The Connected Therapist | Private Practice, Self-Care, Marketing, Burnout, Counseling, Couples Therapy18 Touko 2025

18: The Last Session: Navigating Termination in Therapy with Care and Clarity

In this episode, we're diving into one of the most important — and often overlooked — parts of the therapeutic process: the termination session. Whether therapy is ending because goals have been met or life circumstances are shifting, how we close out our work with clients matters.

You'll learn:

What termination sessions are and why they’re essential
Common reasons therapy might end — and how to talk about it
What a thoughtful, intentional last session can include
How clients and therapists can navigate the emotions of goodbye
Tips for creating meaningful closure, even when endings are unplanned

Here are some key elements you might include:

Review of progress: Revisit the goals you set and the growth you've experienced.
Highlight key insights: Discuss meaningful takeaways, tools, or breakthroughs.
Acknowledge challenges: Talk about any unfinished work or lingering questions.
Discuss future support: Plan for next steps, relapse prevention, or potential follow-up.
Explore emotions: Make space for grief, gratitude, anxiety, or relief — all are valid.
Celebrate the work: Honor the courage and effort it took to show up and engage. You might include some sort of meaningful ritual or reflection piece during this time.
Say goodbye: Name the ending and express appreciation for the relationship. Contract for any future reaching out if this is part of your practice.

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Jaksot(21)

20: You Don’t Have to Do Private Practice Alone: Linder Dwyer on Finding Community

In this episode, we’re joined by one of our own community members, guest Linder Dwyer, a Licensed Professional Counselor and private practice owner in Austin, Texas, who shares her personal journey of...

31 Touko 202513min

19: Expectations Vs. Reality: What It's Really Like to Be a Therapist in Private Practice

So many therapists dream of private practice — the flexibility, autonomy, and freedom to do meaningful work on your own terms. But what’s the truth behind the dream? In today’s episode, we are breakin...

22 Touko 202535min

17: The First Session: Helping Clients Clarify Their “Why” and Begin Treatment Planning

In this episode, we dive into the essential elements of a first therapy session—how to build connection, uncover your client’s deeper "why" for seeking therapy, and begin contracting to co-create a st...

8 Touko 202526min

16: How to Run a Successful Therapy Intake Call: A Step-by-Step Guide for Clinicians

In this episode, we dive into one of the most important but often overlooked parts of building a thriving therapy practice: the intake call. Whether you're a new clinician or a seasoned therapist refi...

1 Touko 202516min

15: Community: A Non-Negotiable for Therapist Resilience

Loneliness has officially been declared an epidemic due to its significant impact on both mental and physical health—and therapists are not immune. In fact, despite being in a profession centered on c...

24 Huhti 202531min

14: Boundaries Start Within: How Therapists Can Avoid Burnout by Honoring Their Limits

As therapists, we're trained to hold space for others—but what about holding space for ourselves? In this episode, we explore the deeply human practice of setting boundaries with ourselves—not from a ...

17 Huhti 202542min

13: Boundaries With Clients for Therapists in Private Practice

In this episode, we explore one of the most important and often tricky parts of being a therapist: setting and holding boundaries with clients. We’ll talk about the difference between internal boundar...

10 Huhti 202532min