How to End Therapy: Navigating the Final Sessions Successfully

You've been coming to therapy for weeks, months, maybe even years. The crisis that brought you has eased. You're coping better, understanding yourself more deeply, feeling more grounded in your life. Increasingly, you find yourself thinking: "Do I still need this?"

Then comes an unexpected complication: actually finishing therapy turns out to be harder than you anticipated. Maybe you feel guilty about leaving your therapist. Perhaps you're worried you'll fall apart without this support. Or you're simply unsure how to broach the subject of ending.

Finishing therapy—what clinicians call "termination"—is a significant therapeutic event in itself. How you end matters. Done thoughtfully, it can consolidate the gains you've made and leave you feeling confident in your ability to continue growing independently. Rushed or avoided, it can leave loose ends and unnecessary regrets.

This guide walks you through how to recognise when you're ready to end, how to raise the subject with your therapist, what a good ending process looks like, and how to handle the surprisingly complex feelings that often arise.

Table of Contents

• Signs You Might Be Ready to End Therapy
• Signs You Might Not Be Ready Yet
• How to Raise Ending with Your Therapist
• What a Planned Ending Process Looks Like
• The Emotional Complexity of Saying Goodbye
• Different Types of Endings
• What If You Need to Come Back?
• Ending Badly: When to Leave Immediately
• Frequently Asked Questions

Signs You Might Be Ready to End Therapy

How do you know when therapy has run its course? There's no universal timeline, but here are indicators that you might be approaching a natural ending:

You've Addressed What Brought You

If you came to therapy for depression and you're now consistently functioning well, or you've processed the trauma that was overwhelming you, or you've worked through the relationship issues that felt insurmountable—you may have completed what you set out to do.

This doesn't mean your life is perfect. It means the specific difficulty that prompted you to seek help has meaningfully improved.

You're Handling Setbacks Independently

A key sign of readiness is not the absence of difficulties, but your ability to navigate them without needing your therapist's input. When something challenging happens, you find yourself working through it using the insights and tools you've developed rather than storing it up for your next session.

Sessions Feel Less Necessary

You might notice yourself thinking "I don't have much to talk about today" more frequently. Or the gap between sessions feels comfortable rather than difficult. Perhaps you've already spaced sessions out—from weekly to fortnightly to monthly—and even monthly feels like it might be more than you need.

You've Internalised Your Therapist's Voice

One of therapy's gifts is developing a kinder, wiser internal voice—often initially experienced as "what would my therapist say?" Over time, this becomes your own voice. When you catch yourself being self-critical and spontaneously respond with compassion, or you're facing a decision and can access your own wisdom without needing external guidance, you've internalised what therapy offers.

Your Life Has Genuinely Changed

Beyond symptom relief, you might notice that your relationships are different, your boundaries are clearer, your self-understanding is deeper, or your capacity to tolerate difficult emotions has grown. The changes therapy catalysed have become integrated into how you live rather than something you need to actively maintain.

You're Curious About Managing Independently

Simple curiosity about whether you can maintain your progress without ongoing therapy is itself a healthy sign. It suggests confidence in your own resources rather than dependency on external support.

Financial or Practical Factors

Sometimes endings are prompted by practical realities: you're moving, your therapist is leaving, financial circumstances have changed. These aren't ideal, but if they coincide with feeling ready anyway, they can provide a natural impetus to end.

Signs You Might Not Be Ready Yet

Conversely, some situations suggest it might be worth continuing a bit longer:

You're Ending to Avoid Difficult Material

If you're thinking about finishing just as you're approaching painful territory—a difficult memory, a pattern you don't want to examine, shame you haven't yet shared—this might be avoidance rather than readiness. Discuss this openly with your therapist.

You Haven't Addressed Core Issues

Sometimes surface symptoms improve whilst underlying patterns remain unaddressed. Your anxiety might be manageable now, but if you haven't explored the perfectionism, people-pleasing, or historical wounds that fuel it, you might be setting yourself up for future difficulties.

You're in Crisis or Significant Transition

Ending therapy during acute crisis, major life transition, or relapse isn't usually wise unless external factors make it necessary. Wait for a period of relative stability.

You're Testing Your Therapist

Sometimes thoughts about ending are really questions in disguise: "Will they try to keep me?" "Do they actually care?" "Would they be okay without me?" If you're testing whether your therapist will fight for the relationship, it's worth exploring that dynamic in the work rather than acting on it by leaving.

You Feel You "Should" Be Done

Ending because you think you should be over this by now, or because you feel guilty about needing ongoing support, is different from genuinely feeling complete. Therapy doesn't need to be time-limited unless external factors require it.

How to Raise Ending with Your Therapist

Many people find it surprisingly difficult to tell their therapist they're thinking about finishing. Here's how to approach it:

It's Part of Their Job

First, know that your therapist expects this conversation. Talking about endings is a normal part of therapeutic work, not an awkward imposition. They won't be shocked, hurt, or abandoned—they're trained to navigate endings professionally.

Start with Tentative Exploration

You don't need to arrive with a firm decision. Simply raise it as something you're pondering:

• "I've been thinking that I might be getting close to finishing therapy. I wanted to talk about whether that feels right to you."
• "I'm finding I have less to bring to sessions lately. I'm wondering if that means I'm ready to wind down, or if that's something else."
• "I think I might want to start thinking about ending in the next few months. Can we talk about what that would look like?"

Be Honest About Ambivalence

If you're uncertain, say so: "Part of me feels ready to finish, but another part is anxious about managing without this support." Ambivalence is completely normal and something your therapist can help you explore.

If It's About the Therapy Not Working

If you want to end because therapy isn't helping or you don't feel connected to your therapist, honesty is still best—though harder:

• "I've been thinking that this isn't quite the right fit for me, and I'm wondering about finishing."
• "I don't think we're making progress, and I'm not sure continuing makes sense."

A good therapist will respond non-defensively, help you think it through, and potentially suggest alternatives (different approach, different therapist) rather than pressuring you to stay.

Your Therapist Might Raise It First

Sometimes therapists initiate the conversation when they notice signs of readiness. This isn't them pushing you out—it's acknowledging your progress. You're free to disagree or say you'd like to continue a bit longer.

What a Planned Ending Process Looks Like

The gold standard for ending therapy is a planned, gradual process rather than an abrupt stop. Here's what that typically involves:

Discussion and Agreement

Once you've raised the possibility, you and your therapist discuss whether ending feels right, consider any reservations, and—if you both agree it makes sense—decide on a timeframe. This might be:

• A set number of final sessions (e.g., "Let's plan for four more sessions")
• A target date ("Let's work toward finishing at the end of August")
• Gradually spacing out sessions ("Let's go fortnightly for two months, then monthly, then see how that feels")

Review and Consolidation

Final sessions often involve looking back over the work you've done together:

• What brought you to therapy and how things have changed
• Key insights or turning points
• What you've learned about yourself
• Skills and resources you've developed
• What you want to remember going forward

This review isn't just nostalgic—it consolidates learning and helps you carry it forward into your life.

Addressing Unfinished Business

The ending phase is a chance to address anything that hasn't been said: gratitude you haven't expressed, concerns you've held back, ways you've felt misunderstood. Bringing these into the open prevents regrets later.

Processing the Goodbye Itself

Good therapists make space to explore the feelings the ending evokes: sadness, relief, anxiety, gratitude, or complicated mixtures of all these. This processing is part of the therapeutic work, not separate from it.

Practical Planning

You'll likely discuss:

• What happens if you need to come back (almost always: you can)
• How to maintain gains (your own reflections, practices you've found helpful)
• Other supports you have in place
• What might be red flags that you need additional help

The Final Session

The last session often has a different quality—more reflective, sometimes more emotional, occasionally awkwardly ordinary. There's no right way for it to feel. Some therapists offer a ritual closing (a letter, a card, a meaningful object); others keep it simple. What matters is that you feel acknowledged and ready.

The Emotional Complexity of Saying Goodbye

Ending therapy often evokes surprisingly strong feelings. Here's what's normal:

Sadness and Loss

Even when leaving feels right, sadness is common and appropriate. You're saying goodbye to someone who's been genuinely important to you, who knows you deeply, and who's provided support during difficult times. That's a real loss, and it makes sense to grieve it.

Guilt About Leaving

Some people feel guilty about "abandoning" their therapist. Remember: your therapist is a paid professional with their own support systems. Leaving isn't abandonment—it's a natural completion of a boundaried relationship. They'll be okay, and they want you to do what's right for you.

Anxiety About Managing Alone

It's normal to feel anxious about losing this safety net. You might worry: "What if I fall apart?" "What if I can't maintain this progress?" These fears are worth exploring in your final sessions, but they're not usually reasons to stay indefinitely.

Relief

Alongside more tender feelings, relief is also common: relief about saving money, reclaiming the time, not needing therapy anymore. Relief doesn't mean you didn't value the work—it means you're ready for the next chapter.

Gratitude

Many people feel profound gratitude toward their therapist, sometimes mixed with difficulty expressing it directly (particularly in British culture where effusiveness can feel embarrassing). If you feel it, consider saying it. Therapists rarely tire of knowing their work has mattered.

Wanting to Maintain Contact

It's common to wish you could stay in touch with your therapist in some way—friends on social media, occasional coffee, updates on your life. Almost always, therapists will gently maintain the boundary. This isn't personal rejection—it's professional ethics. The relationship was always boundaried, and maintaining that boundary protects the work you've done.

Replaying Earlier Goodbyes

Therapy endings sometimes activate feelings from earlier losses: parents, partners, friends, deaths. If ending therapy feels disproportionately devastating, it's worth exploring whether it's echoing an earlier, unresolved goodbye. This itself can be profoundly therapeutic.

Different Types of Endings

Not all endings look the same:

The Natural, Planned Ending

Both you and your therapist agree you've done good work, things have improved, and it's time to finish. You have several closing sessions to process the ending. This is the ideal.

The Practical Ending

External circumstances require ending: you're moving cities, your therapist is relocating, financial circumstances have changed. These endings can feel incomplete but can still be navigated thoughtfully with whatever time you have.

The "Door Open" Ending

Some people end with the explicit understanding that they might return for "top-up" sessions if needed. This can ease the anxiety of ending whilst still marking a transition to less intensive support.

Gradual Spacing Out

Rather than stopping entirely, some people gradually extend the time between sessions: weekly becomes fortnightly becomes monthly becomes every few months, eventually fading to nothing. This gentle transition suits some people well.

The Unplanned Ending

Sometimes therapy stops abruptly: you stop booking sessions without discussing it, or life gets in the way and you never return. These endings often leave loose threads. If this happens and you feel unsettled about it, it's usually possible to go back for one or two closing sessions even months or years later.

What If You Need to Come Back?

One of the most important things to know: ending therapy doesn't mean never returning. Therapy isn't like a medical treatment you fail if you need again. It's more like visiting the dentist—periodic check-ups or additional work when needed is completely normal.

Returning Isn't Failure

If you finish therapy and six months or two years later find you're struggling again, returning isn't evidence you didn't "do it properly" the first time. Life continues to present challenges. Having supported yourself through one difficulty doesn't mean you should be immune to future ones.

Can You See the Same Therapist?

Usually yes. Most therapists welcome former clients returning if they have availability. There's value in working with someone who already knows your history, though some people prefer a fresh start with someone new.

When to Consider Returning

Times that might warrant reconnecting with therapy include:

• New crisis or trauma
• Significant life transition (job loss, relationship ending, bereavement)
• Old patterns resurfacing more intensely
• New layer of work becomes apparent
• Simply feeling stuck and wanting support

Ending Badly: When to Leave Immediately

While planned endings are ideal, some situations warrant immediate termination without a gradual process:

Boundary Violations

If your therapist crosses professional boundaries—romantic or sexual advances, inappropriate self-disclosure, socialising outside sessions, financial impropriety—leave immediately and report them to their professional body (BACP or UKCP).

Feeling Unsafe

If you feel consistently unsafe—judged, shamed, re-traumatised, or emotionally harmed—you don't owe your therapist a closing process. You can simply stop attending and, if you wish, send a brief email explaining you won't be returning.

Persistent Lack of Progress or Fit

If you've been in therapy for months with no improvement and multiple conversations about this haven't helped, it's reasonable to end without an extended closing period. A brief final session to tie up loose ends might be useful, but lengthy processing isn't necessary if the relationship wasn't working anyway.

Financial Crisis

If you can't afford sessions and feel pressured to continue despite this, it's okay to end immediately. A brief phone call or email explaining the situation is sufficient.

In these cases, trust your judgement. You don't need permission to leave therapy that isn't working or that's actively harmful.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long should the ending process take?

This varies. For brief therapy (under 3 months), one or two closing sessions might suffice. For longer-term work (over a year), 4-6 sessions spread over several weeks or months allows proper processing. There's no rigid rule—it's whatever feels right for the depth and duration of your work.

Is it normal to feel sad about ending therapy?

Absolutely. Sadness is one of the most common responses, even when ending feels right. You're saying goodbye to an important relationship and closing a significant chapter. If you don't feel sad, that's also fine—people respond differently.

What if I change my mind after ending?

If you end therapy and later realise it was premature, you can almost always go back. Most therapists would rather you return than struggle alone out of embarrassment. Simply contact them and explain you'd like to resume.

Should I get my therapist a gift?

This varies by therapeutic approach and individual therapist boundaries. Many therapists have policies about gifts (often accepting small tokens like cards or homemade items, but not expensive presents). If you want to give something, a heartfelt card expressing what the work meant to you is almost always appropriate and deeply valued.

Can I hug my therapist goodbye?

Again, this varies by therapist. Some warmly hug clients; others maintain stricter physical boundaries. If you'd like to, you can ask: "Would it be okay to hug you goodbye?" They'll let you know their boundary, and there's no wrong answer.

What if my therapist seems sad about me leaving?

It's not uncommon for therapists to feel some sadness when long-term clients leave—it's a real relationship, and they're human. However, they should handle these feelings professionally and not burden you with their distress. Brief acknowledgment ("I'll miss our work together") is appropriate; making you responsible for managing their emotions isn't.

How do I end if I can't afford to continue?

Be honest: "I need to finish therapy because of financial reasons." A good therapist will understand and won't make you feel guilty. They might offer reduced fees, spacing sessions out, or can end immediately if that's what you need.

What if I ghosted my therapist and now feel guilty?

If you stopped attending without explanation and now feel unresolved about it, you can contact them to explain and perhaps have a closing session. Most therapists understand that abrupt endings happen and won't judge you. Even a simple email bringing closure can help.

Can I keep in touch after therapy ends?

Almost always, the answer is no—not because your therapist doesn't care, but because professional boundaries protect the work you did together. The relationship was always boundaried, and maintaining that protects both of you. However, many therapists are happy to receive occasional brief updates via email, even if they can't maintain ongoing contact.

Leaving Well

Ending therapy is one of the final pieces of therapeutic work—an opportunity to practice leaving something important while trusting you'll be okay, saying goodbye while carrying what mattered forward, and honouring what was whilst stepping into what comes next.

When done thoughtfully, finishing therapy doesn't close a door so much as widen your sense of your own capacity. You leave knowing you've done meaningful work, you have resources to draw on, and if you need support again, you know how to seek it.

The relationship with your therapist was always meant to end. From the first session, the goal was to make itself unnecessary. Reaching that point isn't sad (though it might feel sad)—it's the whole point. It means you've done what you came to do.

If you're approaching the end of your therapeutic work or wondering whether it's time, contact Kicks Therapy to discuss how to finish your therapy process thoughtfully, or to explore whether continuing for a while longer might serve you better. We offer humanistic, integrative therapy in Fulham and across London via video, with endings tailored to your unique needs and pace.

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About the Author: This article was written by the Kicks Therapy Content Team, with clinical input from BACP-registered therapists experienced in navigating therapeutic endings across diverse client presentations.

Further Reading:

• First Counselling Session: What to Expect
• When Therapy Isn't Working
• How Long Does Therapy Take?
• What Happens in a Counselling Session?

Expert Sources:

• Joyce, A. S., et al. (2007). "Psychotherapy termination: Processes and outcomes." Clinical Psychology Review, 27(4), 372-388.
• Boswell, J. F., et al. (2015). "Training in psychotherapy termination." Psychotherapy, 52(3), 339-350.
• British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP). (2024). Ending therapy: Guidance for practitioners. https://www.bacp.co.uk/