Ending a Chat

Never leave a chat without warning, as this can be upsetting. Many chats will reach a natural conclusion. Other times, you may need to take the lead on bringing the chat to a close.

• If you need to go soon, let them know.
  E.g. "I just want to give you a heads up that I need to leave in 15 minutes. What would you like to talk about for the rest of our time?" 
• If a chat isn't reaching a natural conclusion, bring it to a gentle close. E.g. "We've been chatting for a while now and covered a lot of ground. How are you feeling now?" 
• Offer to stay in touch or reconnect. E.g. "Unfortunately, it's time for me to go now, but you can message me here and let me know how things are going." 
• If you find it difficult to end chats, set expectations at the start. "Hello and welcome to 7 Cups. I'm Joe and I'll be here to listen for X minutes. That's plenty of time, so we don't need to rush. What would you like to talk about?"