Can Therapists Break Up With Their Clients?
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The Client Continues To Be Self-Destructive
Self-destructive behaviors, like smoking weed, fighting, unprotected sex and stealing for example, feel good in the moment but put the clients at risk for arrest, injury and other consequences. It’s important to meet the client where they are and figure out the role of these behaviors in the beginning. As time goes on, the work will consist of replacing these negative coping behaviors with positive behaviors that help the client manage and don’t put them at risk. The client has to be wiling to stop these behaviors though. If the client shows that they aren’t willing to replace these behaviors and engage in healthy coping skills then it must be discussed. If it is hindering them improving and they continuously resort to these behaviors then the relationship may have to be terminated.
