| Abstract: | An important reason why advance directive instruments are underused is that people faced with the need to think about the end of life, future mental health problems, or the need for nursing home admission experience psychological stress that produces denial and procrastination. This essay examines how lawyers who are counseling clients about advance directive instruments can deal with such client denial and resistance. It explains the psychological defense mechanism of denial and related forms of resistance and offers suggestions about techniques that lawyers can use for dealing with denial and resistance in counseling clients about advance directives. It suggests ways in which lawyers can develop their interpersonal skills, becoming more empathic and more sensitive to their clients' psychological needs. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved) |
