Breaks and endings in therapy

As I prepare for a two-week break, I've been reflecting on how pauses and endings in therapy can stir deep emotions. Counselling is, at its heart, a relationship, with a beginning, a middle , and an end. Even a short break can bring up feelings of uncertainty, loss or questions about connection and continuity.

These transitions often echo our broader experience of attachment, They may awaken memories of past goodbyes or challenge us to sit with absence. In the way I work I pay attention to these moments and hold them with care, inviting open conversation, acknowledging what arises and encouraging clients to be curious about this.

We might explore the feelings that surface when someone hears, “We have three sessions left,” or “I’ll be away for a few weeks.” These conversations aren’t just about scheduling, they’re about safety, continuity, and trust.

Breaking waves against rugged cliffs serve as a powerful metaphor for the tumultuous emotions that often accompany endings or breaks in life.

Breaks in counselling can offer insight. They can mirror our wider experience and awaken memories of how we've coped with absence before, or how we've held on when we're afraid to let go:

Do old patterns return?

Do you reach out or turn inwards?

Do they make you question the ongoing therapeutic connection?

Endings too are rich with meaning. Sometimes they come with a sense of completion and growth, a mutual recognition that the work has reached a natural pause. Other times, they feel more abrupt, tinged with grief, disappointment, or fear. Even when an ending is celebrated, there is still a goodbye.

So, whether you're a therapist, a client or someone navigating your own emotional thresholds, I hope this reflection reminds you that these moments matter. They are not just pauses, they are part of healing.