What is the major practice focus of a pastoral thanatologist?
Response: a pastoral thanatologist is one who is very knowledgeable in the area of death and dying, specifically with a focus on working with dying clients and their spiritual, sometimes social needs, and works with clients and families experiencing normal & typical grief reactions. A pastoral thanatologist specifically works with the dying, while a grief counselor more often works with families/loved ones of the dying patient or the patient who is deceased. This is the distinction that the American Academy of Grief Counseling embraces and supports. The pastoral thanatologist is also a pastoral care provider. As such, pastoral thanatologist are involved in a “ministry” to the dying. While working with clients, they frequently represent a religious affiliation or an organization that supports a certain religious or spiritual belief. While many are clergy/ministers, many are also “lay people” working with clergy/ministers and/or churches or organizations to provide a focused spiritual ca
