Thank you, Elisabeth: Self-awareness when working with people at the end of life

When beginning her career in Palliative Medicine, the author first met Dr Elisabeth Kubler-Ross. This meeting introduced her to the importance of being aware of one's own emotional issues when working with people who are suffering. As Elisabeth said, "You need to deal with your own sh*t first". The book relates stories of people at the end of life who have continued to teach the author the importance of self-awareness. With more awareness there is less likelihood of projecting one's own issues into the situation and less likelihood of developing compassion fatigue or 'burnout'. It is also more possible to facilitate hope, healing and meaning for the dying.