TIME-LIMITED GROUP-PSYCHOTHERAPY

The presence of a time limit shapes the entire therapeutic process and culminates in the management of termination. This paper outlines a pr otocol for dealing with termination in time-limited psychotherapy grou ps: (1) Select suitable members with similar capacity to we a time-lim ited format (2) we a closed group format; (3) clarify the time boundar ies at the beginning; (4) reinforce the time frame during the last hal f of the group; (5) provide focused interventions; (6) forestall prema ture termination; (7) reinforce termination themes of deprivation, res entment and anger, rejection, grief and loss, responsibility for self; (8) structure the final session; and (9) plan a 4-month follow-up vis it to encourage ongoing application. These guidelines provide the ther apist with a general structure to ensure that major termination themes are systematically addressed. The deal with powerful concepts of matu ration and self-responsibility and incorporate the principal strategie s that distinguish time-limited from time-unlimited group psychotherap y.