How To Know When It's Ok To Stop Therapy

Deciding to start therapy can be a massively daunting prospect for some people. Equally, so can deciding to stop it. There are many different reasons for stopping therapy: maybe you feel like you've achieved your goals, maybe it's a financial issue, or perhaps you feel that visits to your therapist simply aren't benefiting you anymore. Whatever the reasons, how do you know when it's ok to stop therapy?

You have committed to attending regular therapy sessions for a while now, and you have found a safe place to explore your emotions and feelings with somebody who is always there, ready to listen. The idea of giving that up can be rather unsettling. Coming to terms with "terminating" therapy, as therapists call it, will be a different process for everyone. What you have to remember is that it does not have to be permanent, and if at any point you feel you need therapy again, there will always be someone there to listen.

Reasons Why People Stop Therapy

Your therapy session should feel like a safe space where your concerns will be heard. You should build a connection with your therapist and they should be respectful of your values and religious beliefs. If you don't have a good vibe with your therapist, or you feel that you have simply reached a level and cannot get beyond it, then rather than deciding to terminate therapy, it may be more advisable to seek out a different therapist. There are many different methods that therapists use, and not all of them will work for everyone. Or perhaps it used to work but you've learned all you can from that type of therapy and now you need to consider a change to progress further.

It is no secret that therapy isn't a cheap thing, and financial issues can cause clients to want or need to terminate therapy. Insurance plans can vary greatly, some companies will cover a specific number of sessions, while others may give you a specific time scale - one year for example - to complete your treatment. If you do feel you need to terminate therapy for financial reasons, you may consider approaching your provider as they may be able to work out a different pay structure to work with your financial needs. Some companies may offer a sliding scale pay structure, or be able to advise you on additional mental health resources that can help you out.

Perhaps you have finally learned the skills you need to process and regulate your emotions, and you feel it is time to go it alone. Feeling that you could cope with challenges on your own is a very positive sign that you may be ready to stop therapy.

Can You Just Stop Therapy?

It is not a good idea to suddenly go "cold turkey". Your therapy sessions have been a learning process and you may have been attending them for some time now. You will have formed a relationship with your therapist, and this may have been the healthiest and most secure relationship you have experienced, so ending it abruptly could be emotionally stressful for you and cause a setback.

A crucial part of the therapeutic process is processing the end of a therapeutic relationship. When you feel ready to broach the subject you can have the conversation with your therapist, and the process of terminating your therapy can begin. This way your therapist can make your transition to coping alone as smooth as possible for you.

Your therapist can review any warning signs, so you are aware of what to do if any old patterns or behaviours start creeping in. They will review the progress you have made over the course of your treatment, empowering you and giving you the confidence and momentum you need to continue to utilize what you have learned so far. Together you can come up with a plan to maintain your progress, and what you need to do if you feel you want to re-enter therapy at any stage. Your therapist can help you to understand that it is a positive thing to stop your therapeutic relationship when you feel ready, as it is a healthy thing to be able to let things go.

Stopping Therapy Doesn't Mean Stopping Practice

Now you feel you have the strength to cope without your therapist, you believe in yourself and have the power to practice self-care. But that doesn't mean you forget all you've learned and slip back into old habits. You have all the tools you need to cope on your own, but you can always revisit therapy if you feel old habits creeping back, or you experience new traumas in your life. Therapy will always be there for you.