Cancer support.

There is a reason the American Cancer Society defines Cancer Survivor as “anyone who has ever been diagnosed with cancer no matter where they are in the course of their disease.”

Receiving a cancer diagnosis is a shock to multiple systems—physical, emotional, vocational, relational, financial, spiritual, intellectual, and environmental. Some cancer patients describe receiving their diagnosis as traumatic, while others describe treatment as medical trauma.

You are a survivor because you have suffered and survived one of life’s greatest challenges head on: Facing one’s own morality.

What is Psychosocial Oncology Counseling?

In the 1970s, Dr. Jimmie Holland recognized the tremendous distress cancer patients can experience on myriad points of their journey and founded the specialized field of psychosocial oncology, which combines oncology and psychiatry.

Psychosocial oncology counseling is a specialized form of counseling that addresses the emotional, psychological, social, and spiritual challenges faced by individuals affected by cancer. The benefits of psychosocial oncology counseling are extensive and multifaceted, impacting patients, families, and caregivers throughout the cancer journey.

Counseling Benefits.

Dr. Holland’s work brought to light—and recognition—patient distress as the sixth vital sign in medicine, along with temperature, pulse, blood pressure, respiration, and pain. The Cancer Distress Thermometer measures patients’ degree of distress (e.g., fatigue, depression, anxiety), similar to the standardized pain scale.

Psychosocial oncology counseling provides essential support to individuals affected by cancer by addressing their emotional, psychological, social, and spiritual needs. A therapist can help patients manage distress, develop healthy coping strategies, and improve their overall quality of life. By enhancing communication with healthcare providers and fostering a sense of empowerment, counseling supports informed decision-making. It also offers critical support to families and caregivers, helping them navigate the challenges of the illness. Additionally, it aids in the transition to post-treatment life and provides comfort during end-of-life care, making it a vital component of comprehensive cancer care.

Training and Specialization in Psychosocial Oncology Counseling.

For five years, I worked at Wake Forest Baptist Health as a psychosocial oncology counselor, providing inpatient, outpatient, couples, and group support to patients, caregivers, and families. During that time, I worked with over 500 clients and their families who face cancer every day and was honored to help people face the emotional, psychological, relational, and spiritual challenges that occur along the way.

I continue to provide psychosocial oncology counseling and facilitate support groups to survivors in private practice, while also supporting regional and national cancer services such as Cancer Services in the NC Triad and LiveLung.org, a national non-profit founded in March 2010, whose mission has been advancing lung cancer education, early detection, and compassion for people impacted by lung cancer.

WHAT DOES A THERAPY SESSION LOOK LIKE?

The first session is 55 minutes and gives you an opportunity to tell your story. We will explore your cancer journey and what you hope to gain from our work together.

We collaborate to help you discover your strengths, improve quality of life, and engage in evidence-based techniques and practices to reduce the cancer-related distress. This work reduces symptoms of anxiety and depression, such as ruminating thoughts, panic attacks, social isolation, sleep disruptions, death anxiety, and/or feeling bad about yourself.

We work together, using the Harvard Wellness Wheel, to identify your strengths and areas where you could improve, whether it is in the emotional, physical, social, spiritual, intellectual, environmental, financial, and/or vocational spaces.

Regular sessions are 55 minutes and focus on the issues you bring and continue our discussions from prior sessions. During these sessions, you are the driver of your experiences. I listen closely with empathy and non-judgment.

WHAT TOPICS DO WE DISCUSS?

All topics are open for discussion. I pose questions, share observations, and actively engage you in a deeper exploration of your presenting topics to assist in finding a way to express your thoughts, feelings, and emotions in a safe and respectful manner.

HOW MANY SESSIONS?

I recommend a commitment of at least 10 sessions, upon which we review progress and determine next steps together. Brief therapy, less than four session, can help you with a specific issue or problem.

You can terminate our work together at any time.