Fourth Interview with Kenneth J. Doka

We spoke recently with Dr. Kenneth Doka, Senior Consultant to HFA, about the upcoming Living With Grief^® program focusing on Spirituality and End-of-Life Care. Dr. Doka has participated in the planning and production of every LWG program since its inception. Dr. Doka is a professor of gerontology at the graduate school of The College of New Rochelle. Dr. Doka has written or edited 18 books, including HFA’s Living with Grief series, and has published 60 articles and book chapters. He is editor of Omega, a professional journal on death and dying, and Journeys, HFA’s monthly and special issue bereavement newsletter. Dr. Doka was elected president of the Association for Death Education and Counseling (ADEC) in 1993. He was elected to the Board of the International Work Group on Dying, Death and Bereavement in 1995, and served as its chairman from 1997 to 1999. In 2006, Dr. Doka was recognized as a mental health counselor under New York State’s first licensure of counselors. He is an ordained Lutheran minister.

Q. Why did HFA choose to focus on the topic of spirituality?

A. While spirituality has always one of the values inherent in hospice care, the issue has been getting more attention in the general healthcare field. And every year, spirituality has  been one of the most requested subjects from participants in our programs.

Q. Why do you think this topic is so consistently requested?


A. Traditionally there has been a lack of resources on the subject, especially around spirituality and the end of life. Yet, spiritual issues loom large for many people facing dying, death and loss. In a spiritually diverse community, healthcare professionals are continually challenged to understand and respect a client’s perspective on how spirituality can intersect with their care.

Q. After 17 years of educating professionals and consumers through HFA’s programs, what lessons have you learned?

A. One exciting change this year was developed directly out of conversations with our Site Coordinators. While our program has always featured expert panelists and cutting-edge subjects, the 2.5 hour time frame does not always allow for in-depth conversation.

This year we are adding three live online programs, called webinars,  that will allow participants to learn more about specific topics surrounding Spiritual Meaning Making at the End of Life.  The webinars will provide a variety of techniques and strategies to participants, and allow them to continue the exploration of this subject well beyond the main program.

Q. Can you talk more about the process of “meaning making”?

A. When spirituality is defined broadly, it can be an important component of how one makes sense about what is happening at the end of life, and bring meaning to the life that someone has lived. In these webinars, we will discuss specific approaches and techniques such as dignity enhancement therapy and life review that can be used by healthcare professionals, clergy, even by  trained volunteers, to assist people who are dying to find meaning even as their lives are ending.