A collection of accounts exploring the personal and professional experiences of palliative care workers. The contributors, who are based at hospices such as St Joseph's in Hackney, demonstrate the positive impact of reflective practice for families and individuals who have experienced or are experiencing bereavement. They explain how and why they came to work in palliative care and what they bring to the work - as well as the ways in which the work has enriched their own lives Including descriptive examples of their own work with clients and families they discuss: how to deal with your own emotions as well as those of the client; moral dilemmas you may come up against in your work; managing denial in patients and carers; general ethical questions in cancer and palliative care work; and the use of narrative and story-telling in care work.

English summary: A hospital team of nurses, doctors and therapists are working together to provide the best possible care for the terminally ill patients whose progressive, late-stage illnesses are no longer susceptible to curative treatment. The aim of palliative medicine is to preserve qualitiy of living through optimised pain management and control of symptoms. Hospices allow patients to die in dignity. Both institutions allow for the, often processual, use of music and music therapy to support and comfort patients.This volume demonstrates current research approaches and gives and overview of support through music therapy in both areas. The theme of dying and grieving is approached through texts about inner and outer attitudes, mindfulness and the supportive use of music as well as the wholesome atmosphere created with its help in listening to and empathising with terminally ill patients. German description: Ein Krankenhausteam von Pflegern, Arzten und Therapeuten sind um die bestmogliche Versorgung der schwerstkranken Patienten bemuht, die mit progredienten, weit fortgeschrittenen Erkrankungen nicht mehr auf eine kurative Behandlung ansprechen. Ziel der Palliativmedizin ist der Erhalt der Lebensqualitat durch optimale Schmerztherapie und Symptomkontrolle. Die Hospize ermoglichen ein Sterben in Wurde, in beiden Institutionen ist der begleitende und trostende, oft prozesshafte Einsatz mit Musik und Musiktherapie moglich.Der vorliegende Band zeigt aktuelle Forschungsansatze und gibt einen Uberblick uber musiktherapeutische Begleitungen in beiden Bereichen. Wir nahern uns der Thematik des Sterbens und Trauerns durch Beitrage uber innere und aussere Haltungen, Achtsamkeit und den unterstutzenden Einsatz von Musik sowie die daraus entstehende heilsame Atmosphare beim Zuhoren und Einfuhlen in die Lebenssituation Schwerstkranker an.