ABSTRACT
Professionals who work with the dying are most capable at helping the dying and their families to cope with the psychological stresses of terminal illness. The social and professional skills of health care professionals have traditionally been focused towards curing the patient. There has been no effort, except in recent years, to prepare staffs in learning what appropriate therapeutic behavior is toward dying patients and their families. As the patient struggles to cope with a high anxiety level, he needs professionals who anticipate and understand the overwhelming fears that the patient is confronting. The advocate represents a form of stability as the patient struggles with his emotions. The professional as advocate maintains a therapeutic position in the face of the patient's various mood swings, which means an attitude that is consistent and non-punitive. Therapeutic intervention is a position of understanding the purpose of the patient's behavior and not seeing it as a threat or rejection of one's personal self.
