Abstract
Death is inevitable and yet in US culture the discussion of death is somewhat taboo. Marriage and Family therapists are trained
in the implications of grief and loss for clients who lose loved ones and yet examination of the impact of therapist mortality
on clients is lacking in the clinical literature. This article examines ways that private practice therapists can both protect
their client’s confidentiality and mitigate the impact of therapist sudden death on their clients with planning and forethought.
In addition, the factors influencing the lack of empirical research on this topic is discussed in the context of social mores
on death and how therapists’ own denial of mortality may impact their ability to connect with clients through the pain of
grief and loss. Recommendations are made for therapists to evaluate their own attitudes towards mortality and develop a plan
for client care in the event of their death.
in the implications of grief and loss for clients who lose loved ones and yet examination of the impact of therapist mortality
on clients is lacking in the clinical literature. This article examines ways that private practice therapists can both protect
their client’s confidentiality and mitigate the impact of therapist sudden death on their clients with planning and forethought.
In addition, the factors influencing the lack of empirical research on this topic is discussed in the context of social mores
on death and how therapists’ own denial of mortality may impact their ability to connect with clients through the pain of
grief and loss. Recommendations are made for therapists to evaluate their own attitudes towards mortality and develop a plan
for client care in the event of their death.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Original Paper
- Pages 1-9
- DOI 10.1007/s10591-012-9181-y
- Authors
- Emily H. Becher, Department of Family Social Science, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis–Saint Paul (Twin Cities), MN 55108, USA
- Tomoko Ogasawara, Department of Family Social Science, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis–Saint Paul (Twin Cities), MN 55108, USA
- Steven M. Harris, Department of Family Social Science, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis–Saint Paul (Twin Cities), MN 55108, USA
- Journal Contemporary Family Therapy
- Online ISSN 1573-3335
- Print ISSN 0892-2764