Caring for Dying Children and Their Families: MFTs Working at the Gates of the Elysian Fields

Authors

Ileana Ungureanu
Jonathan G. Sandberg, Brigham Young University - ProvoFollow

Keywords

Marriage and family therapists, Dying children, Impact on personal and professional life

Abstract

The constant comparison method was used to analyze seven in-depth interviews with Marriage and Family Therapists and some of their colleagues working with dying children and their families. The findings of the study revealed that working in these settings can encourage shifts in priorities, relationships, and beliefs about life and death, and can elicit professional growth. Also, it can carry with it significant costs such as emotional exhaustion, and hypervigilance about death. Implications for practice and training are discussed.

Original Publication Citation

Ungureanu, I. & Sandberg, J.G. (2008). Caring for dying children: MFT’s experience. Contemporary Family Therapy, 30, 75-91.

BYU ScholarsArchive Citation

Ungureanu, Ileana and Sandberg, Jonathan G., "Caring for Dying Children and Their Families: MFTs Working at the Gates of the Elysian Fields" (2008). Faculty Publications. 2441.
https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/facpub/2441

Document Type

Peer-Reviewed Article

Publication Date

2008-02-23

Permanent URL

http://hdl.lib.byu.edu/1877/5286

Publisher

Contemporary Family Therapy

Language

English

College

Family, Home, and Social Sciences

Department

Family Life

University Standing at Time of Publication

Full Professor

Copyright Status

Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2008