On death and death anxiety in therapy : perceptions of psychologists

Abstract

The awareness of death and consequent death anxiety are ever-present features in the human condition. The study focused on psychologists’ understanding of death and death anxiety, and how the professionals’ perceptions and stance impact on the therapeutic work done with clients. A qualitative research design was employed. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with six psychologists, using thematic analysis. Findings indicate that, after having gone through an emotive conscious or unconscious journey through death anxiety, psychologists held a deep awareness of death and a sense of gratitude towards life, achieved through human connection, the belief of the endurance of consciousness after death, love, and legacy. Clients were perceived as going through a similar journey, with personality structure and mental health issues complicating death anxiety. The findings were considered to have implications in the therapeutic area, where psychologists primarily adopted a humanistic existential stance. In the local context, the self of the therapist was viewed as the main therapeutic tool, both as a transformative agent and a model. Spirituality and close supportive relationships were the main coping strategies.