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Objective <p>The objective of the study was to examine how therapists in clinical practice experience sudden dropouts from psychotherapy.</p> Method <p>We interviewed 12 licensed psychotherapists regarding sudden dropouts. The interviews were analysed using thematic analysis (TA).</p> Results <p>Three main themes and seven subthemes were identified. The first main theme was: <i>Struggling to understand and explain the dropout.</i> The subthemes were: <i>“the patients’ problem was too difficult”</i>,<i> “trouble cooperating” and “problematic emotional bond”.</i> The second main theme was: <i>Continuing when something is wrong.</i> The subthemes were: “<i>difficulties maintaining presence”</i>,<i> “emotional withdrawal and sense of failure as a therapist”.</i> The last third main theme was:<?ColorInfoStart FFFFFF?> <?ColorInfoEnd FFFFFF?><i>Therapists processing feelings after the dropout.</i> The subthemes were: “<i>doubting your own capacity”</i>,<i> “to be abandoned”</i>,<i> “sense of relief and lessons learned”.</i></p> Conclusions <p>Sudden treatment dropouts often elicit negative emotions such as guilt, shame, and sorrow. They may also bring a sense of relief. Abrupt termination of therapy can affect therapists both professionally and personally, with the impact sometimes persisting long after the client has dropped out from therapy.</p>

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“The one that got away”- therapists’ experiences when patients suddenly drop out from psychotherapy: a thematic analysis

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

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  • 发表日期：

    2026年1月15日

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  • Niclas Kullgard,
  • Melinda Börjesson,
  • Johanna Carlsson,
  • Rolf Holmqvist,
  • Gerhard Andersson

摘要

Objective

The objective of the study was to examine how therapists in clinical practice experience sudden dropouts from psychotherapy.

Method

We interviewed 12 licensed psychotherapists regarding sudden dropouts. The interviews were analysed using thematic analysis (TA).

Results

Three main themes and seven subthemes were identified. The first main theme was: Struggling to understand and explain the dropout. The subthemes were: “the patients’ problem was too difficult”, “trouble cooperating” and “problematic emotional bond”. The second main theme was: Continuing when something is wrong. The subthemes were: “difficulties maintaining presence”, “emotional withdrawal and sense of failure as a therapist”. The last third main theme was: Therapists processing feelings after the dropout. The subthemes were: “doubting your own capacity”, “to be abandoned”, “sense of relief and lessons learned”.

Conclusions

Sudden treatment dropouts often elicit negative emotions such as guilt, shame, and sorrow. They may also bring a sense of relief. Abrupt termination of therapy can affect therapists both professionally and personally, with the impact sometimes persisting long after the client has dropped out from therapy.