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Journeying with Alice: some things I don't know for certain

Research Output: Contribution to journal Article Peer-review

Abstract

In this narrative I reflect on those things I do not know for certain. The narrative is constructed around my experience of giving Alice, a patient at the hospice where I worked as a complementary therapist, a foot massage. The narrative reveals the possibility of caring in the context of hospice, notably the significance of paying attention to little things such as a foot massage, that made such a difference to Alice's care. The narrative further reveals factors that resist caring, in particular the impact of labelling people as difficult for whatever reason. The narrative stands as an exemplar of reflective practice as an opportunity to reveal and challenge those things I might claim to know but which in the mystery of the human–human encounter can never be known for certain. Only by being non-attached to knowing can the practitioner truly realise her or his caring potential.

Publication Information

Output type

Research Output: Contribution to journal Article Peer-review

Original language

English

Pages from-to (Number of pages)

Pages 133-135

Journal (Volume, Issue Number)

Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice (Volume 15, Issue 3)

Publication milestones

  • Published - 01/08/2009

Publication status

Published - 01/08/2009

ISSN

1744-3881

External Publication IDs

  • handle.net: 10547/224834
  • Scopus: 67649840691

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