9781422271094

Becoming a Psychologist Who Works with Death and Dying People

Healthcare professionals who deal with death and dying often use thanatology in their work. They include people in the mental health field, such as psychologists, grief counselors, therapists, and psychiatrists but also hospice workers, nurses, and doctors. All of them are called upon to help people in crisis situations who have lost someone who was close to them or who might be facing their own death. Many people fear death, as reflected in ancient stories about the Grim Reaper, the Angel of Death, and the wail of the banshee (a mythical female spirit in Irish legend) being an omen of death, to name a few. In contrast, the psychological practice of thanatology encourages a more positive attitude toward death. The focus is on helping people deal with their emotions of fear, pain, and sadness when facing either their own death or the loss of a loved one.

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