Helping patients facing their fear of death

Van Dam, Mr Q.D. (Quin)
Private psychotherapy practice, Leiden, Nederland

Submission type

Oral and Poster

Scheduled

Poster, Beurs van Berlage , Grote Zaal

Kernwoorden

death anxiety, countertransferance, end-of-life, deatheducation

Onderzoeksgebied

Adults

Doelgroep

mensen met weinig ervaring met het onderwerp

Workshop

Helping patients facing their fear of death We all, at the back of our minds, harbour an awareness of our own mortality and a low-level fear of death. In certain situations, this fear can, however, suddenly take centre stage, resulting in anxiety and persistent thoughts about our own demise or the impending death of loved ones. These symptoms are more frequently seen in patients with psychological problems, people with a terminal illness and the elderly. Despite the pervasiveness of anxiety about death, therapists have traditionally shied away from this subject. They are not schooled in recognizing the signals, or tend to ascribe a different motive to what’s presented. Often they do not know how to conduct a constructive conversation on the topic, and are unsure about what may be of help. In this workshop we will take specific steps to fill this gap. First, an existential, psychodynamic, systems theoretical and empirical framework will be sketched, followed by ample opportunity to practice. Participants can thus experience common obstacles, and apply interventions that may lead to a more open and helping conversation about death.