Meeting The Needs Of Our Clients Creatively:
The Impact of Art and Culture on Caregiving

Edited by John D. Morgan, Ph.D.

Baywood Publishing Company, Inc.
Amityville, New York, 2000

from the - Death, Value and Meaning Series - John D. Morgan, Ph.D. - series editor

 This clinically oriented book, edited by John D. Morgan, contains many useful chapters from
contributors with various academic, clinical, and ministerial credentials.  The book is divided into two
parts.  The opening, shorter, section is Creative Caregiving: Theoretical Considerations.  The
remainder of the 313 page book is devoted to Creative Caregiving: Practical Applications.  While
this text is clearly aimed at a professional audience, there are chapters in the practical applications
section that could easily be shared with some clients, and / or with the families of clients.
 John. D Morgan's contribution to the text contains the following few lines which seemed to capture
the spirit of the volume:  "The most important reality human beings must deal with is mortality and
death.  Whether this topic is approached from the perspective of medicine, psychology, religion,
philosophy, music or poetry, death is often described in figurative images or phrases.  Unlike
language, the arts have the potential to express diverse themes simultaneously.  Through the arts one
can confront death on many levels at once.  By engaging in an experience in the arts, people can be
assisted as they mourn, grieve, celebrated life; they can overcome fragmentation, and find a sense of
meaning in their lives.  Because the arts are regenerators of the body, mind, emotions, and spirit,
persons can be enabled to live more fully while they are dying and grieving."  What follows in the 14
chapters of the practical applications section are a range of offerings from writers of both religious
and clinical backgrounds that address the intention of using art, music, story-telling, and humor to
enable clients to live more fully whatever their place happens to be in the human drama of facing
death.
 The opening chapter of the practical applications section is "Pastoral Caregiving: Caring As
Presence," by, Rev. Fr. Richard B. Gilbert.  Reverend Gilbert addressed the importance of the
quality of what the caregiver brings to the encounter with the client.   He notes: "Presence is to walk
with the person, neither directing nor following, surrendering the right or need to control for one of
simply listening.  It is to be present out of love, willing to listen (and to wait) to the person whatever
he or she may be." He encourages caregivers to both prepare for encounters with clients and to
self-evaluate.
 Other chapters in the text include four that are clearly aimed at children and adolescents, and one or
two others that could easily be applied to younger clients. Chapter titles include: "Smashing Pumpkins
and Blind Melons: Using Popular Music to Help Grieving Adolescents" - by Mindy Gough; "The Arts
and Story: A Source of Comfort and Insight for Children Who are Learning about Death" - by
Sandra L Berman; "Children, Death and Fairy Tales" - by Elizabeth P. Lamers: and, "Children's
Exposure to Sudden Traumatic Death: Bereavement, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, and the Case
for Early Intervention" - by David W. Adams.  Also applicable to children are the chapters: "The
Dream Catcher and the Universality of Grief" - by Thomas O'Niel; and, "The use of Music as
Therapy with the Dying and Bereaved" - by Lora Koenig Heller and Paul Alexander, which includes
case studies related to children.
 Other topics addressed in the test include various cross-cultural issues.  Included are:  "Facing life
and Death:  A Buddhist's Understanding of Palliative Care and Bereavement" - by Leslie Kawamura;
"Why have a funeral?  Hindu Funerals in England: Past, Present, and Future" - by Pittu Laungani;
and, "Creating rituals for the Non-Religious" - by Rev. Lloyd D. Smith.  There is also a chapter
related to working with formerly abused clients.
 The concluding chapter of the book; "Hope and the Caregiver: A Journey Toward Self-Awareness"
- by Darcie D. Sims, offers exercises, aimed at enhancing the self-awareness of caregivers, and at
assisting caregivers in dealing with their own stress.
 This text is, in this writer's opinion, a serious, useful and compassionate contribution to the field.
e-mail baywood@baywood .com  web site http://baywood.com   -Paul Barry