Counselling

Some people living with cancer find it helpful to talk to a mental health professional. Many different professionals, including psychologists, psychiatrists, advanced practice nurses and social workers, can provide counselling. Chaplains or spiritual care providers at treatment centres can also provide counselling. In many centres they are called psychosocial oncology counsellors and are part of the supportive care or psychosocial oncology departments. These professionals are trained to listen and to help you deal with your situation. They can:

• help you find and understand information about your cancer and make decisions
• help you cope with emotions such as fear, anger, guilt, depression and anxiety
• help you with identity, self-esteem and body image issues
• help you individually, as a couple or as a family, to address communication issues, family issues and relationship problems (including problems with sexuality and intimacy)
• help you find meaning and purpose in life

In most cases these professionals will see you or your family members for cancer-related concerns at any point along your cancer experience, including after treatment. Don’t worry if you are not clear about how counselling might help or even exactly what it is you want help with – the counsellor will help you sort that out. Counselling usually involves:

• telling the counsellor where you are in your cancer experience and how it is affecting you
• sorting out with the counsellor what issues or concerns you want help with
• coming up with a plan of action to deal with those concerns