ASWB Clinical Practice Exam 2025 – All-in-One Guide to Master Your Social Work Boards!

When a client begins to miss appointments after achieving their goals, it often indicates that they may feel ready to transition out of services. This behavior can signal that they believe they have the tools and skills necessary to manage their situation independently. The process of reaching defined objectives in therapy can foster a sense of confidence, leading clients to feel less reliant on the support provided in sessions. Such a change in attendance patterns can reflect a natural progression towards termination, as the client may have internalized the strategies for coping and problem-solving that were initially taught during therapy.

Other factors, such as a new problem, dissatisfaction with outcomes, or codependency, would typically manifest differently. A new issue may lead to increased attendance as the client seeks further support; dissatisfaction might prompt discussions about feelings towards therapy rather than avoidance; and codependency usually reveals itself in a way that maintains or increases the client’s engagement in sessions rather than withdrawal. Thus, the behavior of missing appointments post-goal achievement strongly correlates with readiness to terminate therapy.