Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 14, 2025

Involving Individuals with Developmental Language Disorder and Their Parents/Carers in Research Priority Setting
Published on: June 6, 2020
Facilitating transformative endings: Therapists' experience of ending therapy with people with intellectual
Yasmine Dunn1, S J Summers1, Dave Dagnan2
1Doctorate in Clinical Psychology, Teesside University, Middlesbrough, Tees Valley, UK.
Background:
Endings in therapy are discussed widely in mainstream literature, however, there is only a small amount of research that considers endings in therapy for people with intellectual disabilities.
Methods:
Eight therapists were interviewed about their experience of ending therapy with people with intellectual disabilities. Interviews were analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA).
Results:
Four superordinate themes associated with endings that go well were identified: 'recognising', 'readying', 'reframing' and reflecting', with a fifth theme reflecting endings that were less successful. Participants worked hard to offer transformative experiences of endings and an overarching 'super-superordinate' theme of 'facilitating transformative endings' encompassed the findings.
Conclusions:
Endings are a multi-faceted component of psychological therapy with people with intellectual disabilities and are significant for both client and therapist. We discuss implications for therapy adaptations and future research.
Related Concept Videos
Interpersonal Psychotherapy
Humanistic Therapy
Psychodynamic Therapy
Modeling in Therapy
Participant Modeling
Participant modeling involves therapists demonstrating calm and effective behaviors in...
Elements Crucial for Effective Psychotherapy
The Therapeutic Alliance
The therapeutic alliance refers to the relationship between the therapist and the client. The alliance strengthens when the therapist and the client engage in a nurturing, supportive, trusting, empathetic, and respectful relationship, improving therapeutic outcomes. Therapists must monitor this relationship...
Intellectual Disability

