Skip to main content
Log in

Adjustment and the near-death experience: A conceptual and therapeutic model

  • Published:
Journal of Near-Death Studies

Abstract

Most mental health practitioners, and counseling psychologists in particular, possess skills for helping near-death experiencers. What is needed is a conceptual framework that is both familiar to practitioners and highly relevant to that client group. Cross-cultural counseling in general, and the consideration of world views more specifically, are suggested. Using that framework, the world view assimilated during the near-death experience (NDE) is viewed as being in contrast to that of the “old self,” significant others, and the majority culture. The difficulties reported by NDErs are considered analogous to those associated with culture shock. The world views of the practitioner, NDEr, and relevant others should be taken into account in the formulation of psychoeducational and therapeutic interventions.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Adler, P. (1975). The translation experience: An alternative view of culture shock.Journal of Humanistic Psychology, 15(4), 13–23.

    Google Scholar 

  • American Psychiatric Association. (1980).Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (3rd ed.). Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association.

    Google Scholar 

  • American Psychological Association Committee on Standards for Providers of Psychological Services. (1981). Specialty guidelines for the delivery of services by counseling psychologists.American Psychologist, 36, 652–663.

    Google Scholar 

  • Atwater, P. M. H. (1983). Coming back: The aftereffects of survival.Vital Signs, 3(2), 16.

    Google Scholar 

  • Eysenck, H. J. (Ed.). (1972).Encyclopedia of Psychology. New York, NY: Herder & Herder.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gallup, G., Jr. (1982).Adventures in Immortality: A Look Beyond the Threshold of Death. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gottman, J., & Markman, H. (1978). Experimental designs in psychotherapy research. In S. Garfield & A. Bergin (Eds.),Handbook of Psychotherapy and Behavior Change (2nd ed.). New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons.

    Google Scholar 

  • Goldenson, R. M. (1984).Longman Dictionary of Psychology and Psychiatry. New York, NY: Longman, Inc.

    Google Scholar 

  • Greyson, B. (1982). Near-death studies, 1981–1982: A review.Anabiosis, 2, 150–158.

    Google Scholar 

  • Greyson, B. & Flynn, C. (Eds.). (1984).The Near-Death Experience: Problems, Prospects, Perspectives. Springfield, IL: Charles C. Thomas.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ibrahim, F. (1985). Effective cross-culturally counseling and psychotherapy: A framework.Counseling Psychologist, 13, 625–638.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ibrahim, F. (1984).Cross-cultural counseling and psychotherapy: Initial client assessment. Unpublished manuscript, University of Connecticut, Storrs.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ibrahim, F., & Kahn, H. (1984).Scale to Assess World Views Across Cultures (SAWVAC). Unpublished manuscript, University of Connecticut, Storrs.

    Google Scholar 

  • Moody, R., Jr. (1975).Life After Life. Covington, GA: Mockingbird Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Moody, R., Jr. (1977).Reflections on Life After Life. New York, NY: Bantam.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pedersen, P. (1981). Alternative futures for cross-cultural counseling and psychotherapy. In A. J. Marsella & P. B. Pederson (Eds.),Cross-Cultural Counseling and Psychotherapy (2nd ed.). New York, NY: Pergamon Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ring, K. (1980).Life at Death. New York, NY: Coward, McCann & Geoghegan.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ring, K. (1984).Heading Toward Omega. New York, NY: William Morrow.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sabom, M. (1981).Recollections of Death: A Medical Investigation. New York, NY: Harper & Row.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sue, D. (1981).Counseling the Culturally Different. New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sundberg, N. (1981). Cross-cultural counseling and psychotherpy: A research overview. In A. J. Marsella & P. B. Pedersen (Eds.),Cross-Cultural Counseling and Psychotherapy (2nd ed.) New York, NY: Pergamon Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Whiteley, J. (Ed.). (1984). Counseling psychology: A historical perspective.Counseling Psychologist, 12, 1.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wolman, B. B. (Ed.). (1973).Dictionary of Behavioral Science. New York, NY: Van Nostrand Reinhold.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Furn, B.G. Adjustment and the near-death experience: A conceptual and therapeutic model. J Near-Death Stud 6, 4–19 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01073261

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01073261

Keywords

Navigation