The Shared Death Experience: Clinical Methods to Harvest the Therapeutic Benefits

Abstract

In this presentation, William will define the Shared Death Experience, elaborate a typology, identify the remarkable aftereffects, and detail the clinical methods to optimize therapeutic benefit. William will present video case studies of experiencers from the Shared Crossing Research Initiative Library to illustrate the key features of the SDE. The presentation will include time for Q&A.

Presenter Bio

William J. Peters, M.A., M.Ed., is the founder of the Shared Crossing Project whose mission is to raise awareness and educate people about the profound and healing experiences that are possible for the dying and their loved ones. As the director of the Shared Crossing Research Initiative, William and his team collect and study extraordinary end-of-life experiences (shared crossings). He has developed methods to facilitate these shared crossings and to assist experiencers in meaningfully integrating their experiences. William conducts workshops and presents nationally on their research. He is a licensed psychotherapist at the Family Therapy Institute in Santa Barbara where he specializes in end-of-life counseling as a means toward psycho-spiritual evolution. William has worked as a Zen Hospice volunteer and his work is informed by his two near death experiences (SDEs) and a variety of shared death experiences as a hospice worker. William’s book, At Heaven’s Door: What Shared Journeys to the Afterlife Teach About Dying Well and Living Better, published by Simon & Schuster for worldwide release in 2022.