TERMINATION OF PARENTAL RIGHTS CONFLICTS - SMALL-GROUP THERAPY WITH ADOLESCENT BOYS

In the 1990s Children's Village, a residential treatment center, has b een able to return fewer boys to their families of origin and has soug ht court-supported terminations of parental rights (TPRs). A clinicall y sound approach was formulated to support the boys during and after t he TPR process. Coleaders conducted group therapy with small numbers ( 2, 4, 5) of boys aged 10 to 14 years. The task was to help them relinq uish the parent as a discharge resource. Impact of the groups varied w ith the boys' ages and the presence or absence of an identified peer l eader. An identified date for ending resulted in vigorous therapeutic work in the final meetings.