The initiation ritual as a model for oncology counseling.
Journal of religion and health December 1, 1987 L A Lorenz, F J Sullivan
An initiation ritual from primitive societies, as described by Mircea Eliade, can serve as a model for counseling cancer patients, providing meaning and structure to patient-counselor interactions. In this framework, the patient's encounter with death, whether feared or actualized, can become a catalyst for personal growth at any stage of the disease. Case examples illustrate the model's practical application, and comparisons are drawn between the stages and components of the initiation ritual and other consciousness-altering techniques.