When Professionals Weep: Emotional and Countertransference Responses in End-of-Life Care

by Renée S. Katz (Editor), Therese Johnson (Editor)

Diverse leaders in the field of death, dying, and bereavement, address the issues surrounding the intersection of the personal and the professional in the unique context of end-of-life care. End-of-life care (EOL) is a specialized area of work that crosses a number of academic and professional disciplines, including social work, counseling, hospice, physical medicine, geriatrics, nursing, counseling, psychology, and clerical work. Professionals who work in EOL have often had deeply moving personal experiences with trauma, death, and loss in their own lives, and almost inevitably bring their own histories, memories, notions, and assumptions to their work. These countertransference responses can be both complex and subtle.

330 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2006

Reviews

[Melanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is full of insightful perspectives written by cross-discipline professionals who are involved with caring for end-of-life patients. It covers a spectrum of topics, such as assisted suicide and cultural differences that impact care, and provides a raw, honest look (through personal stories and insights) at the role countertransference plays from both professional to patient and patient to professional.

I recommend this book to anyone brave enough to explore how personal experiences, beliefs and feelings can either positively or negatively affect care for patients, and how patient care can challenge professionals' boundaries, emotions and belief systems.

This book is beneficial, possibly even indispensable, for a deeper, practical understanding of self and other in patient care.