Client Termination Summary
Assignment 1: Practicum – Client Termination Summary
Although termination is an inevitable part of the therapeutic process, it is often difficult for clients. However, by discussing termination throughout therapy, you can better prepare your clients for life without you. Once a client has achieved his or her therapeutic goals, termination sessions should be held and documented in a client termination summary. For this Assignment, you have the opportunity to practice writing a termination summary for a client with whom you have worked during your practicum experience.
To prepare:
For guidance on writing a client termination summary, review pages 693–712 of Wheeler (2014) in this week’s Learning Resources.
Identify a client who may be ready to terminate therapy.
The Assignment
Identifying information of client (e.g., hypothetical name and age)
Date the client initially contacted therapist, date therapy began, duration of therapy, and date therapy will end
Total number of sessions, including number of missed sessions
Whether termination was planned or unplanned
Presenting problem
Major psychosocial issues
Types of services rendered (e.g., individual, couple/family therapy, group therapy)
Overview of treatment process
Goal status (goals met, partially met, unmet)
Treatment limitations (if any)
Remaining difficulties and/or concerns
Recommendations
Follow-up plan (if indicated)
Instructions for future contact
Signatures
With the client you selected in mind, address in a client termination summary (without violating HIPAA regulations) the following:
