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Grief is a family affair. When a loved one dies, the distress reverberates throughout the immediate and extended family. Family therapy has long attended to issues of loss and grief, yet not as the dominant therapeutic paradigm. Bereavement Care for Families changes that: it is a practical resource for the clinician, one that draws upon the evidence supporting family approaches to bereavement care and also provides clinically oriented, strategic guidance on how to incorporate family approaches into other models. Subsequent chapters set forth a detailed, research-based therapeutic model that clinicians can use to facilitate therapy, engage the ambivalent, deal with uncertainty, manage family conflict, develop realistic goals, and more. Any clinician sensitive to the roles family members play in bereavement care need look no further than this groundbreaking text.

The International Handbook of Art Therapy in Palliative and Bereavement Care offers a multicultural and international perspective on how art therapy can be of help to individuals, groups, families, communities, and nations facing death and dying as well as grief and loss.Over 50 art therapists from around the world write about the transforming power of art therapy in the lives of those facing terminal illness, dementia, loss, and grief. They offer practical descriptions and techniques for working with adults and children to guide professionals, including those new to using art therapy and creative approaches in end-of-life care services. This international handbook is essential reading for arts therapists, social workers, medical personnel, faith leaders, and psychologists interested in a collaborative and accessible approach to working with patients and families affected by loss.

For many bereaved parents, the care provided by health professionals at birth – from midwives to antenatal teachers – has a crucial effect on their response to a loss or death. This interactive workbook is clearly applied to practice and has been designed to help practitioners deliver effective bereavement care.Providing care to grieving parents can be demanding, difficult and stressful, with many feeling ill equipped to provide appropriate help. Equipping the reader with fundamental skills to support childbearing women, partners and families who have experienced childbirth-related bereavement, this book outlines: What bereavement is and the ways in which it can be experienced in relation to pregnancy and birth Sensitive and supportive ways of delivering bad news to childbearing women, partners and families Models of grieving How to identify when a bereaved parent may require additional support from mental health experts Ongoing support available for bereaved women, their partners and families The impact on practitioners and the support they may require How to assess and tailor care to accommodate a range of spiritual and religious beliefs about death. Written by two highly educated, experienced midwifery lecturers, this practical and evidence-based workbook is a valuable resource for all midwives, neonatal nurses and support workers who work with women in the perinatal period.This book is suitable as a text for BSc and MSc courses in Midwifery; BScs courses in Paediatric Nursing; and for neonatal and bereavement counselling courses.

Here is a comprehensive, interdisciplinary look at current bereavement care practices and key concerns of care providers. Covering a broad spectrum of topics, interests, and perspectives from divergent disciplines and clinical experiences, the contributing authors explore theories and constructs that can clarify and be useful in the provision of bereavement services.Bereavement Care: A New Look at Hospice and Community Based Services addresses important issues related to the delivery of bereavement care and services. Chapters focusing on clinical concerns examine ways to distinguish grief from depression and the use of Jung's theory to expand an understanding of the grief process. Others explore options for community-based group interventions and the role of the volunteer in the provision of hospice bereavement services. Chapters with a research focus highlight effective assessment tools, the applicability of Bugen's model, and the practice and problems involved in hospice bereavement services.This rich and compassionate volume will be helpful to mental health professionals, social workers, chaplains, nursing personnel, and volunteers who work with or provide services to bereaved persons and families.

This collection shows what happens when facing the inevitable and sometimes expected death of a parent, and how such an ordinary part of life as parental death might connect with the children left behind. In many ways, individual deaths are extraordinary and leave a unique legacy – a kind of haunting.The authors'accounts seek to make sense of death through witnessing its enactment and recording its detail. All the authors are experienced researchers in the field of death studies, and their collective expertise encompasses ethnography, psychology, sociology and anthropology. The individual descriptions of death and grief capture the everyday practicalities of managing death and dying, including, for example, the difficulties of caring responsibilities and the realities of dealing with strained family relationships. These accounts show the raw detail of death; they are deeply personal observations framed within critical theories. As established scholars and practitioners that have researched and worked in end-of-life and bereavement care, the authors in this anthology offer a unique perspective on how identity is shaped by a close bereavement. The book employs a strong editorial narrative that blends memoir with theoretical engagement, and will be of interest to death studies scholars, as well as practitioners involved in end-of-life care and bereavement care and anyone who has experienced the death of a parent.

'This book′s strengths are [Brenda Mallon′s] clinical wisdom, experience and insights, and the practical, constructive, down-to-earth way in which she conveys these to her readers. This will appeal to many who are searching for guidance in the difficult task of providing support for the bereaved'- Bereavement Care, Spring 2010 ′This is a well written book that makes a very useful addition to the field'- Therapy Today, February 2009 ′A refreshing, down-to-earth text that examines theory and research without becoming an academic tome. It is comprehensive, focused on practice and contains important insights for developing the essential skills required to provide effective bereavement care′ - Dr John Costello, Head of Primary Care, University of Manchester ′Brenda Mallon gives the term'grief counselling'definition in a way no one has done before. If you are new to counselling the bereaved, this book is the best introduction I have seen. If you are an experienced grief counsellor, this should be the next book you read′ - Professor Dennis Klass, Webster University, Dying, Death and Grief is written for anyone who provides support to adults following bereavement. Whether in a professional or voluntary capacity, bereavement care requires empathy, judgement and skill to ensure your response matches the needs of the person you are helping. Recognizing that we all experience bereavement differently, this book introduces theory and skills which can be used in any context to address a wide range of needs. The author explains the theoretical background to attachment and loss and the core skills needed to support people who have been bereaved. Case studies and personal accounts illustrate key points and exercises help you examine your own experiences and attitudes in relation to loss. The book also takes into account topics frequently overlooked in other texts, such as sexuality, spiritual responses to loss, cultural influences and diversity, as well as the nature of chronic and disenfranchised grief. Dying, Death and Grief is designed for use on a wide range of training and academic courses that prepare practitioners to work with the bereaved. Professionals in a range of settings including hospitals and in the community as well as volunteers and be-frienders in hospices and nursing homes will find this a useful source of guidance. Brenda Mallon is a counsellor, trainer and author who specialises in bereavement care. She is vice chair of The Grief Centre, Manchester Area Bereavement Forum.

Psycho-Oncology in Palliative and End-of-Life Care provides expert advice and clinical management guidelines on the impact of advanced cancer and its treatment on the life and wellbeing of a patient in palliative and end-of-life care. Employing a practical toolkit format, this volume addresses a variety of key challenges including: discussions of death and dying, poor prognoses, wishes and values of the dying person, advance care plans, anxiety, demoralization and problems with coping, depression and delirium, the needs of partners, children, families, and caregivers, and spiritual and bereavement care. Each chapter considers presenting symptoms, differential diagnoses and assessment methods to achieve the best diagnosis, so that a detailed formulation can be developed for each person that guides a comprehensive management plan. Each section concludes with professional and service issues ranging from ethical dilemmas, legal requirements, cultural needs, and training and service development issues, through to basic human rights. Part of the Psycho-Oncology Care: Companion Guides for Clinicians series, this concise pocket guide is a resource for oncology specialists, psycho-oncologists in training, consultant nurse specialists and nurse practitioners, and allied health professionals to use as a quick reference in everyday practice. Pitched at intermediate to advanced level skills, this companion guide can be used as a standalone, or alongside existing oncology and psycho-oncology training programs.

Saari's book discusses the impact of traumatic events and the key principles underlying acute crisis work. Case study examples are used to illustrate the main features of traumatic situations and ways of processing such experiences, as well as the practical implications for crisis support.'- Bereavement Care, Volume 26, April 2007'The book provides a basic introduction to trauma and will be an interesting initial read for those new to this field.'- Bereavement Care, Volume 26, April 2007'What this well written book brings is a coherent understanding of the possible effects upon us as those involved first hand, as a relative/friend of someone involved, as an observer either close by or at a distance via television or other media. I think this book offers therapists, clients, and policy makers a view of how to deal with those'bolts from the blue'with more understanding of the nature of trauma and its effects upon the individual and the community. The author has put together a book that looks at the processing of a traumatic event, the effects of it upon adults and children, how to work with a traumatised person, and the impact of interventions upon the individual.'- British Psychodrama Association Journal'The thought I am left with after reading this book is that a basic grounding in psychological first aid should be a vital part of the'tools'of all who work in the helping professions and as a necessary part of every modern citizen's education, as is medical'first aid'.- Therapy Today'Saari examines in detail the psychological effects of traumatic events on individuals. She explains each step of the process of recovery, from the initial through lingering effects that follow the return to everyday life. The importance pf psycho-social support is also addressed. The final chapter is devoted to an examination of the efficacy of single-session debriefing in preventing traumatization.'- Book News'This is an accessible introductory text that attempts to consider a range of issues related to personal responses to traumatic events. The author is an experienced Finnish Psychologist who obviously has extensive experience in the field of crisis response and acute trauma.'- Mental Health Practice In the wake of a number of large-scale disasters in recent years, the world is all too aware of crises but largely underprepared for the psychological repercussions of traumatic events on victims and recovery staff. Salli Saari examines in detail the psychological effect traumatic events can have on an individual, taking the reader step-by-step through each stage of the process of understanding and recovery. She also discusses the role of social support, the media and the workplace in addressing trauma, and what methods can be adopted to help victims cope after a traumatic incident.Based on work within the Finnish organized crisis care network, A Bolt from the Blue shows how crisis care can be an integral part of health care services, covering all traumatic incidents from a death in the family to major accidents and disasters.This book is an essential text for any professional who comes into contact with people affected by a traumatic experience, including psychologists, counsellors, medical doctors, social workers, nurses, pastoral carers/clergy, and students in these fields. It is also accessible enough to be of use to laymen who have encountered a traumatic experience and may need help.

This publication discusses a comprehensive approach to the professional psychosocial care provided to parents who experienced perinatal loss. Based on available evidence and best practices, it presents innovative teaching methods and principles of work with students of bachelor's and master's programmes, as well as students engaged in continuing professional development. The publication examines specific evaluation methods applied to perinatal palliative care. Communication is the basis of the psychosocial care provided to grieving parents. Also very important are various interpersonal skills, which are highlighted in the publication. Professionals who look after parents who have experienced perinatal loss often point out the demanding nature of the care, stress, and strong emotions which affect not only the parents but also caregivers. Therefore, the book emphasizes the importance of systematic mental hygiene and care for the mental health of caregivers. The text is divided into two main parts. The first part of the book focuses on theoretical didactic aspects of psychosocial perinatal palliative care and provides evidence for teaching this challenging topic. The second part presents practical exercises that are effective for achieving long-lasting change in the learners'behaviour. The publication is intended for teachers, lecturers, and facilitators who are engaged in teaching students of medical disciplines (midwives, neonatology or general nurses, medics) or social sciences (social workers, clinical psychologists, theologians, etc.). It also aims at the education of postgraduate students and continuing the professional development of experts who experience perinatal loss in practice. Moreover, the publication is suitable for organizers of educational workshops in maternity hospitals and neonatal departments. Reviewer Dr Barbara Coughlan, PhD, MA (University College Dublin, Ireland) wrote:'This is a very important text book for supporting the education and training of muti-disciplinary health care professionals (both at graduate and undergraduate levels) on how to support parents and families following perinatal loss. The main focus of the book is on using innovative teaching methods that have been developed through the authors‘ own research and are also informed by current and uptodate evidence. The additional emphasis on self-care and mental well-being of health care professionals as vital components of education and training programmes in perinatal loss is to be commended. I look forward to the publication of the book and to using it as a guide to working with Students, Midwives and Nurses in bereavement care education.'

This unique book is a first-of-its-kind resource that comprehensively covers each facet and challenge of providing optimal perinatal palliative care. Designed for a wide and multi-disciplinary audience, the subjects covered range from theoretical to the clinical and the practically relevant, and all chapters include case studies that provide real-world scenarios as additional teaching tools for the reader.Perinatal Palliative Care: A Clinical Guide is divided into four sections. Part One provides the foundation, covering an overview of the field, key theories that guide the practice of perinatal palliative care, and includes a discussion of perinatal ethics and parental experiences and needs upon receiving a life-limiting fetal diagnosis. Part Two delves further into practical clinical care, guiding readers through issues of obstetrical management, genetic counseling, neonatal pain management, non-pain symptom management, spiritual care, and perinatal bereavement care. Part Three discusses models of perinatal palliative care, closely examining evidence for different types of PPC programs: from hospital-based programs, to community-based care, and examines issues of interdisciplinary PPC care coordination, birth planning, and team support. Finally, Part Four concludes the book with a close look at special considerations in the field. In this section, racial, ethnic, and cultural perspectives and implications for PPC are discussed, along with lessons in how to provide PPC for a wide-range of clinical and other healthcare workers. The book closes with a look to the future of the field of perinatal palliative care.Thorough and practical, Perinatal Palliative Care: A Clinical Guide is an ideal resource for any healthcare practitioner working with these vulnerable patient populations, from palliative care specialists, to obstetricians, midwifes, neonatologists, hospice providers, nurses, doulas, social workers, chaplains, therapists, ethicists, and child life specialists.

What can nurses do to support those receiving palliative care?How do you ensure clear communication and maintain patients'and families'preferences?Palliative Care Nursing is essential reading for nursing students, professional nurses and other health and social care professionals providing supportive and palliative care to those with advanced illness or who are towards the end of life. This third edition of the acclaimed textbook has been extensively revised and examines important research studies, key debates around care and strategies to advance palliative care nursing.In four sections, the book covers key elements of nursing practice towards the end of life:• Defining the palliative care patient• Providing palliative nursing care• Caring around the time of death• Challenging issues in palliative care nursingLeading authors address contemporary issues and explore how to provide high quality person-centred palliative care, encouraging application to practice through exercises and case studies. Chapters completely reworked or new for this edition include those on communication, living with uncertainty, bereavement care, the costs of caring, nurses'decision-making and capacity, and palliative care worldwide.The clarity of evidence presented and coverage of a diverse range of topics make this the foundational textbook for all studying palliative care at pre-registration level, postgraduate level or as part of CPD study.With a foreword by last edition editor, Professor Sheila Payne, Lancaster University, UK.‘I welcome this third edition of Palliative Care Nursing and congratulations to the new team who have provided us with a dynamic and innovative development of a core text for palliative nursing practice. As the largest workforce in palliative care, and given the changing face of clinical practice for nurses, including increased educational opportunity and expanding roles and responsibilities, this book is timely in its focus on critical issues which frame and scope the reality of palliative care and the nursing contribution to that discipline. The learning exercises, in particular, offer tools for educators and clinicians to reflect on practice and understand new ways of knowing in palliative care. It will be an excellent resource for nursing, both in the UK and Ireland and to the wider international audience, having drawn on the breadth of global nursing expertise to bring this book together'. Philip Larkin, Professor of Clinical Nursing (Palliative Care), University College Dublin and Our Lady's Hospice and Care Services, Dublin, Ireland; President, European Association for Palliative Care‘This is a book of substance that captures the current status of palliative nursing, including the values and research evidence that underpin it. The changing nature of palliative nursing as an evidence-based specialism is balanced with practical skills and insights from experts, and also considers the needs of those working with, or concerned about, the dying person's well-being.It covers a range of challenging issues as well as drawing on the wisdom of those who actually undertake this work on a daily basis. I hope that students and practitioners from all disciplines will find this a useful resource to understand the art and craft of good palliative nursing'.Professor Daniel Kelly, Fellow of the Royal College of Nursing and Royal College of Nursing Chair of Nursing Research, Cardiff University, UK

Maintaining quality and improving cancer care does not occur in a vacuum. It requires a coordinated effort among many team members to whom this book is directed. Cancer care in the United States is in crisis as per a recent National Institute of Health publication. Much of this has to do with the complexity of the cancer care, its delivery systems, the aging population and the diminishing workforce. We need to be smarter and more efficient to de-escalate this crisis and improve the survival and survivorship of our cancer patients. Improved survivorship of families and caregivers will be included as well.The book will follow the continuum of cancer care model as its outline vide infra. It will provide many concrete instances of successful practices and programs which improve survivorship. Initially it will discuss the current crisis on a global and then national platform. There will be a discussion about disability adjusted life years lost, lost productivity, loss of life and its impact upon the nation and communities. The financial impact of cancer on society and government will be included in this. Population health management as regards cancer will then look at communities served, community health needs assessments and social determinants of health. How prevention and screening programs can be formulated from the above will be illustrated. Compliance with treatments as promulgated by the Commission on Cancer's Cancer Program Practice Performance Reports (CP3R) will be reviewed. The relationship between compliance and improved survival will be highlighted. Navigation and distress management to assure patients complete planned treatments will be included in this section.Quality of survivorship will review the four domains of life- spiritual, social, psychological and physical. How these can be maximized through system improvement and program development willbe illustrated. Financial issues and legal protections will also be included in this section. Survivorship care planning i.e. surveillance for recurrent cancer, prevention of related and new cancers will be an integral part of this section.Palliative, end of life care and bereavement care will complete the continuum cycle. Identifying hospitalized patients in need of palliative needs will be refreshed. How to establish an in-patient palliative care team and creating a seamless transition from in-patient to out-patient palliative care will be presented. Intended AudienceAdministrative and clinical staff involved in the delivery of cancer care including: hospital executives, physicians, nurses, radiation therapists, psychology counselors, social workers, physical therapists, occupation therapists, nutritionists, government, healthcare insurance representatives, etc.

This textbook is the first to focus on comprehensive interdisciplinary care approaches aimed at enhancing the wellbeing of children with cancer and their families throughout the illness experience. Among the topics addressed are the epidemiology of pediatric cancer distress, including physical, emotional, social, and spiritual dimensions; the role of the interdisciplinary team; communication and advance care planning; symptom prevention and management; care at the end of life; family bereavement care; and approaches to ease clinician distress. The contributing authors are true experts and provide guidance based on the highest available level of evidence in the field. The book has not only an interdisciplinary but also an international perspective; it will appeal globally to all clinicians caring for children with cancer, including physicians, nurses, psychosocial clinicians, and chaplains, among others.

Drawing on a range of approaches developed by paediatric chaplaincy teams worldwide, this edited collection provides best principles, practices and skills of chaplaincy work with neonates, infants, children, young people and their families.By engaging with paediatric chaplaincy from an international, multifaith perspective, contributors from around the world and different faith traditions show what good spiritual, religious and pastoral care for children and their families looks like. The book contains contributions from specialists who work with children with mental health issues or profound disabilities, as well as chapters that focus on how best to provide palliative and bereavement care. Includes resources and activities for use in specialist care situations and tools for assessment, making this a must-have for any paediatric chaplaincy team working in a hospital or hospice.

Praise for the First Edition:'[This book] represents a significant advance because it looks at the issues from a bio-psychosocial perspective. To a social worker who has worked mainly in a medical and nursing environment, this is a great step forward.'--Bereavement Care'[Offers] valued sensitivities, knowledge, and insights, and most importantly, age-appropriate interventions for a range of significant losses....Counselors will want to keep this indispensable work close at hand.'-Kenneth J. Doka, PhD, Author, Counseling Individuals With Life-Threatening IllnessThis unique text for undergraduate and masterís level social work and counseling courses on loss, grief, and bereavement is distinguished by its biopsychosocial perspective and developmental framework. The book addresses grieving patterns and intervention strategies according to the life trajectory and provides clinical intervention tools and strategies for coping according to the developmental stage of an individual. It incorporates losses beyond death loss, with special focus on losses related to maturational development. The second edition reflects new research that has clarified and underscored the value of theories examined in the first editionóparticularly in the areas of continued bonds, disenfranchised grief, and ambiguous grief. It describes how grieving is influenced by biological responses to stress, psychological responses to loss, and social norms and support networks.The second edition includes significant new information on trauma and resilience and addresses the use of mindfulness practices with grief and loss. It focuses on the changing role of technology including expressions of grief and loss in social media and public forums. Updated information is provided regarding hospice and palliative care,, along with housing issues in aging. A completely new chapter examines grief and loss counseling with emerging adults, and changes in the DSM 5 are covered as well. Additional new features include chapter objectives, discussion questions, an instructorís manual, PowerPoint slides, and updated resources.New to the Second Edition: New information on trauma and resilience Using mindfulness practices with grief and loss Updated theory and empirical findings The changing role of technology in grief Expressions of grief and loss in social media and public forums Transitions due to economic and health changes Changes in the DSM 5 New chapter on emerging adults (ages 18-25) Instructorís manual and PowerPoint slides New information on hospice, palliative care and aging Housing issues in aging/disability New information on issues facing young and older US veterans and families Updated resources Chapter objectives and discussion questions Key Features: Uses a developmental framework for grief and loss Incorporates notions of loss beyond death, including unique maturational losses Integrates new grief theories with empirical findings and intervention techniques Utilizes neurobiological and biological information within a counseling text Focuses on non-pathologizing approaches to sadness, loss, and grief

This books presents valuable information on the role of music therapy with respect to a number of issues common to end-of-life care and bereavement with a focus on grief and loss. The purpose of the book is to provide information and examples of ways of working in music therapy with the dying and bereaved for students, professional music therapists, as well as those in related healthcare roles and companions on the journey of the dying. The co-authors practice in an eclectic model of music therapy that is humanistic and client –centered at its core. Part one provides a thematic review of literature describing the use of music in end-of-life care, as well as a summary of music therapy techniques commonly implemented in these environments. This is followed by the presentation of 3 case study chapters based on Clements-Cortes'work in palliative care. Each chapter is completed with a link back to the emerging themes in end-of-life care as outlined in chapter one. Part two presents a thematic review of literature describing the use of music in bereavement, and is followed by 3 case study chapters based on Klinck's work in bereavement care, illustrating the narrative experiences of her research study participants. Part two concludes with the presentation of an author developed Music Therapy Bereavement Group Model. Case studies are presented in narrative format, and in this way honor the voices of the dying and bereaved and fully illuminate the therapeutic process in work towards client identified goals.

What do you need to know in order to provide the best possible care for sick children of different faiths? What, in the context of the young person's faith, might it be helpful to know to support the child and the family, improve care, communicate sensitively and avoid causing offence? Drawing on extensive, evidence-based research and practice, this practical resource addresses the multi-faith needs of sick and dying children and young people in hospitals and the wider community. Covering Islam, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism, Judaism and Buddhism, it provides the key information needed to help multi-disciplinary healthcare staff offer the best, culturally-appropriate care to sick children and their families. The book discusses daily, palliative, end of life and bereavement care in a range of settings, including hospitals, hospices, schools and home. The information provided covers those aspects of the religions discussed that are essential for healthcare staff to understand, including modesty and hygiene, taboos, food and prohibited products, age-related issues, sacred objects, visitors, and the expectations of the family. It includes important information on the issues of disability and mental health in each faith as well as addressing the significance within different faith traditions of the transitions from childhood to adolescence to adulthood. A comprehensive resource that uniquely focuses on the care needs of sick children from different faiths, this book will be of immeasurable value to multi-disciplinary healthcare professionals including doctors, nurses, bereavement support and palliative care workers, carers, counsellors, chaplains and arts therapists.

Compassionate communities are communities that provide assistance for those in need of end of life care, separate from any official heath service provision that may already be available within the community. This idea was developed in 2005 in Allan Kellehear's seminal volume- Compassionate Cities: Public Health and End of Life Care. In the ensuing ten years the theoretical aspects of the idea have been continually explored, primarily rehearsing academic concerns rather than practical ones. Compassionate Communities: Case Studies from Britain and Europe provides the first major volume describing and examining compassionate community experiments in end of life care from a highly practical perspective. Focusing on community development initiatives and practice challenges, the book offers practitioners and policy makers from the health and social care sectors practical discussions on the strengths and limitations of such initiatives. Furthermore, not limited to providing practice choices the book also offers an important and timely impetus for other practitioners and policy makers to begin thinking about developing their own possible compassionate communities. An essential read for academic, practitioner, and policy audiences in the fields of public health, community development, health social sciences, aged care, bereavement care, and hospice & palliative care, Compassionate Communities is one of only a handful of available books on end of life care that takes a strong health promotion and community development approach.

Dealing with the social experience of grief, loss and bereavement are challenging areas for everyone, including health and social care practitioners who are often well placed to offer help and support to the bereaved. This book draws together a comprehensive range of worldwide evidence for understanding and supporting the bereaved in a variety of health and social care contexts. It can be used by practitioners from a wide range of backgrounds in both health and social care to gain an appreciation of bereavement and its associated support and care. Additionally, it can be used for personal and professional development by practitioners who want to enhance their own and others'practice with the bereaved in specific contexts or organisations. The book may also be of value to those undertaking post graduate study who want to gain a wider understanding of the evidence related to bereavement and bereavement care practice in health and social care and may be seeking to add to the body of evidence in this field.

Working With the Bereaved summarizes the major themes in bereavement research and clinical work and uses the authors'own cutting-edge research to show mental-health practitioners how to integrate these themes into their practice. It provides clinicians with a framework for exploring their own emotional and intellectual assumptions about loss and bereavement, and it goes on to summarize state-of-the-art thinking in the field. The heart of the book focuses on the theoretical and clinical implications of the empirically validated Two-Track Model of Bereavement, as well as a variety of therapeutic techniques designed to help the bereaved both reapproach life and manage their continuing bonds with the deceased. The later chapters examine methods for integrating systems and family perspectives in therapy, for attending to the implications of culture and religion, and for meeting crises and emergencies in bereavement care. The concluding chapter addresses self-care, well-being, and resilience, offering practical guidelines for both the bereaved and those who treat them.

'[This book] is an excellent resource for the diverse practitioners and educators who are involved in this nascent area.'--Cruse Bereavement Care'[This] book is innovative and timely, challengingthe reader to think'out of the box.'Sofka,Cupit, and Gilbert provide a framework to explore thanatologyin an online universe while encouraging continuousresearch to adapt to this ever-changing digital world.'--Death Studies'Historically we have always employed our foremost technology in the service of the dead. We have used whatever we had at our disposal to mourn, to support, to share memories and to tell stories. Carla J. Sofka, Illene Noppe Cupit, and Kathleen R. GilbertÖ reaffirm that principle reminding us that this new digital world both offers dramatic technologies and creates considerable opportunities to deal with dying, death, and grief. The editors are extraordinarily sensitive to the multiple ways that this new technology has impacted upon the death system or the ways that a society organizes behavior around dying and death. Dying, Death, and Grief in an Online Universe is bound to be a classic.'Kenneth J Doka, PhDProfessor, The College of New RochelleSenior Consultant, The Hospice Foundation of AmericaModern communication technology has profoundly influenced societal practices and views about dying, death, and loss. This text, written for death educators, clinicians, researchers, and students of thanatology, provides current information about'thanatechnology,'the communication technology used in providing death education, grief counseling, and thantology research. The book offers a broad overview of how the communication technology revolution affects individuals coping with end-of-life issues, death-related and non-death loss and grief, and implications of the'digital divide'between those who are knowledgeable about and have access to modern technology, and those who are not. It describes the proliferation of online support groups and social network sites to cope with loss, and mechanisms for the memorialization and commemoration of loss. It also highlights blogging as a mechanism for storytelling and SKYPE as a communication tool during times of loss and grief. The unique issue of disenfranchised grief experienced by online community members is also explored along with ethical issues. Appendices provide guidance regarding the online availability of different types of informational support, tools to evaluate the integrity of online resources, and ethical standards.Key Features:Examines the ways in which modern communication technology has revolutionized societal practices and views about dying, death, and lossOffers time-tested strategies for providing death education onlineAddresses ethical issues related to availability and use of technologyExplores the implications of the'digital divide'between technology and non-technology users in relation to issues of death and lossAnalyzes how technology has shaped and changed thanatology research

Based on Dr. Wolfelt's unique and highly regarded philosophy of'companioning'versus treating mourners, this self-care guide for professional and lay grief caregivers emphasizes the importance of taking good care of oneself as a precursor to taking good care of others. Bereavement care is draining work, and remaining empathetic to the painful struggles of mourners, death, and dying, day in and day out, makes caregivers highly susceptible to burnout. This book demonstrates how caring for oneself first allows one to be a more effective caregiver to others. Through the advice, suggestions, and practices directed specifically to caregiving situations and needs, caregivers will learn not to lose sight of caring for themselves as they care for others.

here are over 38,000 suicide deaths each year in the United States alone, and the numbers in other countries suggest that suicide is a major public health problem around the world. A suicide leaves behind more victims than just the individual, as family, friends, co-workers, and the community can be impacted in many different and unique ways following a suicide. And yet there are very few professional resources that provide the necessary background, research, and tools to effectively work with the survivors of a suicide. This edited volume addresses the need for an up-to-date, professionally-oriented summary of the clinical and research literature on the impact of suicide bereavement on survivors. It is geared towards mental health professionals, grief counselors, clergy, and others who work with survivors in a professional capacity. Topics covered include the impact of suicide on survivors, interventions to provide bereavement care for survivors, examples of promising support programs for survivors, and developing a research, clinical, and programmatic agenda for survivors over the next 5 years and beyond.

The Oxford Specialist Handbooks series provides readers with clear, concise information on all that is needed to successfully train in the medical sub-specialties. Each book gives an overview of clearly defined procedures, skills, guidelines, and technologies and provides practical tips and case studies to supplement hands-on experience. Where appropriate, each book complements the revised curriculum as developed by the Specialist Advisory Committees. As palliative medicine does not have the resources to care for all patients with malignant and non-malignant chronic disease, government guidelines have pushed for its inclusion on the curriculum of most medical and surgical specialties. All specialties are being encouraged to become actively engaged in managing end of life care for their own patients. End of life care in the ICU presents its own unique challenges, and this book highlights real clinical issues which need to be addressed if quality palliative care within ICUs is to be consistently delivered. It details strategies and evidence-based advice on the nature of effective palliative care in the ICU setting, dealing with issues such as diagnosing the dying, communicating with patients and families, the support of families and carers, multidisciplinary team work, TPN and fluids, dialysis, inotropic support, autonomy, dignity, effective symptom control, practical ethics and the process of decision making, management of dying, and bereavement care. This book is ideal for doctors, nurses, and allied health professionals working in the ICU and palliative care.

Recent years have seen increasing interest in the needs of children facing bereavement, and a corresponding increase in services to support them. This book addresses and explains the theoretical concepts and practical implications behind the idea of brief work with bereaved children and families. Flexible and accessible short term services delivered at the right time underpin the strengths of bereaved children, supporting their recovery rather than pathologising the grief process. In this way the book also speaks to the current interest in the concept of resilience and working with families'strengths and possibilities, rather than merely identifying their problems. This second edition continues to be a unique book within the growing filed of childhood bereavement, and the new chapters added to this edition discuss managing situations with learning disability, supporting very young children and emotional literacy. The book also presents cases from the service user's perspective. It looks at different approaches to intervention, such as the importance of assessment and the value of groupwork, and also covers work with children and families before a death. Brief interventions with bereaved children will appeal to practitioners, educators and service providers managing scarce resources. The editors have more than twenty-five years experience as practitioners within the field, as service providers and educators. The book features chapters from distinguished contributors with backgrounds in healthcare, education, social work and the police, alongside theoretical and practice-based chapters from workers in the field of bereavement care for children.

Dr Watts considers the social context of death and dying in Britain today and the ways in which this influences service delivery. Care of the dying has become increasingly professionalised and medicalised and so hospitals, nursing homes and hospices are now the setting for most deaths. The provision of support for bereaved people has attracted greater attention with a large increase in the number of trained bereavement counsellors working in both charity and clinical settings. The theory and practice of palliative care, hospice development and a range of grief models that can inform bereavement care, drawing out some of the challenges for care practitioners forms the core of the book. Its underpinning themes include diversity; communication; palliative care; meanings of spirituality; and support for bereaved people. These issues are discussed against the general background of health and social care policy and with a particular focus on the review of Scottish palliative care services published in 2008 for the Auditor General of Scotland. Death, Dying and Bereavement provides an excellent overview of palliative care provision and the issues involved for students and for those health and social care workers, managers, policy makers and other practitioners who'come into contact'with death and dying in their practice.

'[Grief and Loss Across the Lifespan] represents a significant advance because it looks at the issues from a bio-psychosocial perspective. To a social worker who has worked mainly in a medical and nursing environment, this is a great step forward.'--Bereavement Care'[Offers] valued sensitivities, knowledge, and insights, and most importantly, age-appropriate interventions for a range of significant losses....Counselors will want to keep this indispensable work close at hand.'-Kenneth J. Doka, PhDAuthor, Counseling Individuals With Life-Threatening Illness'By taking a lifespan view, this book fills a gap in the literature on loss and grief and takes theory and practice in new and invigorating directions. It will be welcomed by those professionals of all disciplines who daily listen to and help re-write narratives of loss.'-Jeffrey S. Applegate, PhDProfessor EmeritusGraduate School of Social Work & Social ResearchBryn Mawr College'[A] thorough, thoughtful, sensitive, and up-to-date contribution that may be the best book available today for teaching bereavement, grief, and mourningÖ.[H]ighly recommended for experienced grief professionals as well as for students.'-Jeffrey Kauffman, MA, MS, LCSW, BD, CT, CAS, BCETSPsychotherapist in private practice, Philadelphia, PA'Walter and McCoyd have written a well-organized and comprehensive examination of grief and bereavement that will be useful to the seasoned professional as well as the student new to grief and loss. The historical analysis of grief theory from classic to postmodern is interesting reading and essential for a full understanding of grief and loss in modern society.'--Paige E. Payne, MS, MSW, LSWSupport Services ManagerPinnacleHealth Home Care and HospiceHarrisburg, PA Grief and Loss Across the Lifespan is unique in its treatment of grieving patterns and intervention strategies for different age groups. With this book, students and practitioners will learn how grief is influenced by biological responses to stress, psychological responses to loss, as well as social norms and support networks. The authors utilize a developmental framework, as each level of development from infancy through old age is addressed in four ways: Reviews normal developmental issues, abilities, and challenges for the age in questionAnalyzes how individuals of each age cope with serious loss of a significant other, and how they may experience life-threatening illness themselvesExamines how significant others react to and mourn the death of someone in that age rangeIdentifies the normative losses a person is likely to experience, and addresses protective and risky ways of coping with those lossesThe authors review important grief theories, such as postmodern and Dual Process Theory, and discuss current topics in grief, including continuing bonds, meaning making, ambiguous loss, and disenfranchised loss. With the help of this book, practitioners and students of grief counseling can learn to help patients of all ages understand that loss is at the heart of life and growth.

'Occasionally I read a book and say to myself that this is a book that I wished I had written. This is such a book! It is a delightful, practical, interesting, and inspiring book! Danai has written a soon-to-be classic in the field! Her writing is excellent! Her use of theories, concepts, history, and models are wonderful!'--Illness, Crisis and Loss'Danai PapadatouÖ[presents] an approach of Relational Care, care based on an understanding of relationships, that should be essential readingÖ.[S]he writes in an engaging and non-technical language, and manages to convey complex ideas in a manner that is accessible to all.'--Colin Murray Parkes, OBE, MD, FRCPsychPresident, Cruse: Bereavement Care(From the Foreword)ì[A] wonderful contribution to the literature on caregiving and her well thought out ideas about relational caregiving are on the cutting edge. Congratulations.î -- Lynne Ann DeSpelderCoAuthor, The Last Dance: Encountering Death and Dying, 8th edition'This is no ordinary academic textbook. It is nothing short of a masterpiece in which Papadatou provides the field of death, dying and bereavement with invaluable and constructive insights into the world of caring for the dying and bereaved.'--Grief Matters'This is a fascinating book, applying important theoretical modelsÖin order to describe and speculate about how professionals manage to work in an environment where suffering and grief are constantly present. This is an important and substantial addition to the mostly self-help literature about self-care for caregivers.'--Doody's Medical Reviews In the Face of Death explores the experiences of health care professionals who care for the seriously ill, the dying, and the bereaved. In this book, Danai Papadatou offers a practical approach to caregiving, as well as a breadth and depth of insight into both the patient's and the caregiver's responses to death. The author discusses the issues and challenges health care professionals face when treating dying and bereaved patients. Topics include: compassion fatigue, the inevitability of suffering and the potential for growth, suffering in the workplace, team functioning in death situations, and team resilience. The main themes are:The Caring Relationship focuses on the relationship between the care provider and the person who is dying or grieving, and proposes a new, relationship-based model of care The Care Provider in Death Situations addresses the health professional's personal responses to death, using a model that illustrates the grieving process of the health professionalThe Team in the Face of Death provides recommendations for effective, interdisciplinary care services that support dying or bereaved patients as well as the health care provider

What is pastoral care? Being present to others in a loving way, a relationship rooted beyond yourself, and what you say and do in this relationship. Sound complicated? Sharyl B. Peterson recognizes that as students learn more about specific areas of—facilitating pastoral conversations, making hospital visits and planning funerals, offering bereavement care, and celebrating weddings and births—they also learn to draw connections to care and its theological foundations.'The Indispensable Guide to Pastoral Care'helps to link these elements by helping you to practice pastoral caregiving while you learn to explore various areas of care.