Limiting time-unlimited group psychotherapy

For a number of reasons, we decided to bring three long-term, open-ended psychodynamic therapy groups to termination. We examine the process that began with the announcement of the change to a time-limited format, and concluded with the termination of the group. The transition had a powerful impact on the members and the group-as-a-whole. The therapists used supervision to deal with the intensity of the group process and the countertransference demands posed by the transition. Groups facing a similar change due to economic pressures may benefit from these observations.