A Narrative Approach to Terminating Therapy

Abstract

Increasing the diversity of strategies for facilitating meaningful termination of therapy may be useful to practitioners in a number of settings including those conducting group guidance in the schools and meeting with clients in a private practice or community agencies. We present definitional ceremonies as one such strategy. Following a brief overview of this narrative therapy practice, the authors present a five- stage model for implementing this approach to termination of therapy. This process is illustrated using the case example of Trisha to highlight process, contextual, and multicultural considerations. Considerations for practitioners and research are provided.