This document discusses counselling for terminal illness. A terminal illness is a disease that cannot be cured and is expected to result in death within a short period of time. Effective counselling requires the counsellor to understand each patient's unique experience, foster an egalitarian relationship, and build therapeutic alliance. Counsellors must utilize communication skills like listening, empathy, and assertiveness. To conduct effective counselling, counsellors should avoid jumping to conclusions, maintain objectivity, and use both open and closed-ended questions. Barriers like environmental factors, perceptions, and personal issues can interfere with effective counselling. Special consideration is needed when communicating with elderly patients, those with terminal illnesses or AIDS, the mentally ill, and children.

1. COUNSELLING TERMINAL
ILLNESS

2. MEANING OF TERMINAL ILLNESS
A disease that cannot be cured and that is reasonably
expected to result in the death of the person within a
short period of time is termed as terminal illness.
It indicates a disease which will eventually end the life of
the sufferer.

3. Counsellor must be able to
• Understand the illness experience.
• Perceive each patient’s experience as
unique.
• Foster a more egalitarian relationship.
• Build a therapeutic alliance.
• Develop self-awareness.

4. Communication skills
• Listening
• Non-verbal communication
• Interactive communication
• Empathy
• Assertiveness

5. To conduct a effective counselling
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Avoid making recommendations.
Do not jump to conclusions.
Do not shift from one subject to another.
Open ended and closed ended questions.
Keep your goals clearly in mind.
Determine the patient’s ability.
Maintain objectivity.
Nonverbal messages.

6. Barriers to effective counselling
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Environmental barriers
Semantics
Perception
Negative attitude
Personal barriers
False assumptions about patient
Negligence or malpractice

7. Communication with
special patients
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The Elderly
Terminally Ill patients
Patients with AIDS
Patients who are mentally ill
The Children

8. Ethical principles
• Beneficence
• Autonomy
• Honesty
• Informed Consent
• Confidentiality
• Fidelity

9. References:
• 1. Harvey M. Rappaport et al. The Guidebook
for Patient Counselling. Lancaster,
Pennsylvania: Technomic Publishing Company,
1994.
• 2. Tindall, William N, Robert S. Beardsley,
Carole L. Kimberlin. Communication Skills in
Pharmacy Practice (fourth edition). Baltimore,
Maryland and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania :
Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2003.

10. THANK YOU
SANIKA SATHE
MA PART II
SEM IV
COUNSELLING