Client reasons and experiences in treatment that influence termination of psychotherapy

Abstract

Thirty-one male and female university counseling center clients completed questionnaires that identified reasons for termination and experiences in psychotherapy. Early terminators responded that they ended therapy because of situational constraints and discomfort with services more often than did late terminators. Late terminators said they stopped treatment because of improvement attributed to therapy more often than did early terminators. Late terminators also reported higher levels of belief that the therapist respected them, therapist warmth, and therapist competency than did early terminators. It was concluded that motivational factors in which volition plays a greater (reasons for termination) and lesser (client experiences) role combine to influence psychotherapy termination.