Quote:
Originally Posted by Calm
An individual in the helping profession such as a psychiatrist or psychologist do receive training in the termination process with a client. If they didn't receive this training, then their training was lacking in proper protocol.
We're not discussing employers. other companies, friends, family members, etc. The topic was specifically about how a person's treatment was ended via form letter. A therapeutic alliance is hopefully established with a client and ending it in such a manner is outright unethical and morally irresponsible. Just because technology has evolved doesn't wipe out the proper way to handle delicate situations. Being a client of a psychiatrist most definitely falls into the "delicate" category. Not to mention the possible harm that could result by a so called professional handling a termination in this way.
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I contacted the American psychiatric association this morning to verify I was not leading anyone astray on this issue. I asked them what are the legal and ethical ways in which clients and therapists are able to terminate treatment with each other....their reply.....
with in the USA the ways in which a client can legally and ethically terminate with a treatment provider are...
just never go back (the most popular way)
schedule a session to inform the treatment provider that they will not be back
send the treatment provider a letter informing them they will not be back
phone call informing the treatment provider that they will not be back
email the treatment provider informing them they will not be back
court action (this one applies if the client has been court mandated into treatment.)
with in the USA the ways that a treatment provider can legally and ethically terminate with a client in the USA is....
send a letter to the client informing them that they will not be on their caseload any longer and why
phone call to the client informing them that they will no longer be their treatment provider (if client does not answer or is not available by phone send a letter, do not leave a message due to confidentiality laws.)
email /text (this one is not highly endorsed due to lack of confidentiality but can be done if the client has a form on file stating they wish this mode of contact.)
confer with client about scheduling a closure session, if client is not open to this, use alternate mode of contact ie phone or written.
I realize that other countries may not have so many options for their clients and treatment providers and not everyone is going to agree to what is the best mode of contact between treatment providers and their clients. line in the sand is that here in america we have the freedom to do things in many different ways and there is no iron clad right or wrong...
as for training....well here in NY the training on how to terminate with a client is the instructor explaining there is no one right way, some clients will just up and walk out and never come back, others want the I need to say goodbye sessions, some want it in writing, some clients will want a phone call, above all put it in writing in a termination/closing the case letter so that the client may seek treatment elsewhere if they chose and it will also serve as official documentation that the case was closed and when.
each agency and treatment provider can choose which ever mode of termination/closing process they wish to use.
if anyone wishes to find out what the standards are for their own locations they can contact their locations ethics boards for clinical social workers/psychiatrists/psychologists.