A survey of therapists’ experience of ending therapy with people with intellectual disabilities
| Date | 21 July 2023 |
| Pages | 262-272 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/AMHID-04-2023-0012 |
| Published date | 21 July 2023 |
| Author | Yasmine Dunn,S.J. (Ash) Summers,Dave Dagnan |
A survey of therapists’experience of
ending therapy with people with
intellectual disabilities
Yasmine Dunn, S.J. (Ash) Summers and Dave Dagnan
Abstract
Purpose –A range of adaptationsand therapy processes have been explored in relation to therapywith
people with intellectual disabilities; however, there remain a few areas of therapypractice that have not
yet been considered in depth.This study aims to report the results of an online survey of the practiceof
therapistsworking with people with intellectualdisabilities in managing endings in therapy.
Design/methodology/approach –Thirty-onetherapists working with people with intellectualdisabilities
respondedto an online survey. The data were analysedusing reflexive thematic analysis.
Findings –Three superordinate themes were identified: Theme 1 was ‘‘preparing for a therapeutic ending’’
with subordinate themes of ‘‘planning early’’, ‘‘providing boundaries’’ and ‘‘validating feelings’’; Theme 2 was
‘‘providing a therapeutic ending’’, with subordinate themes of ‘‘a collaborative decision’’ and ‘‘fostering
growth’’; and the third theme was ‘‘post-ending issues’’ in which participants acknowledged a ‘‘spectrum of
emotion’’, and, in the case of difficult endings, a sense of ‘‘unfinished business’’.
Originality/value –This is the first systematicexploration of therapy endings as describedby therapists
working withpeople with intellectual disabilities.The authors discuss implications for practiceand further
areas of research.
Keywords Survey, Qualitative study, Psychological therapists, Therapy endings, Therapy process
Paper type Research paper
Introduction
People with intellectual disabilities experience higher levels of mental health difficultythan
the general population (Mazza et al., 2020); psychological therapies are a first-line
treatment for such mental health difficultiesin the general population (Kendrick et al.,2022).
However, there is less evidence of equivalent therapy effectiveness for adults with
intellectual disabilities (Tapp et al.,2023), and research continues to explore effectiveness
and necessary adaptations to therapy for people with intellectual disabilities in many
therapeutic models (Surley and Dagnan, 2019;McNair et al.,2017;Himmerich, 2020).
Whilst a range of adaptations and therapy processes have been explored, there remain
many areas of therapy practice that have not yet been considered in depth. This paper
reports an initial survey of psychological therapists working with people with intellectual
disabilities regarding theirexperience and practice of managing endings in therapy.
There is a consensus within the literature and in clinical practice that psychological therapy
has three phases: an initial phase, middle phase and an ending phase (Webb et al.,2019).
Gelso and Woodhouse (2002) state that the ending phase is when “the therapistand client
consciously or unconsciously work toward bringing the treatment to an end”. There are two
main positions regarding how therapy endings are conceptualised within the literature:
ending as a loss for clients and ending as a transformation. Fredman and Dalal (1998)
Yasmine Dunn and S.J.
(Ash) Summers are based
at the School of Social
Sciences Humanities and
Law, Teesside University,
Middlesbrough, UK.
Dave Dagnan is based at the
Cumbria, Northumberland,
Tyne and Wear NHS
Foundation Trust, Newcastle
upon Tyne, UK.
Received 24 April 2023
Revised 28 June 2023
Accepted 28 June 2023
DOI 10.1108/AMHID-04-2023-0012 VOL. 17 NO. 42023, pp. 261-271, ©Emerald Publishing Limited, ISSN 2044-1282 jADVANCES IN MENTAL HEALTH AND INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIESjPAGE 261
Get this document and AI-powered insights with a free trial of vLex and Vincent AI
Get Started for FreeStart Your Free Trial of vLex and Vincent AI, Your Precision-Engineered Legal Assistant
-
Access comprehensive legal content with no limitations across vLex's unparalleled global legal database
-
Build stronger arguments with verified citations and CERT citator that tracks case history and precedential strength
-
Transform your legal research from hours to minutes with Vincent AI's intelligent search and analysis capabilities
-
Elevate your practice by focusing your expertise where it matters most while Vincent handles the heavy lifting
Start Your Free Trial of vLex and Vincent AI, Your Precision-Engineered Legal Assistant
-
Access comprehensive legal content with no limitations across vLex's unparalleled global legal database
-
Build stronger arguments with verified citations and CERT citator that tracks case history and precedential strength
-
Transform your legal research from hours to minutes with Vincent AI's intelligent search and analysis capabilities
-
Elevate your practice by focusing your expertise where it matters most while Vincent handles the heavy lifting
Start Your Free Trial of vLex and Vincent AI, Your Precision-Engineered Legal Assistant
-
Access comprehensive legal content with no limitations across vLex's unparalleled global legal database
-
Build stronger arguments with verified citations and CERT citator that tracks case history and precedential strength
-
Transform your legal research from hours to minutes with Vincent AI's intelligent search and analysis capabilities
-
Elevate your practice by focusing your expertise where it matters most while Vincent handles the heavy lifting
Start Your Free Trial of vLex and Vincent AI, Your Precision-Engineered Legal Assistant
-
Access comprehensive legal content with no limitations across vLex's unparalleled global legal database
-
Build stronger arguments with verified citations and CERT citator that tracks case history and precedential strength
-
Transform your legal research from hours to minutes with Vincent AI's intelligent search and analysis capabilities
-
Elevate your practice by focusing your expertise where it matters most while Vincent handles the heavy lifting
Start Your Free Trial of vLex and Vincent AI, Your Precision-Engineered Legal Assistant
-
Access comprehensive legal content with no limitations across vLex's unparalleled global legal database
-
Build stronger arguments with verified citations and CERT citator that tracks case history and precedential strength
-
Transform your legal research from hours to minutes with Vincent AI's intelligent search and analysis capabilities
-
Elevate your practice by focusing your expertise where it matters most while Vincent handles the heavy lifting