What is the best approach to end a therapy session for someone experiencing grief?

How to End a Therapy Session for Someone Grieving

End grief therapy sessions by communicating your ongoing availability for support, scheduling specific follow-up appointments rather than waiting for the patient to reach out, and offering reassurance that their ability to cope will improve over time. 1

Structured Approach to Session Closure

Communicate Availability and Schedule Follow-Up

• Proactively schedule the next appointment before ending the current session rather than requiring the grieving person to initiate contact, as this demonstrates commitment to their ongoing care 1
• Reach out by phone or email periodically between sessions to maintain connection and support 1
• Inform them that you expect their coping abilities will improve with time, providing realistic hope without minimizing their current distress 1

Provide Practical Guidance Before Ending

• Offer concrete advice about managing daily challenges, such as how to respond to questions from peers or how to communicate with employers/teachers about functional difficulties 1
• Ensure they have written materials or brochures on bereavement to reference after the session ends 1, 2
• Provide a compiled list of community bereavement support resources and hospice-sponsored grief recovery support groups 2, 3

What to Avoid When Closing the Session

• Never end by attempting to "cheer up" the grieving person or using phrases that begin with "at least" (e.g., "at least they're not suffering anymore"), as these minimize their experience and are neither effective nor appreciated 1
• Do not instruct them to hide emotions or "be strong" as the session concludes 1
• Avoid shifting focus to your own grief experiences when wrapping up, as this redirects attention away from their needs 1

Special Considerations for Different Contexts

When Death Was Recent or Traumatic

• Allow adequate time for the person to compose themselves before leaving, as they may fear becoming unable to stop crying once they start 1
• Reassure them that asking about their loss does not cause their distress—the death itself does—and that expressing sadness is healthy 1
• If the death was of a child, ensure parents and siblings receive information about what to expect (e.g., fears about their own health, awkwardness returning to school) and offer extensive counseling resources 1

Planning for Future Contact

• Offer to meet several weeks after particularly difficult losses to answer lingering questions, check on well-being, and provide closure 1, 3
• For families who were close with providers, consider attending memorial services or sending a sympathy card with bereavement support information 1
• Educate about the normal grieving process and normalize that grief may resurface at future life milestones 2, 3

Red Flags Requiring Modified Session Endings

Signs of Complicated Grief

• If symptoms suggest complicated grief (lack of social support, concurrent losses, pre-existing mental illness, inability to say goodbye), ensure immediate scheduling of intensive follow-up rather than standard intervals 2
• Screen for depression severity using validated tools like the Patient Health Questionnaire before ending sessions to identify need for combined psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy 2
• Escalate care planning if complicated grief persists beyond 6-12 months 2

Risk Assessment Before Ending

• Assess for suicidality, worsening of psychiatric conditions, or negative health behaviors that require immediate intervention rather than routine follow-up 4
• For patients at risk of catastrophic emotional events, prepare emergency contact plans and consider whether outpatient care remains appropriate 1

Key Principles for Effective Session Closure

The most critical element is being genuine and present while avoiding the common pitfall of requiring grieving individuals to initiate future contact 1. Early intervention with structured communication and proactive follow-up decreases risk of subsequent emotional morbidity 2. Keep the focus on their loss and feelings rather than your own experiences, and remember that most bereaved persons are resilient and do not require special interventions beyond empathic communication skills 5, 4.