Good Enough Endings

<p>In the relational literature the subject of termination - the ending of an analysis - has received scant attention and traditional Freudian or ego-psychological criteria are not always enough to assess the readiness to terminate therapy in the coconstructed intersubjective analytic relationship. <em>Good Enough Endings </em>seeks to remedy this gap bringing together contributions from contemporary relational thinkers while at the same time engaging with ideas from other psychoanalytic perspectives. Topics given consideration include:</p><ul> <li>Can there be a relational criteria or paradigm for termination and what would it include?</li> <li>How do treatment goals of the analyst and/or that of the patient affect the decision to terminate?</li> <li>How do recent developments in attachment theory and research influence the preparation to end analysis?</li> <li>What occurs for the patient after termination and how do we assess the need for follow-up?</li> </ul><p>Integrating elements of existing psychoanalytic theory with the fruits of the relational turn <em>Good Enough Endings </em>expands and expounds upon the relational considerations in ending analysis providing a resource for reflection and insight into the final - and perhaps most difficult - aspect of psychoanalytic treatment. </p>