Lecture Notes: The Art of Closing a Therapy Session
Introduction to Deliberate Practice
- Deliberate Practice
- Introduced to psychotherapists in 2016 with the book Deliberate Practice for Psychotherapists by Tony Rousmarini.
- Focuses on being thoughtful about using skills in therapy, getting feedback, and honing these skills.
- Compared to a craftsperson mastering their art.
Closing a Therapy Session
- Importance
- It is a skillful art that requires deliberate practice.
- The end of a session should be considered from the start of engagement.
Time Management
- Use of Clocks
- Essential to have a time-keeping device that both therapist and client can see.
- Avoids breaking the process by checking personal devices.
- Helps both therapist and client regulate session time.
- Setting Expectations
- Contract the session duration beforehand (e.g., 60 minutes).
- Allow time to wrap up discussions and prepare the client to return to their daily life.
Maintaining Boundaries
- Session Overruns
- Avoid habitually overrunning as it moves established boundaries.
- Important for client respect and future scheduling.
- Boundary Respect
- Reflects commitment to contracted time and sends a positive signal to the client.
Techniques for Effective Closure
- Internal Time Management
- Subtle ways to check time without disrupting the session (e.g., observing a client's watch or using a clock).
- Soft Power Management
- Therapist subtly guides the session towards closure by reminding the client of time left.
Handling Heavy Material
- End-of-Session Challenges
- Addressing significant topics dropped at the end (e.g., loss of a loved one).
- Acknowledge the topic and suggest revisiting in the next session.
- Signposting Future Discussions
- Allows for controlled, respectful closure while acknowledging important client material.
The Role of the Therapist
- Supportive Closure
- Summarize the session to create a "neat package" of what was discussed.
- Invite the client to reflect on the session before returning to their life.
Practical Considerations for Therapists
- Seek Feedback
- Continual improvement through feedback and supervision.
- Skill Development
- Focus on summarizing, use of questions, and silence as part of effective closure.
- Supervision and Training
- Regular discussion in supervision to refine closing skills.
Conclusion
- Resources
- A handout on closing counseling sessions is available at counselingtutor.com, episode 254.
This lecture emphasizes the nuanced and deliberate approach required to effectively close therapy sessions while maintaining professional boundaries and respecting the client's process.