This educational workbook helps people who build compassionate relationships with dying people. Accompanied by its trainer's guide, it presents a comprehensive, sequential learning program for caregivers in non-medical capacities covering everything from self-understanding to spiritual issues, listening skills and expressive activities, developing the skills, awareness and resilience needed for this privileged and sensitive role. The program includes a variety of learning experiences, including large and small group activities, discussion, close reading, creative writing, self exploration, and skill development and practice. This is an invaluable resource for small groups of individuals who wish to volunteer in hospice or palliative care settings. A copy of the guide for trainers is included in each pack of workbooks, and is also freely available online. 'The best resource I have seen to guide teachers and learners in this complex training process. I predict that those of you who try it with your staffs and trainees will find that it bears fruit both for your patients and their families, but also for the sustenance and personal development of the staff members themselves.' Timothy Quill, M.D., in his Foreword

Current maternity policy advocates choice and control for women in maternity care, and promotes women as active childbirth consumers and decision-makers. However, evidence that women receive true choice within contemporary maternity services is lacking, and continued and pervasive barriers to choice continue to have profound consequences for many. Choice, Control and Contemporary Childbirth explores the narrative childbirth experiences of a group of women, outlining current policy and providing an overview of the relevant discourses to which women are exposed when making choices for maternity care. This book is unique in presenting narratives that reveal varying identities for women across their maternity exerience, illustrating how maternity choices are simulataneously promised and constrained. It provides practitioners, service providers and policymakers in maternity care, and all those with an interest in birth provision, with profound insights into both women's experiences of childbirth and how choices can be better facilitated in future. 'Maternal choice and control are a challenge in contemporary society, with the changing demography of the population, the rising birth rate and financial constraints. Collecting this diverse information in one publication is timely and an invaluable resource for the practising and academically active midwives, obstetricians and health service managers.' - From the Foreword by Tina Lavender

'Today, there exists a robust body of work connecting narrative theory and practice with medical theory, practice, teaching, and research. Taken together, what is particularly interesting about these works is that they portray narrative healthcare as both a philosophy of care and a set of skills - ' John D Engel, Lura L Pethtel and Joseph Zarconi, in the Preface This inspiring collection of narrative portraits details the career paths of physicians and nurses who figure prominently in the realms of narrative and relationship-centered healthcare. Each narrative describes the healthcare practitioner's early decision process for choosing their career and follows with a trajectory of events and work situations that brought each person to their present position. They offer a unique view from both a personal and a professional perspective. The collection of narrative portraits provides students, residents, and practicing health professionals a window into the possibilities for constructing professional lives that are oriented to service in ways that are fulfilling, energizing, and creative. The editors have made an important contribution to advancing the practice of narrative and relationship-centered medicine. They invite you to listen for the truths of your own story as you hear the voices of colleagues speak from the pages in your hand. Reflecting on the ultimate concerns that move you will enable you to more fully inhabit your own life story and become more authentic and vital as you heal others. Mark L Savickas, in the Foreword