End-of-Life Case Study: The Use of Narrative Therapy on a Holocaust Survivor with Lifelong Depression

• Published in: Journal of contemporary psychotherapy 2022-09, Vol.52 (3), p.191-198
• Main Authors: Stahnke, Brittany, Cooley, Morgan E.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Clinical Psychology; Holocaust; Holocaust survivors; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Mental depression; Original Paper; Personality and Social Psychology; Psychiatry; Public Health
• ISSN: 0022-0116; 1573-3564
• DOI: 10.1007/s10879-022-09532-z

End-of-life is associated with several physical and existential challenges that may necessitate and yet limit intervention. However, there is limited scholarly exploration of various therapeutic techniques that support the unique individual and family needs that arise during this often-challenging time. This case study examines the use of narrative therapy techniques from a lens of illness-informed social work practice to provide examples of how this theoretical approach and its techniques can be helpful for clients and families at the end of their lives. In this case, narrative therapies, guided by a hospice social worker over a 2-year period, allowed a dying Holocaust survivor to experience less fear of death, depression, and regret, helping him to end his life with dignity and integrity. Implications for future practice and research are presented, which support the ability of this approach to meet the individual needs of such clients and their families and the need for more research to validate a narrative approach with end-of-life populations.