The timing of psychodynamically oriented psychotherapy termination and its relation to reasons for termination, feelings about termination, and satisfaction with therapy

Abstract

The present study investigated retrospective client accounts of the timing of psychodynamically oriented private practice psychotherapy termination and its relation to the reasons for termination on the one hand, and to client feelings about termination and satisfaction from therapy on the other. Eighty-two persons who had been in private practice psychodynamically oriented psychotherapy were assessed using open-ended questions and rating scales. Forty percent of participants reported that therapy ended on time, 37% that it ended earlier than it should have, and 23% that it ended later than it should have. In general, clients who reported that termination was on time were more satisfied, terminated for less negative reasons, and had more positive feelings. Results suggest that clients find terminating psychotherapy at the right time important and yet difficult to achieve.