This highly accessible guide to counseling the terminally ill and their families fills a critical need in the counseling literature. Written for front-line mental health professionals and counseling graduate students, the text integrates empirically based research with practical guidance. It is replete with the experiences of contributing authors who are leaders in counseling the terminally ill, real life case examples, clinical "pearls" of wisdom, and summary tables of practice pointers that provide quick access to important knowledge. The text discusses information that is requisite for all counselors who provide services to the terminally ill and their families. It addresses common issues that determine different types of counseling approaches such as how the age of a client affects counselor conceptualizations and actions along with mental and health complications or cognitive impairment. The needs of family members are addressed as well as complicated grief. The text examines the particular concerns of counselors regarding self care and working as part of a professional team. Woven throughout are such important considerations as culture, ethics, laws, and regulations; and advocacy at client and social policy levels. Readers will also benefit from the inclusion of additional references for more in-depth study. Key Features: • Integrates empirical research with practical and accessible information • Provides a reader friendly format that includes clinical "pearls," real life case studies, and separate tables that clearly present important pointers • Describes the counseling experiences of leading practitioners that includes examples of successful and unsuccessful interventions • Includes numerous additional references for more in-depth study