Book Review

Edited by Dead Whitehead

Speaking of Dying: A Practical Guide toUsing Counselling Skills by LouisHeyse-Moore. 2008. Jessica KingsleyPublishers, London, UK. ISBN9781843106784. 182 pp. £17Æ99.

This book suggests that it is aimed atpractitioners working in the palliativeclinical setting. Indeed, the authorclearly states in the introduction thathe sees a need for a book that is a guideto talking to the terminally ill. It is abook with two distinct parts. The firstpart is an overview of the componentelements and core skills of a basic‘counselling’ meeting. It moves chrono-logically from what to consider at thefirst meeting and then addresses cumu-lative skills including attending, reflec-tive and questioning skills and the use ofsilence. However, it does not address thekey principles of endings in the contextof how to finish an individual session or,indeed, the final meeting.

To demonstrate how core skills maybe applied in the first section, this bookadopts a case-study approach. Thisapproach is used both in the first andsecond part of the book; the second partbeing ‘palliative care issues’. It is notovertly evident from the narrativewhether a particular counselling ap-proach is used. However, there is anemphasis on psychodynamic theory inthe chapter psychological approaches –

which comes at the end of the firstsection. Part two also examines specificpalliative care situations – which rangefrom breaking bad news to euthanasia.It is not particularly theoretical oracademic in its presentation. Instead, itis more reflective in using the author’sown experiences, poetry, literature andcase study to demonstrate points.Although there are some references,there are not as many as perhaps onemight expect in this section, particularlyas there is noted evidence readilyavailable which has evaluated commu-nication skills in particular palliativesettings, for example, breaking badnews. This more ‘narrative’ style,however, may appeal to many readersand may be considered by some mostappropriate for the subject matter.

As to whether this book is a practicalguide to using counselling is debateable.The first section is really more aboutbasic communication skills which formany health practitioners, in general,would be familiar. The second sectiondoes not consistently link counsellingskills to the situations described andsome of the observations made were‘stating the obvious’. However, there aresome useful hints, tips and remindersin the chapters examining family mat-ters and staff support, for example,how to use the family tree as a meansto initiating communication and howto recognise distress in staff.

The main value of this book then is inproviding insight into the difficult com-munication situations that arise in pal-liative care. In addition, the first sectionis useful for practitioners as it providesthought-provoking questions to ask one-self when using attending skills – such asreminding one of the importance ofusing all the senses.

The references to literature and otherart forms in this book are tantalisingenough to motivate users to read morewidely in search of developing skills andunderstanding situations. Essentially,however, the main premise of this bookis that it has provided an opportunityfor an experienced clinician to sharetheir experiences. It is not a text forthose looking for theoretical debate oreven a ‘harassed’ practitioner wishing tofind a quick answer to a difficult situa-tion. However, one does come awayfrom reading this book feeling as if theauthor really understands what its liketo deal with dying patients, not only forthe patient and family, but also what itslike for those health practitioners whoface such challenges. That, in itself, isprecious.

Heather CampbellHead of Education

St. Richard’s HospiceWorcester

UK

2678 � 2009 Blackwell Publishing Ltd, Journal of Clinical Nursing, 18, 2678

doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2702.2009.02881.x