Caring for the patient and his family dealing with a life-threatening illness

" To take from death its outstanding advantage over us, let us rob it of its strangeness. To practice death is to practice freedom. He who has learned how to die has learned how to free himself from slavery. " Montaigne

In the past year, 42,000 people died in Israel, nearly 5,000 of whom died in conditions of isolation and social distancing as a result of the coronavirus disease. To this figure is added every year an even greater number of those dealing with a life-threatening illness and their family members. There are few doctors, psychologists and social workers in Israel with expertise and experience in psycho-emotional treatment with patients dealing with a life-threatening condition and their families.

Mental health care that focuses on supporting people in a life-threatening situation requires unique skills, integration of treatment methods and activity, alongside a deep experience of intimacy and closeness with the possibility of touching the soul of patients who come to the meeting often exposed and without defenses. Treatment in these situations involves encountering a transitional state between holding on to life and approaching death, while requiring processing separation, open communication, balancing symptoms, closing circles, and finding meaning.

At the same time, the unique encounter also brings the therapist together with his own death anxiety and allows him to grow personally and professionally together. Unfortunately, as mentioned, we will all encounter in our private lives and in the clinic patients who are dealing with a life-threatening illness or their family members who need dedicated and skilled care during this critical period of their lives.

The learning day will deal with key principles and tools for mental health care in life-threatening situations.

About the lecturer:

Mark Sherman - District Medical Psychologist, Northern District, Unified Health Fund. Engaged in psycho-oncology and palliative care in the community and in private clinics in Haifa and Zichron Yaakov for over 10 years. Specialized in treating pain and unexplained somatic symptoms in a multidisciplinary clinic. Worked for seven years in a multidisciplinary clinic specializing in unexplained symptoms among complex patients in a holistic medicine approach with Dr. Elad and Dr. Margalit. Formerly a member of the palliative team at Rambam Hospital Haifa. Expert in trauma treatment and the connection between childhood trauma and physical illnesses. Lecturer on behalf of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Israel and internationally. Facilitator of workshops for medical and paramedical teams in the field of improving personal and organizational resilience and preventing burnout. Member of the board of directors of the Social Journey for the Healing of Medicine association. Facilitator of bereavement groups and groups for patients within the framework of the Israel Cancer Association. Member of the board of directors of the Refuah Shlomo association.

Structure of the learning day:

9:00-10:30 - Principles of psychotherapy in patients dealing with a life-threatening illness.

10:45-12:15 - Demonstration of applied treatment techniques with examples from the treatments and discussion.

Cost :
Professionals: 50 NIS

Students, interns: 30 NIS