ABSTRACT
Traditionally, a client who does not attend for a second session or subsequent sessions of psychotherapy, when it is indicated that they do so, is regarded as a 'drop-out' from treatment. The term 'drop-out' is generally viewed in a negative light. In the clinician's mind, it indicates that the fault may lie with one or more of three factors. First, the fault may lie with the client e.g. "the client wasn't ready to change". Second, the fault may lie with the therapist e.g. "the therapist failed to understand the client". Third, the fault may lie in the therapeutic relationship e.g. "the therapeutic alliance between the therapist and the client was poor". The chapter concludes that when a client does not return for a second therapy session, it is far from indicating a bad outcome. It may indicate a good outcome, as demonstrated by a client perspective study of self-termination carried out by M. Scamardo, M. Bobele and J. L. Biever.
