1. Termination Phase in Play Therapy
Amy Ray LPC, NCC, Registered Play Therapist

2. Objectives
Understand the importance of termination in the process of play therapy
Increase knowledge of important factors to consider in termination
Learn specific approaches/techniques in the termination phase

3. Phases in Play Therapy

4. Beginning

5. Working

6. Termination

7. Why is the Termination Phase Important
Association for Play Therapy Best Practices
Value of the Therapeutic Relationship (Gil & Crenshaw, 2016)
Modeling
Encourages Autonomy
Relapse Prevention
Avoid Misinterpretations

8. When to Start Planning Termination

9. Factors to Consider with Termination
Treatment plan objectives and goals
Symptoms reported by caregivers
Symptoms reported by the client
History of loss experienced by the client
The client’s age

10. Factors to Consider with Termination
Length of time in therapy
How play has changed throughout the sessions
Time constraints
Option to gradually expand time between sessions
Contact after termination

11. Reactions to Termination
The child
The caregivers
The therapist

12. Components of Termination Phase
Process feelings related to therapy ending
Relapse Prevention (take home item?)
Celebration of Achievements

13. Activities

14. Feeling Expressions Color Your Heart activity (Goodyear- Brown, 2002)
Journal
Give sheet with feeling words to help them articulate

15. Sample Journal Page Ms. Amy Dear ______,
Today is the day you finish counseling. I am so excited for you! You have worked really hard over the past few months. I am so grateful I have gotten to know you. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and feelings with me. That takes a lot of courage for most people and you were really brave. I hope you will always remember [positive traits they have]. I want you to have this journal to continue to explore your thoughts and feelings. I wish you good luck with future goals you make. Keep dreaming and just be you.
Ms. Amy

16. Coping Skills Tool Box Customized to fit the client’s concern
Can be a physical or electronic box
Include different types of coping skills

17. Coping Skills Resources
skills-flyer.pdf
new-counseling-games-activities/
anger-free-printable-game.html

18. Grief Activities Memory book or box
Grief Survival Kit 19/grief-survival-kit/
The Invisible String by Patrice Karst and activity at ids-craft-invisible-string.html

19. Self-Esteem Activities
Autograph dog
Painted rocks
Head in the Clouds Goodyear- Brown, 2002)

20. Other Activities
Certificate
Special snack
Bracelets/necklaces

22. Other Activities
relationship-creative-termination-activities/
Termination Challenges in Child Psychotherapy by Eliana Gil and David Crenshaw. 2016

23. References
Gil, Eliana. Play Therapy Magazine Volume 10, Issue 4. Termination in Play Therapy: A Personal Reflection. December 2015
Gil, Eliana & Crenshaw, David. (2016). Termination Challenges in Child Psychotherapy
Association for Play Therapy Best Practices: st_Practices__- _Sept_2016.pdf?hhSearchTerms=%22best+and+practices%22
Goodyear-Brown, Paris. (2002). Digging for Buried Treasure: 52 Prop- Based Play Therapy Interventions for Treating the Problems of Childhood.

24. References
new-counseling-games-activities/
anger-free-printable-game.html
skills-flyer.pdf

25. One Last thing…… Consider “liking” Kids Inc. on Facebook
Please me at one thing you learned from this presentation.
Thank you!