Facilitating transformative endings: Therapists' experience of ending therapy with people with intellectual disabilities-An interpretative phenomenological analysis.

BACKGROUND: Endings in therapy are discussed widely in mainstream literature, however, there is only a small amount of research that considers endings in therapy for people with intellectual disabilities.

METHODS: Eight therapists were interviewed about their experience of ending therapy with people with intellectual disabilities. Interviews were analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA).

RESULTS: Four superordinate themes associated with endings that go well were identified: 'recognising', 'readying', 'reframing' and reflecting', with a fifth theme reflecting endings that were less successful. Participants worked hard to offer transformative experiences of endings and an overarching 'super-superordinate' theme of 'facilitating transformative endings' encompassed the findings.

CONCLUSIONS: Endings are a multi-faceted component of psychological therapy with people with intellectual disabilities and are significant for both client and therapist. We discuss implications for therapy adaptations and future research.