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When caring for a grieving patient, professional chaplains may assess the patient's spiritual suffering, address questions of meaning and purpose, and identify sources of comfort, love, and strength. In the setting of a pandemic, with heightened precautions and limited visitation by loved ones, all members of the clinical team are called to utilize compassionate listening and communication skills to address the pervasive isolation and grief of those in their care. This article uses a chaplain's personal narrative to explore the challenges of facilitating grief support with a newly bereaved patient who cannot speak. It presents the Biblical concept of kol d'mama daka, the "still small voice," as an image of the power of silence and revelation that comes when clinicians employ deep listening and compassion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Palliative care clinicians enhance the illness experiences of patients and their families through building therapeutic relationships. Many psychological concepts underlie a clinician's approach to a specific patient. Through high-yield tips, this article highlights ten selected psychological elements that palliative care clinicians often use to support patients. As we all (both clinicians and patients) bring our own histories and unique biographies to the work of palliative care, a more explicit focus on the psychological aspects of this work can enhance our own experience and efficacy as providers. With a thoughtful focus on the psychological aspects of how we engage with patients, palliative care clinicians can offer a more meaningful therapeutic encounter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]