TOWARD AN EXPANDED AND UPDATED CONCEPTUALIZATION OF TERMINATION - IMPLICATIONS FOR SHORT-TERM, INDIVIDUAL PSYCHOTHERAPY

This article examines a loss metaphor that has been used to conceptual ize clients' experience of termination for over 40 years. Review of co ntemporary theoretical and empirical research in clinical and developm ental psychology implicates directions for revising, expanding, and mo dernizing this approach to termination for short-term psychotherapy. S pecifically, the predictions that termination is inherently a crisis f or clients and therapists were not confirmed in extant research. Howev er, other aspects of the termination-as-loss model could be updated to be consistent with current theory and research. Several recommendatio ns for a more contemporary approach to termination were made. In parti cular, a termination-as-transformation metaphor seems to incorporate c urrent theory and research as well as critical aspects of the traditio nal approach to termination.