This book is intended to help the counselor learn to work with terminal patients. The first part presents historical and cultural attitudes toward death and dying. Fear of death, the role of religion, and common myths about terminal cancer patients are discussed. The second part deals with care and treatment of terminal patients. The significance of attitudes toward terminal patients, emotional needs of the dying, and the ultimate aloneness of dying are examined. The third part discusses patient advocacy. The role of the professional, staff, and family are presented, and emotional needs of children are identified. The fourth part contains information about termination. Learning to say good-bye, an authentic therapeutic encounter with a dying person, issues for when a patient dies, and language as a defense mechanism are presented. The fifth part examines changing attitudes toward death and dying. Changing attitudes within health care facilities, and hospices are discussed. The sixth part contains guidelines for thanatology program development. The need for thanatology programs is discussed. General purpose guidelines are presented, as well as program implementation guidelines. Role playing situations are included to help staff members deal with their own fears about death and dying, and the rights of terminal patients are outlined. An example of what it feels like to die is presented to personalize feelings about death and dying. (LLL)