Cancer is a word, not a sentence…..
John Diamond

Having been a qualified and Accredited counsellor in private practice for over 10 years, I have, over the last 5 years, developed an interest in working and supporting clients and their families, who have had, or were going through treatment for Cancer, and I have gone on to gain specialist training in this area of work.

It seems to me that cancer (and this would include all life threatening illnesses) is a sequence of events, beginning with a diagnosis. This is a crucial event, in that the way the news is communicated can produce, in my professional experience, a myriad of emotions that can shape the way patients deal with their illness and any treatment including possible surgery that may be necessary.

Very often the person that gives the diagnosis is not the Doctor who prescribes the treatment that follows the various medical information that can be confusing and often overwhelming.
The most common requirement that I hear from clients is that above all they want honesty and openness, rather than any kind of false reassurance about their illness. Also, the need to know in advance why tests and investigations are required, also how long they will have to wait for the results. Then to be given clarification as to what the results actually mean.
In my experience, an important issue is to be able to have choice at a time when patients are feeling hugely scared and disempowered.

For many, cancer can be a very lonely experience. It has been my professional experience, as I continue to work with individuals and couples, that counselling is beneficial in ameliorating the distress provoked by a diagnosis of cancer. I have found that the therapeutic support that I offer can assist them in providing stable, effective support necessary to enhance coping and adjustment.

The supportive care that I offer, is about working with psychological symptoms of cancer in order to maximise the quality of life of my clients before, during and after their cancer treatment.

Below are some of the issues that I support my clients with:

• The impact of a cancer diagnosis, it’s treatment and side effects.
• How to live with cancer
• A readjustment after the treatment is finished.
• Returning to work.
• Managing issues relating to relatives, friends and colleagues.
• Loss and bereavement.

 Workshop on the 25th November, 2011 – Working with Cancer  - Towards a new understanding 

Feedback from the workshop that I ran at The Albany Centre for counsellors working with clients affected by cancer.

“…I feel I understand a client’s perspective much more…”

“…a very useful day…”