Working with Chronic Illness

Abstract

This series introduces readers to the theory and practice of counselling and psychotherapy across a wide range of topic areas. The books will appeal to anyone wishing to use counselling and psychotherapeutic skills and will be particularly relevant to workers in health, education, social work and related settings. The books in this series are unusual in being rooted in psychodynamic and systemic ideas, yet being written at an accessible, readable and introductory level. Each text offers theoretical background and guidance for practice, with creative use of clinical examples.

The impact of HIV illness on parents and children, with particular reference to African families

“…The age of the child at the time of the mother or father's HIV diagnosis affects parenting (Altschuler, 1997). As children go through the infant and toddler stage, their care and developmental needs may be affected by the mother's varying ability to deal with practical and emotional issues because of lack of energy or poor health.…”

Breaking Bad News

“…Developing coping strategies such as ''shutdown'' was identified and would suggest that the emotional cost of caring is a significant reality for nurses. 27,28 Feelings of anger and frustration at medical staff's poor communication skills were noted, 29 and the detrimental effect on the nurse-patient relationship from medical staff's poor communication skills identified. 30 The research, to date, has demonstrated some poor nursing communication practices when caring for patients with cancer.…”

Whatever happened to biology? Reconnecting family therapy with its evolutionary origins

“…This work has been promoted especially by the journal Families, Systems and Health and by the collaborative family healthcare coalition (Bloch and Doherty, 1998;McDaniels, 1992). In Great Britain there has been work by family therapists in general practice surgeries (Carpenter, 1994;Dowling, 1994;Senior, 1994), and with people suffering from AIDS and other life-threatening diseases (Altschuler, 1997;Bor et al, 1992). In recent years in Britain, the 'Thinking Families' network of general practitioners and others has promoted the cross-fertilization of ideas between family therapy and general practice (Mayer et al, 1996;Tomson and Czauderna, 1994).…”