‘She's not going to leave me' – counsellors' feelings on ending therapy with children

Abstract

This study sought to explore the impact of ending therapy on counsellors working with children in schools. Five counsellors were interviewed and their responses were analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis. Four master themes emerged, one of which, empathic identification, is the focus of this paper. The findings of this study suggest that the counsellor's experience of ending therapy can evoke long-term powerful emotions.

Keywords:

• counsellors
• children
• ending therapy
• IPA
• schools

Notes on contributors

Judi Bamford is a former postgraduate student of York St John University and was previously Chair of the Division of Educational and Child Psychology of the British Psychological Society.

Jacqueline Akhurst is Professor of Community Psychology at York St John University, is the immediate past chair of the Community Psychology Section of the British Psychological Society and has an honorary position at the University of KwaZulu Natal, South Africa.