What will you say when it is time to say goodbye?

Abstract

The Code of Ethics outlines the therapist's responsibility to safeguard the welfare of their clients in the event the therapeutical relationship is terminated by the therapist. In supervision, as well as in litera­ture, the primary focus is given to planned termination of therapy; however, the therapeutical process may also terminate due to sudden illness of the therapist (making contact with clients impossible), or even their sudden death. Having had established a special relationship with their therapist, clients may experience a severe shock in such situation. As therapists, we ought to bear in mind that the principles of respect, respon­sibility, confidentiality and commitment have to apply in the event of our professional disability, as well as death. In the article, I examine some of the basic strategies each therapist should have prepared for the event of their sudden illness or death, so as to help their clients cope better with the loss, should such unfortuna­te event occur during their therapy. When it comes to these issues, each therapist has their own concrete suggestions for dealing with them, depending on their style of work, type of clients, the organisation they work for, but most of all, on the acceptance of their own mortality.