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Introduction
Psychotherapy runs the gamut from very brief targeted interventions to longer term treatments conducted from a variety of theoretical approaches. Across this broad spectrum, treatment is most effective when the client(s) and therapist develop a strong therapeutic relationship, and treatment proceeds from a clear case conceptualization with accompanying appropriate therapeutic interventions. When treatment is coming to a close, this means that there are at least two important issues to be addressed. First, the goals for treatment are placed in context, including how the client was experiencing life when entering therapy, how they are functioning as therapy comes to a close, and how they will move forward in the future. Second, the therapeutic relationship must be brought to a close, recognizing the unique role it has played in the client’s experience, as well as how the clinician has experienced treatment. The two-hour webinar is intended to help the clinician think through how to address these two issues and how they might vary across clients and context.
The event will be equivalent to 2hrs of CPD.
Content
Psychotherapy involves a client and clinician working collaboratively to address the client’s concerns within the context of a therapeutic relationship which is intended to provide a safe environment where clients can be open in confronting difficult issues. The case conceptualization and theoretical approach employed impact how sessions are conducted both in terms of addressing clients’ concerns and the roles of client and therapist. Treatment ranges from more structured, task-oriented approaches often employed in cognitive-behavioural treatments to less explicit, task-focused approaches in insight-oriented approaches with many variations consistent with other therapeutic models. In essence, the client and therapist develop a way of working together, and the approach they have evolved throughout therapy will likely carry through as they approach therapy coming to a close, both with regard to (a) assessing progress in therapy with an eye also to the future and (b) addressing their own relationship. Whether the clinician employs various forms to assess therapeutic progress and planning for the future or whether this is done in less formal ways, this important goal remains. Likewise, whether the therapeutic relationship is approached primarily in terms of the client(s)’ and clinician’s efforts in working collaboratively toward treatment goals or whether the relationship itself is a more prominent part of treatment, bringing this relationship to an appropriate close is important. This webinar will provide guidelines for helping the clinician decide how they want to approach these two important tasks consistent with their own therapeutic approach. The webinar will focus primarily on individual therapy for adults, with some consideration for working with couples as well. It will include a focus on treatment which was largely successful in helping clients achieve most of their goals as well as more limited outcomes.
Learning Objectives
1) To help the clinician delineate the important tasks of bringing treatment to a close with regard to (a) the client’s presenting concerns and (b) the therapeutic relationship
2) To assist the clinician in clarifying how their own style and therapeutic approach will impact how these two tasks will be approached, consistent with how therapy has been conducted
3) To differentiate how these two tasks will vary across clients for a given clinician, depending on the overall success of achieving treatment goals and client characteristics
4) To differentiate and provide suggestions regarding how to approach terminations when the therapeutic relationship has been less than optimal or even ruptures have occurred
Training Modalities
This two-hour webinar will be conducted with presentation from the webinar leader, Professor Baucom, assisted with PowerPoint slides. Opportunities for questions, comments, and discussion through the chat with the attendees will be included.
Key References
Davis, D. (2008). Terminating Therapy: A Professional Guide to Ending on a Positive Note. New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons.
Holmes, J. (1997). ‘Too early, too late’: Endings in Psychotherapy - An Attachment perspective. British Journal of Psychotherapy, 14(2), 159-171.
Jakobsons, L. J., Brown, J. S., Gordon, K. H., & Joiner, T. E. (2007). When are clients ready to terminate? Cognitive and Behavioral Practice, 14(2), 218–230.
Knox, S., Adrians, N., Everson, E., Hess, S., Hill, C., & Crook-Lyon, R. (2011). Clients' perspectives on therapy termination. Psychotherapy Research, 21(2), 154–167.
O’Donohue, W.T. & Cucciare, M.A. (2008). Terminating Psychotherapy: A Clinician’s Guide. New York: Taylor and Francis.
Wachtel, P. L. (2002). Termination of therapy: An effort at integration. Journal of Psychotherapy Integration, 12(3), 373–383.
About the presenter
Donald Baucom, Ph.D. is Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Psychology and Neuroscience at the University of North Carolina in the US. His research program spans over fifty years focusing on developing, evaluating, and disseminating psychological interventions with an interpersonal focus. He has published numerous books on psychotherapy as well as hundreds of empirical and theoretical papers. For decades he has taught doctoral level courses in adult psychotherapy with an emphasis on empirically supported treatments spanning different theoretical orientations. He has conducted clinical training workshops for many years across almost all continents and delights in interacting with clinicians working in various contexts. He has received numerous awards for his teaching, clinical training and supervision, mentoring, and research. He continues to be a frequent trainer and supervisor in the UK, calling the UK his “second home” due to his fondness for the people and his ancestral heritage.
Who should attend
This workshop is intended for therapists from various professions with a range of therapeutic orientations who are engaging in psychological interventions with clients. The workshop will focus on adult psychotherapy, yet the principles are applicable across a wide age range adapted to the developmental stage of clients.