Termination of parental rights conflicts: Small-group therapy with adolescent boys

Abstract

In the 1990s Children's Village, a residential treatment center, has been able to return fewer boys to their families of origin and has sought court-supported terminations of parental rights (TPRs). A clinically sound approach was formulated to support the boys during and after the 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 relinquish the parent as a discharge resource. Impact of the groups varied with the boys' ages and the presence or absence of an identified peer leader. An identified date for ending resulted in vigorous therapeutic work in the final meetings.