Elliot Connie's Approach to Termination in Couples Therapy
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Assumes each session might be the last unless the couple requests more.
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Sees therapy as a service, not a compliance exercise.
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Believes in honoring the couple’s decision to continue or stop therapy.
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Warns against making therapy suggestive or controlling, which undermines autonomy.
Terry Real's Perspective on Termination
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The couple should lead the decision to end therapy; the therapist is a provider, not a salesperson.
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Uses the analogy: therapy is done when people can live together peacefully.
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RLT focuses on breaking the blame–distance cycle in relationships.
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Goal: couples feel reasonably happy, with room for future check-ins.
Stan Tatkin's Views on Termination
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Favors a family practice model — therapist stays available even post-breakup.
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Only ends therapy if not being paid or feels unsafe.
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Focuses on secure-functioning relationships with a shared purpose.
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Emphasizes that couples must agree on the goal of therapy.
Motivation and Client Autonomy
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Elliot: all clients are motivated — even if they don’t enjoy therapy, they showed up.
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Terry: leverage (positive and negative) can drive engagement and change.
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Stan: warns about bad faith actors and the need for a strong therapeutic alliance.
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All agree: meet clients where they are and respect their baseline motivation.
Final Thoughts
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Panelists express gratitude for the discussion and audience.
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Emphasize openness to diverse methods and perspectives in couples therapy.
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Agree that respecting client autonomy is central to ethical practice.
