ACT for PTSD: Therapy Termination
Booz Allen
Department of Veterans Affairs
Yale University
University of Nevada, Reno
Key Points
- Acknowledge termination from the beginning of treatment and ensure skills retention and generalization.
- Because of interpersonal loss or breaches of trust, termination can be emotionally evocative.
- Saying goodbye is also difficult for the therapist.
- Don’t contribute to emotional avoidance in the therapeutic relationship as therapy comes to a close.
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Transcript
So now, it’s time to talk about how to end the ACT treatment because just as important as determining how to begin and to structure ACT treatment with a given client is the careful analysis of how and when to end the course of treatment.
It’s very useful to begin efforts with the client by agreeing to work together for a certain number of sessions, and then to reassess progress toward the client’s values at that time, and to repeat that process over and over. The therapist and client can always agree to continue therapy for another period of time—assuming this is logistically possible. But it’s important that this is done purposefully and mindfully rather than simply staying in treatment together out of comfort or inertia.
Batten, S. V. (2011). Essentials of acceptance and commitment therapy. SAGE Publications Ltd.
Frequently, clients and therapists alike may avoid a direct discussion of termination because it can be awkward, difficult, or painful. However, from an ACT perspective, the concept of ending therapy should be present from the very moment that therapy begins. Because both therapist and client know that this work is time-limited and focused on specific priority areas, they can remain more easily trained on the prize of therapy: the client learning how to move his or her own life forward both currently and in the future.
Batten, S. V. (2011). Essentials of acceptance and commitment therapy. SAGE Publications Ltd.