Abstract
This paper outlines some of the special stresses that must be shouldered by clinicians—physicians, nurses, chaplains, social workers, pastoral staff, and others—whose work focuses on dying and extremely vulnerable patients. The utility of a theory of generative death anxiety as a framework for interpreting the nature of these special stresses is suggested. Three common ‘burnout’ reactions are examined. The paper concludes that positive acceptance of personal mortality may help clinicians avoid burnout and lead to better therapeutic practice. This framework for interpreting therapeutic practice demonstrates the integral role spirituality plays in work with this particular patient group.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Becker, E., The Birth and Death of Meaning. New York: The Free Press, 1971; The Denial of Death. New York: The Free Press, 1973; Escape From Evil. New York: The Free Press, 1975. See also Liechty, D., Transference and Transcendence: Ernest Becker's Contribution to Psychotherapy. Northvale, NJ: Jason Aronson, Inc., 1995; “Reading Ernest Becker: His ContriDaniel Liechty 259 bution to Spiritual, Pastoral and Psychological Counseling,” American Journal of Pastoral Counseling, 1998, 1 (2), 49-69; “The denial of death revisited,” Death Studies, 1999, 23 (8), 757-761.
Rank, O., Psychology and the Soul. New York: A.S. Barnes, 1950; Beyond Psychology. New York: Dover, 1958.
Schneider, K., The Paradoxical Self: Toward an Understanding of Our Contradictory Nature. Amherst, NY: Humanity Books, 1999.
Schneider, K. and May, R., The Psychology of Existence: An Integrative, Clinical Perspective. New York: McGraw-Hill, Inc., 1995; Yalom, I., Existential Psychotherapy. New York: Basic Books, 1980.
Langs, R., Death Anxiety and Clinical Practice. London: Karnac Books, 1997; McCarthy, J., Death Anxiety: The Loss of the Self. Mattituck, NY: Amereon Press, 1980.
Brown, N. O., Life Against Death. Middletown, CT: Wesleyan University Press, 1959.
Schwartz, B., The Costs of Living: How Market Freedom Erodes the Best Things in Life. New York and London: W.W. Norton and Company, 1994; Wachtel, P., The Poverty of Affluence: A Psychological Portrait of the American Way of Life. Philadelphia, PA and Santa Cruz, CA: New Society Publishers, 1989.
Leavey, S., In the Image of God: A Psychoanalyst's View. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 1988; Rizzuto, A., The Birth of the Living God: A Psychoanalytic Study. Chicago, IL: Chicago University Press, 1981; Why Did Freud Reject God: A Psychodynamic Interpretation. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 1998; Liechty, D., Theology in Postliberal Perspective. Philadelphia and London: Trinity Press International/SCM Press, 1990; Cornett, C., The Soul of Psychotherapy: Recapturing the Spiritual Dimension in the Therapeutic Encounter. New York: The Free Press, 1998.
Goleman, D., Vital Lies, Simple Truths: The Psychology of Self-Deception. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1985; Firestone, R.W. and Catlett, C., Psychological Defenses in Everyday Life. New York: Human Services Press, 1989.
Lifton, R., The Broken Connection: On Death and the Continuity of Life. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1979.
Heath, S., Dealing with the Therapist's Vulnerability to Depression. Northvale, NJ: Jason Aronson, Inc., 1991.
Kauffman, J. and Liechty, D., Therapy as Griefwork: Mourning as Metatherapeutic Category. Presentation given at the 1998 annual meeting of The Association for Death Education and Counseling.
Persig, R., Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry Into Values. New York: Wm. Morrow & Company, 1974; Lila: An Inquiry Into Morals. New York: Bantam Books, 1991.
Kauffman, J. ed., Awareness of Mortality. Amityville, NJ: Baywood Publishing Company, 1995.
Ellman, C. and Reppen, J., eds., Omnipotent Fantasies and the Vulnerable Self. Northvale, NJ: Jason Aronson, Inc., 1997.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Liechty, D. Touching Mortality, Touching Strength: Clinical Work with Dying Patients. Journal of Religion and Health 39, 247–260 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1010362608072
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1010362608072