Episode 17: Interview with Dr. Kenneth Doka

Episode talking points

Dr. Doka’s childhood, family, and faith backgrounds

CPE experience in the early 70s

His master’s degree thesis on “Pastoral counseling to the dying child and his family” and the reason behind that title.

Changes in grief theories and understanding of grief in the last 50 years

The story behind his first book “disenfranchised grief” in 1989

The role of rituals in facilitating grief

The background behind his book, “Death and spirituality”

Christina Puchalski’s role in the development of spiritual care in the healthcare setting

His assumption that following this pandemic we are going to have a pandemic of complicated grief.

The need for chaplains to have good counseling referral sources.

His potential fiction book

The story behind his book “Grieving beyond gender.”