When Is the Right Time to End Therapy?

"The premature abruption of therapy has several undesirable effects. Swift et al. (2) point out that clients who prematurely terminate exhibit poorer treatment outcomes compared to those who stay in therapy longer or complete it. Sherman & Anderson (4) note that the decision to terminate early often leads the client to decide that therapy is not for them, thus depriving"

"themselves of a broad and diverse range of approaches and specialists generalized under the umbrella of "therapy". The opportune time for ending therapy The easiest decision is when the client comes with a concrete problem, e.g., "Help me get through a divorce", "I need help with changing jobs, but something is stopping me", "I want to earn more, but feel that I sabotage myself","

"and so on. In such cases, recovering from the problems and reaching a concrete and measurable result - i.e., finding a new job, getting a divorce, earning more, and/or improving functional abilities, becomes the point where therapy can be completed. Another straightforward decision to end therapy can be made when addressing issues like specific phobias, panic attacks, or anxiety related to a concrete current or"

Premature termination of therapy produces poorer treatment outcomes and can lead clients to conclude that therapy is not for them, limiting exposure to varied approaches and specialists. Clear, concrete problems with measurable outcomes—such as navigating a divorce, changing jobs, or earning more—provide straightforward criteria for ending therapy once functional goals are achieved. Specific phobias, panic attacks, anxiety tied to a concrete event, and some grief reactions can also be resolved objectively or via client-reported calm, unless they are part of broader conditions like PTSD. Determining appropriate timing is often complex for deeper-rooted emotional symptoms.

Read at Psychology Today