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Termination in Couple and Family Therapy

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Encyclopedia of Couple and Family Therapy
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Name of Concept

Termination

Introduction

Termination in therapy is a fundamental component of psychotherapy. Termination is usually the last phase of therapy, a closure to mental health treatment and an ending to the therapeutic relationship. Ending treatment can be delicate, therefore, sometimes making terminations complicated and challenging for both client and therapist. Due to the nature of our work, clinicians are held to specific guidelines and expectations in order to deliver competent and ethical care. Therapists are urged to prepare to handle client endings as successfully as possible while also being aware of the unpredictable nature that comes along with this phase of treatment. Conceptualization and approach to termination also depends on the therapist’s theoretical orientation, with the theory guiding the clinician on the timing of termination and level of emphasis.

Theoretical Context for Concept

Depending on the therapist’s theoretical approach, length of treatment can...

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References

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Correspondence to Sandra Espinoza .

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Espinoza, S. (2019). Termination in Couple and Family Therapy. In: Lebow, J.L., Chambers, A.L., Breunlin, D.C. (eds) Encyclopedia of Couple and Family Therapy. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-49425-8_571

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