the process to happen naturally as it emerges. Geldard, D. & Geldard, K. (2012)
Corey, G. (2009)

5. Ending a series of sessions
Termination of counselling is the final stage in the helping process:
Assess the appropriateness of terminating by reviewing progress in conjunction with the client
When to end a series of sessions may be clear and is often initiated by the client when they feel ready
Terminating the counselling relationship requires sensitivity and appropriate timing

6. Ending a series of sessions
It may be difficult if dependency makes either client or counsellor want to continue the relationship (rather than the wellbeing of the client)
The client may have unrealistic expectations about continuing the intimate relationship they have developed during the counselling process
Where clients and even counsellors may not wish to end the counselling relationship, it is important to maintain professional boundaries in spite of fears of loss, abandonment and insecurities
Geldard, D. & Geldard, K. (2012)

7. Ending a series of sessions
Mutually agreed endings are ideal but not frequent in the community sector
Some degree of grief will be associated with the loss of that meaningful relationship
Strategies to aid closure include spacing final sessions out over longer periods of time so the client gradually develops more independence
Having a follow up session 2 or 3 months later may allow loose ends to be tied up

8. Ending a series of sessions

9. Identifying the closure stage
How to know when the client is ready for closure:
To enable clients to identify when they reach this point, the counsellor can guide them back to their original conversation about what they wanted to achieve from counselling
The counsellor could ask “When the problem is solved, what will you be doing differently?”
Such questions prompt clients to monitor their progress and to recognise when they no longer need or benefit from counselling
Corey, G. (2009)

10. Identifying the closure stage
In reaching the closure stage, the counsellor should assist the client to acknowledge what has changed in their life, but also what they are not able to change
In this way, the client can judge the efficacy of their counselling experience
Some clients get stuck, maintaining the same issues for discussion
Corey, G. (2009

11. Reasons for terminating
Assessing when it is appropriate to end the counselling process may involve:
Mutual agreement – goals have been achieved or it is time to move on
Client relocates or dies
Service/funding limitations
Dissatisfaction
Disappearance
Summers, N. (2012)

12. Evaluating impact of earlier issues
Hindsight affords much clarity; ongoing review during the counselling process should have helped the client to understand their issues. The closure process should add to their understandings
Clients may benefit from greater clarity on the initial issues which brought them to counselling after the counselling process has calmed them and reduced their overall stress levels

13. Planning closure Structure & contract the ending process appropriately
Counsellors need to plan the termination of each counselling relationship at the beginning, conscious of the affect it can have on each party
Factors considered in this process are client needs, organisational policy, funding arrangements and waiting lists
It’s unethical to extend the counselling relationship if the client does not appear to be benefitting

14. Planning closure
During the initial contracting phase of the counselling relationship, the counsellor and client negotiate how many sessions they’ll have. Some clients still try to extend this, ignoring established boundaries
When endings do not go as planned, they need to be dealt with ethically and in accordance with the organisation’s policies and procedures

15. Planning closure Avoid fostering dependency
Dependent clients develop dependant attitudes and behaviours and assume too little responsibility for bringing change into their life
If counsellors do too much for the client, clients may fail to find their own direction
Corey, M., & Corey, G. (2011)
Yuoutube video: Ending counselling

16. Inform clients of further support
During closure tell clients of further support which is available
Counsellors often use the termination stage for recommending programmes or making referrals aimed at maintaining the client’s independence and autonomy
Counsellors also tend to welcome clients to come back in the future if need arises, in relation to the current circumstances or regarding future issues
Corey, M., & Corey, G. (2011)

17. Discuss ongoing client needs
Discuss with the client any unresolved issues or needs for further work
Single or multiple unresolved issues occur frequently
As with underlying issues, unresolved issues can cause disturbances
Resolving them can eliminate their negative impact
So it is common for clients to continue or return to counselling due to unresolved issues
DVD on closure: Theory & Practice of Counselling & Psychotherapy - The Case of Stan - #13: Integrative approach

18. Documenting closure
Discharge forms generally include pertinent information to summarise the significant aspects of working with a client
Discharge forms may be referenced by other staff, if the client returns or requests case notes transferred upon relocation
There are important points to include:

19. Documenting closure Discharge forms may include this information:
Diagnosis
Medication
Reason for leaving
Presenting problem
Counsellor’s goals
Client’s participation in formulating goals
Progress
Unaddressed issues
Client presentation at intake and at termination
Attempts to locate (if disappeared)
Summers, N. (2012)

20. References
Active Listening (Do’s & Don’ts), online video, accessed 5 June,
American Counseling Association (1996) A Practitioner's Guide to ethical Decision Making Site last updated: 2012
An introduction to Person Centred Therapy, online video, accessed 5 June, 2012.
Australian Counselling Association (2012) Professional Supervision Site last updated: not disclosed
Biblos (2011) Online Parallel Bible Project, Site last updated: not disclosed
Centre for Global Health (2012) Encouraging Dialogue: Listening, Questions, Paraphrasing, and Reflecting Feelings Site last updated: not disclosed
Corey, G. (2009) Theory and Practice of Counselling and Psychotherapy 8th ed. Brooks/Cole Cengage Learning, California p.386
Corey, G., Corey, M.S. & Callanan, P. (2011) Issues and Ethics in the Helping Professions, 8th ed. Brooks/Cole Cengage Learning, California p.78, 117, 141, 269
Dictionary.Com (2012) Roget’s Thesaurus Site last updated: not disclosed
Egan, G. (2007) The Skilled Helper, 9th ed. Brooks/Cole Cengage Learning, California
Feltham, C. & Dryden, W. (2004) Dictionary of Counselling 2nd ed. Whurr Publishers Ltd, London p.9
Geldard, D. & Geldard, K. (2012) Basic Personal Counselling, A Training Manual For Counsellors 7th ed. Pearson NSW p.376

21. References
Corey, M., & Corey, G. (2011) Becoming a Helper, 6th ed. Brooks/Cole Cengage Learning, California p.151, 152, 153
Counselling Skills Lecture 4: Paraphrasing & Reflecting Feelings, online video, accessed 4 June, 2012,
Dictionary.com, 2012, accessed 6 June, 2012, Site last updated: not disclosed
Ending counselling, online video, accessed 7 June, 2012,
Industry Skills Councils (2011) CHC51708 Diploma of Counselling Training Package Australian Government Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations
Interview Stories: Open versus Closed Questions, online video, accessed 4 June, 2012.
Ivey, A.E., Ivey, M.B. & Zalaquett, C.P. (2010) Intentional Interviewing and Counselling, Facilitating Client Development in a Multicultural Society 7th ed. Brooks Cole, California
Johari Window, online video, accessed 6 June, 2012,
“Listening skills – Paraphrasing” , online video, accessed 6 June,2012,
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) (2003) Site last updated: not disclosed
Psychology Suite 101 (2012) Site last updated: not disclosed

22. References
Ruskin, John, 2009, How to.com, Brighton, U, acessed 6 June, 2012,.
Steven, J. C. (2010) Site last updated: 2010
Stevens, T.G. (2010) Overcome Anger and Aggression Site last updated: not disclosed
Strengths-Based Counseling, online video, accessed 5 June, 2012,
Summers, N. (2012) Fundamentals of Case Management Practice, Skills for the Human Services 4th ed. Brooks Cole, California p.335, 337, 409
The Red Couch Counselling & Psychology Clinic (2009) Site last updated: not disclosed
Tom rath why we focus on weakness, online video, accessed June 5, 2012,
Victorian Government Department of Health (2009) Community Health Priority Tools Site last updated 2009
Western Ottawa Community Resource Centre (2012) Site last updated: not disclosed