What should a therapist ensure before terminating services with a client?

Before a therapist terminates services with a client, it is essential to ensure that there is an adequate new care plan in place. This is primarily for the client's ongoing support and well-being after the therapist-client relationship ends. A thorough transition plan is crucial to facilitate continuity of care, especially if the client still needs therapeutic services. Establishing a new care plan may involve providing referrals to other professionals, discussing the next steps for treatment, and ensuring that the client understands where to seek help if needed.

While considerations like ensuring all treatment goals are met or confirming payment for services are important aspects of the therapeutic process, they do not prioritize the client's future care in the same way that a new care plan does. Documenting feelings about the client, although part of reflective practice, does not directly address the client's ongoing needs. Therefore, having a structured plan for the client's care post-termination is a key ethical consideration in the therapeutic relationship.