Psychodynamic psychotherapy is effective as an approach to understanding the psychological conflicts and the psychiatric symptoms of cancer patients as well as to planning useful psychological interventions. The author recommends that the psychotherapist who treats cancer patients be familiar with the following: 1) the natural course and treatment of the illness, 2) a flexible approach in accord with the medical status of the patient, 3) a common sense approach to defenses, 4) a concern with quality-of-life issues, and 5) counter-transference issues as they relate to the treatment of very sick patients. Case reports illustrate the unique problems facing psychotherapists who are treating cancer patients. Further, these cases show the effective use of psychodynamic principles to inform the therapist of successful psychotherapeutic interventions.

The psychodynamic treatment of dying cancer patients is a relatively neglected area in practice and the literature. Death anxiety in these patients often results in countertransferences that lead therapists to exclude dying patients for treatment or avoid discussing their patients' concerns about dying. This article offers the reader an exposure to a clinician's immersion in the psychodynamic treatment of cancer patients for over 40 years and offers recommendations that meet the needs of patients facing death. Interventions that may lessen the patient's death anxiety and the therapist's countertransferences include: advocating for the patient's quality of life, taking a common sense approach to denial, helping the patient accept "uncertainty" regarding prognosis, providing a flexible approach that includes support and medication, validating the patient's life contributions, elevating the patient's self-esteem, and exploring the patient's concerns about dying. In addition, the article will also provide many case examples of meaningful psychotherapeutic work at the end of life, including mastering longstanding psychological conflicts, forgiving oneself for past mistakes, establishing a legacy, and healing relationships.

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