DISCUSSION AND INSIGHTS
Death anxiety is neglected in psychoanalysis, in theory and practice. This webinar brings together a group of experts in the psychoanalytic treatment of death anxiety. The audience will be initially introduced to a patient with a three-month prognosis by Norm Straker, MD to reflect on how they would respond to this referral. Prior to a description of the treatment of this patient, Sheldon Solomon, PhD will describe his research on the unconscious defenses against death anxiety, which he has termed “terror management”.
Dr. Straker’s description of his treatment of the patient prominently illustrates the clinical application of Solomon’s research and should help the clinician lessen death anxiety in their
treatment of terminally ill patients.
Linda Emanuel, MD a palliative care specialist, will describe “existential maturity “a term she has designated from her clinical work in palliative care. Finally, Jeffrey Guss, MD will describe his research on the use of psilocybin-assisted therapy in cancer patients with existential distress or demoralization syndrome, and how substance assisted therapy may reduce death anxiety.
Harvey Schwartz, MD will be our moderator. After the presentations, we will move into breakout rooms, each led by one of the
speakers, for small group discussion, and then reconvene to end the webinar in a large group discussion with all participants and speakers.
