Clinical listening in the face of death

experience of a psychologist residing in a palliative care ward

Abstract

This experience report aims to reflect with theoretical articulations on the experiences lived by a psychologist. It was constructed from the practical experience of a resident in the clinical hospital psychology residency program in the Palliative Care ward, as an optional rotation. It is a descriptive study, a type of experience report, based on the reading and analysis of field diaries and professional records, constructed from the services provided. The discussion produced was framed within the theoretical scope in light of existentialist philosophy and Freudian psychoanalytic theory, also bringing a historical tanatological perspective. Henceforth, reflections were made on the place of inventive clinical listening, termed po-ethical, as a care device in the palliative context, enabling the subject to narrate their story within a space of symbolic (re)construction in moments of terminality. In this sense, the report points to listening that enables the ethical stance of life production in the face of death.