Principles of Grief Counseling

• Be open to it - let your patients and staff know that you care if they have a loss and that it is ok to talk about it with you.
• Consider it may be a hidden diagnosis if things don't fit with your patient.
• Screen for depression and/or medical problems.
• Offer resources - grief support groups, internet chat groups, books, internet education.
• Schedule follow-up - be active in making appointments for people and encouraging them to come back.
• Offer to take care of family members.
• Listen.

Grief Communication

Things to say:

• I'm sorry
• I can't imagine what you're going through
• Say deceased's name
• Do you have any questions about the final treatment?
• Talk about the deceased
• How have you been since the deceased's death?

Things not to say:

• Call me - instead call them
• I know how you feel
• It was probably for the best
• It is God's will
• I'm sorry I brought it up
• You're strong enough to deal with it

Dallas/Ft. Worth Grief Resources

• American Cancer Society's Life After Loss program - not just for cancer patients
  • Bilingual
  • Dallas County (214)819-1200
  • Tarrant County (817)737-9990
  • http://www.cancer.org
  • Additional grief resources from the American Cancer Society
• Hospice Area Grief Groups - (214)920-8450 (bilingual)
• Grief Resource Pages
  • Hospice Foundation of America
  • Hospice Net, Inc.
• Parkland Hospital Grief Group - (214)590-8512

Additional Web Resources

Caring for Bereaved Patients
http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/reprint/286/11/1369.pdf

Mourner's Rights (patient handout) -
http://www.aafp.org/fpm/20031100/mournersrights.pdf

Applications

Family Practice Center

Hospitals

Curriculum

Web-based Information

Conferences

Benefits

Faculty

Residents

Directions

Dallas/Ft. Worth Metroplex