Lecture 2 - competencies of psychologists in PC

1. Basics of palliative care

2. Professional role and self image  

3. Psychological assessment and documentation  

4.Counseling and psychotherapy  

5.Consultation, supervision and staff-support  

6. Research  

7. Self-awareness and self care

8. Ethics  

9.Cultural diversity  

10.Policy, organization and advocacy

—> always prociding knowledge skilly and attitudes

european association for PC

Knowledge:

• definitions, disease trajectory (Krankheitsverlauf), symptomatology

Skills:

• manage challenges related to integration of PC

• advocate patients choices

attitudes:

• acceptance of philosophy of PC

knowledge

• bio-psycho-social model

• knowing the role of psychologists in PC

• organizational context

Skills

• share knowledge with other professionals

• work interdisciplinary

• effective communication

attitude

• self-reflection on my role

Knowlege

• developmental psychology (how to explain death to children?)

• iagnostics of psychopathology

skills

• analytic and judgemental skills

• establish rapport

attitude

• valuing differences

• respect dignity, wishes and beliefs

Knowledge

• client centered approach

• narrative therapy, mindfulness, existential therapy

SSkills

• therapeutic plan (also plan for how long they will have sessions and set a limit and after that there shouldn’t be more sessions)

• manage end of the intervention (duration of intervention mostly quiet short, so: what is the purpose of the intervention? At the beginning set the limit/ end – for how long they will have therapy)

attitude

• openess, self-reflection (which are my own experiences and how do they influence myself?)

• awareness to supervision, self-care

Knowledge

• theory of team

• how to detect risks and ysfunctional situations in the team (intervision, supervision)

• faciliate communication (about different opinions etc)

Skills

• listening, empathy

• detect burnout

• ability to discuss cases and find solutions

attitude

• unbiased approach

• non judgemental attitude (also toward the family members and their opinions etc for example when family wont take patient home even if he/she wants to —> you don’t understand the complexity of the relationship)

• value and respect different ones

• sympathy vs empathy explanation for collegues

• Empathy is shown in how much compassion and understanding we can give to another.

• Sympathy is more of a feeling of pity for another. Empathy is our ability to understand how someone feels while sympathy is our relief in not having the same problems.

Knowledge

• knowing the type of research and hot to conduct it

• psychometrics of surveys/questionnaires

• ethnical issues related to research

Skills

• write grant application

• manage research, dissemincate and present results

attitude

• curious

• non judgemental

Knowledge

• understanding own issues

• understandint the role of professional carer

Skills

• reflection

• self care

attitude

• understand that death is a normal part of life (you still can be scared of dying etc, but be able to talk about it and know own opinion and thoughts about it)

knowledge:

• current law, legal policies

• ethnical principles

• euthaniasia, assisted suicide

Skills

• respect and discuss priorities (What is behind them? And respect them), especially hard when opinion from patient and family differs

• support patient AND team members in ethnical difficult situations (especially when patient cant decide for themselves and family has different opinions)

attitudes

• non judgemental attitude

• fully respect patients or families wishes

Knowledge:

• religion, spirituality, belief system

• death rituals, mourning practices

Skills

• respect cultural differences

• culturally appropriate interventions

attitudes

• respect for differences and customs

knowledge:

• role of PC in health system

• educational opportunities

• awareness about the organization and acticities

skills:

• educate others, present at congresses

attitudes

• critical reflection on approaches in community

• willingness to engage in advocacy work

mostly on level 3 and 4 :

• counseling and specific psychological intervention (e.g. anxiety management)

• specialist psychological interventions, such as psychotherapy

• consultation with patients or relatives or team

• counseling and education & training