Problem: Response to colleague
Provide a suggestion for dealing with the negative feelings that can occur with terminating client relationships.
Identify a social work skill, and provide a specific example of how your colleague might use this skill to address challenges in termination.
Colleague response
Management of Planned and Unplanned Termination of Care
Evaluation and Termination of Service
When preparing to terminate services for a client, it is essential to conduct an evaluation using appropriate tools to assess whether the client's goals have been met and to determine their readiness to end services. For instance, when a client sets specific goals such as obtaining employment or securing affordable childcare, goal attainment scaling can be used to measure progress and achievement (Kirst-Ashman & Hull, 2018). In cases where a client has been working on managing anxiety, evaluation may involve discussing the client's ability to utilize mindfulness, self-calming, or coping skills independently. Additionally, administering an updated GAD-7 test helps track changes compared to the initial assessment. If the client demonstrates proficiency in applying coping skills and expresses confidence in managing their anxiety, the process of terminating care can be initiated.
Situations in Which Professional Relationships May End Before Goals Are Met
Occasionally, the professional relationship between a client and social worker ends before the client's goals are achieved. This may happen if a social worker is required to transfer to a different work location or county with their agency or if a client relocates to a new area, resulting in a client transfer. Such transitions may evoke feelings of anxiety, sadness, or anger in clients who are assigned a new worker. In some instances, clients may even decide to terminate services due to the change. Research indicates that when new social workers acknowledge and validate clients' emotions regarding the transfer and assist them with coping skills, it can foster a positive experience and help build a supportive alliance between the client and the new worker (Marmarosh et al., 2017).
Social Worker's Feelings Regarding Planned and Unplanned Termination
The termination of services or client transfers often elicit a range of emotions in social workers. When a client reaches their goals and displays newfound confidence, the social worker may experience increased professional satisfaction (Marmarosh et al., 2017). In cases where the therapeutic relationship involves frequent and open-ended sessions, strong bonds may form, leading to feelings of loss when the relationship ends. Conversely, if termination is unplanned-such as a client requesting a transfer or discontinuing treatment-the social worker may feel disappointment or guilt. To maintain professionalism during the termination process, social workers are encouraged to seek guidance and support from management staff (Kirst-Ashman & Hull, 2018).
Clients' Feelings About Termination of Therapeutic Relationships
Clients may experience a variety of emotions when therapeutic services come to an end. These feelings often depend on the client's initial needs and whether those needs have been fulfilled. For example, clients who sought assistance with obtaining stable housing or enrolling in food assistance programs may feel grateful and satisfied upon reaching their goals, resulting in greater confidence about the termination of services. Alternatively, clients struggling with anxiety or depression, who engaged in frequent and intensive sessions to build coping skills, may develop a deeper relationship with their worker. For these clients, ending the therapeutic relationship can lead to a sense of loss (Kirst-Ashman & Hull, 2018). Need Assignment Help?
References:
Kirst-Ashman, K. K., & Hull, G. H. Jr., (2018). Empowerment Series: Understanding Generalist Practice, 8th Edition. Cengage Learning (pp. 1-53). [VitalSource Bookshelf version].
Marmarosh, C. L., Thompson, B., Hill, C., Hollman, S., & Megivern, M. (2017). Therapists-in-training experiences of working with transfer clients: One relationship terminates and another begins.Links to an external site. Psychotherapy, 54 (1), 102-113.