Counselor Attitudes Towards Terminal Illness

Professional counselors are uniquely suited to assist individuals with terminal illness in overcoming obstacles to live longer, more fulfilling lives. However, numerous research findings argue that care for this population is impacted by caregiver attitudes. This cross-sectional study examined the attitudes of clinical mental health counselors and rehabilitation counselors towards terminal illness by utilizing an edited version of the FATCOD-B instrument. Counselor attitudes towards terminal illness were significantly impacted by the length of their career (<i>F</i> = 2.557, <i>df</i> = 4, <i>p</i> = .046, η² = 0.129) and prior experience working with individuals who have been diagnosed with a terminal illness (<i>F</i> = 3.682, <i>df</i> = 4, <i>p</i> = .009, η² = 0.176). These findings are similar to research findings in medicine and nursing, suggesting that clinical experience and exposure to individuals diagnosed with TI are important factors to consider in health professionals working with this vulnerable population.