Navigating Serious Illness A Pathway for Exploring Life, Love and Legacy

by Irish, Kerry; Mattison, Debra; Wu, Yuchen

• ISBN13: 9798317804220
• ISBN10: 8317804224
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2025-07-24
• Publisher: BookBaby
• More Book Details
• Purchase Benefits

Summary

Whether facing the challenges of a serious illness oneself or supporting someone who is, this book will serve as an informational resource, a guide through difficult feelings and discussions, and a self-awareness and coping tool. Readers will find encouragement from others who have journeyed through serious illness, while having ample space to explore their own sources of strength and meaning.

In addition to its use by individuals, this book serves as a valuable resource for counselors and clients engaged in therapeutic counseling and for clinicians facilitating meaningful discussions in support groups.

Author Biography

Kerry Cox Irish, LCSW, OSW-C, FAOSW
Kerry Cox Irish has worked extensively in oncology and hospice care throughout her long career, serving in both direct service and senior leadership positions. She currently works with the Dempsey Center for Quality Cancer Care in Maine, a free-standing cancer support organization in Maine that she helped to co-create in 2007. She also maintains a private counseling practice, specializing in oncology and bereavement, and is the co-founder of the Cancer Counseling Collective, LLC. Kerry is also an ordained interfaith minister, graduating from One Spirit Interfaith Seminary in NYC in 2015. She has published multiple articles and textbook chapters and has presented both regionally and nationally on a wide variety of topics related to psychosocial oncology.

Debra Mattison has enjoyed a meaningful career as a clinical social worker working extensively in the areas of oncology and palliative care in several large health systems. She has been a long-time Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Michigan School of Social Work and a group facilitator at the Cancer Support Community of Greater Ann Arbor since its founding. Her academic teaching, multiple publications and state and national presentations have addressed death, loss and grief, professional standards and ethics, professional resilience, spirituality in social work practice and promotion of interprofessional education. Debra is passionate about the Social Work profession and is a strong advocate for professional excellence in service to clients.
Yuchen Wu is from Shanghai, China. She studies Art & Design at the University of Michigan with a broad interest in video, documentary, animation, book-making, and public art. Her other academic interests include social work, women's and gender studies, museum studies, and theater production. Through storytelling and art-making, she hopes her work will illuminate hidden voices and experiences, connect and empower people, and bring real impact to her communities.