Termination revisited.

Abstract

Termination is examined not just as the ending of a treatment where loose ends are tied up, so to say, but as a unique opportunity to work on the unconscious meaning of this ending for the patient.

Au Revoir: An Attachment and Loss Perspective on Termination

“…That theory holds that the resolution of loss and separation issues that emerge at this time leads to a greater sense of autonomy and individuation and are seen as critical to a completed therapy (Bembry and Ericson 1999;Frank 1999;Levinson 1977). Such autonomy remains a crucial goal in adult work as the client internalizes the therapist's self-reflective attitude thus enabling independent functioning (Novick and Novick 2006).…”

“…Particularly in psychoanalytic orientations, termination is an important piece of work that pervades the entire treatment (Frank 1999;Novick and Novick 2006). That theory holds that the resolution of loss and separation issues that emerge at this time leads to a greater sense of autonomy and individuation and are seen as critical to a completed therapy (Bembry and Ericson 1999;Frank 1999;Levinson 1977).…”

“…Traditional views of psychotherapy, especially those influenced by psychoanalysis, hold that the termination phase allows both for a consolidation of therapeutic work and an opportunity for therapist and client to work through issues of separation and loss including mourning of those losses (Cangelosi 1997;Frank 1999;Levinson 1977;Novick 1997;Timberlake and Cutler 2001). In child therapy, this premise is based on the view that therapy comes to a natural end when the child's developmental course becomes normative and the child's parents are able to function in ways that support optimal functioning (Sandler et al 1980).…”

Termination In Psychotheraphy: A Case Report Which Consists Of The Difficulties In Termination Phase

“…Ona göre, danışan arzularını serbestçe analize getirebildiğinde, gerçek ve fantezi dünyası arasındaki ayrım netleştiğinde, sınırsız içsel özgürlük, karar ve eylemlerinde kontrol sağlandığında gerçek bir iyileşmeden söz edilebilir. [5,6] Kendilik psikolojisi kuramının öncüsü Kohut (1977), narsisistik kişilik bozukluğu olarak tanımladığı danışan grubunda esas olarak, çocuklukta, benliğe ilişkin psikolojik yapıların oluşumu sırasında meydana gelen eksikliklerden ve birincil soruna benzer nitelikte, savunma ve telafi etmeye yönelik ikincil yapılardan söz eder. Tedavinin sonlandırılmasında iki amacın gerçekleştirilmesini öngörür: Öncelikle, savunma amaçlı yapıların analitik olarak çalışılması, sonra benlikteki birincil eksikliğin ortaya çıkarılması ve bu eksikliğin derinliğine işlenmesi (working through) ve dönüştürücü içselleştirme (transmuting internalization) yoluyla yeterli biçimde doldurulması gereklidir.…”

Patients Who Stay

“…In his paper, "Analysis Terminable and Interminable" (1937), Freud addressed both issues: termination and nontermination. Somewhat facetiously, he stated that "an analysis is ended when the analyst and the patient cease to meet each other for the analytic session" (Frank, 1999;Freud, 1937). Freud believed that two criteria need to be met in order for termination to take place: first, the patient's symptoms have significantly subsided; second, enough repressed material has been made conscious so that the "unintelligible has been explained" and pathological processes will not be repeated.…”