Open-Ended Counselling with the Elderly

Abstract

This chapter describes two clients who engaged in open-ended counselling work. When I started at the hospital the clinical psychology manager agreed that I could take on some clients for open-ended work to help me gain a deeper understanding of elderly people. The clients were seen in my office in the long-stay hospital. The chapter illustrates some of the issues which emerged from a longer therapeutic contact, especially feelings about ageing and the inevitability of death. I think these elderly people sought counselling because the awareness of death made it urgent to sort out some difficult emotional issues before they died.