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Cancer psychological therapies

What we do

The service supports people whose lives may have been affected by cancer. The service is available to any patient who has been diagnosed or treated for cancer at a BHRUT hospital.

We offer this support via a broad range of therapeutic services, including psychological therapy on an individual, couple, family or group basis.

The types of difficulties that we support people with include:

  • Coping with the initial diagnosis of cancer.
  • Responding to the impact of cancer-related treatments.
  • Dealing with changes in life circumstances, including work, social life, and relationships.
  • Anxiety, depression and other mental health issues.
  • Trauma-related problems.
  • Sexual functioning, fertility and relationship issues related to cancer.
  • Phobias related to cancer treatment.
  • Adjusting to life after cancer.
  • Body image issues.
  • Fears about the recurrence of cancer.
  • Maintaining quality of life during cancer treatment and beyond.
  • Pain caused by cancer and / or cancer treatments.
  • Coping with Palliative care.
  • Coping with end of life issues.

In addition to supporting people whose lives have been affected by cancer, we also offer training, supervision and consultation to other health professionals.

Treatment

The team consists of a range of experienced clinical and counselling psychologists, psychotherapists, and other psychological practitioners.  We also have trainee/assistant psychologists on placement.

We use a variety of different evidence-based approaches in our work, including psychodynamic psychotherapy, systemic therapy, integrative therapy, cognitive behaviour therapy, relationship and sexual therapy, narrative therapy, mindfulness, ACT, Compassion Focussed approaches and other creative therapies.

The cancer psychology team also work alongside and provide consultation and support to clinical nurse specialists, Consultants and Oncologists, inpatient ward visits, community Macmillan services. The team also link in with a number of projects such as 'Living With and Beyond Cancer’.

Appointments

Appointments for psychological therapy typically last 50 minutes and are usually held on a weekly or fortnightly basis. These can be arranged more or less frequently if required.   The service offers a choice of telephone, video and in-person appointments, and it is possible to mix and match these, in consultation with your therapist.

The first appointment is called an assessment and is generally about getting to know you and asking you to tell some of your story, including the story of your cancer journey. During this assessment, your therapist will think with you about what you need, whether therapy will be useful for you, and what goals your therapy may want to head towards.

Referrals

Referrals are usually made by a health care professional who knows the patient.
Download and complete the referral form below and email to: ClinicalHealthPsychology@nelft.nhs.uk 

CHPS Cancer Psychological Therapies Patient Referral Form.docx [docx] 66KB

How to contact us

Cancer Psychological Therapies
Oncology/haematology Dept
Queen’s Hospital
Rom Valley Way
Romford
RM7 0AG

Tel: 01708 435 360

Where the service is based

Where the service is based

Service Opening times: Monday -Friday, 9am-5pm

Queen’s Hospital
Oncology/haematology Dept
Queen’s Hospital
Rom Valley Way
Romford
RM7 0AG

King George Hospital
Cedar Centre
King George Hospital
Barley Lane
Goodmayes
Ilford
IG3 8YB

Patient testimonials

"A member of the team worked with a male patient who was diagnosed with prostate cancer. He was referred for specialist input for depression and anxiety with fatigue, physical changes resulting from treatment and relationship distance". He commented on our service and reported for Prostate Cancer UK,

‘I’m in a good place now, although this has not always been the case. I have found talking about my experience helps me to stay positive".

"I had a therapist who helped me open up about what I was going through. She also helped me and my wife work through the changes to the intimate side of our relationship that my treatment had brought about."

Trainee testimonials

"I would like to express my gratitude to the Oncology and Haematology department at Queens Hospital, where I recently completed a six month placement. I was privileged to work with extremely bright, talented and compassionate psychologists who modelled inspirational and authentically humanistic care. I would particularly like to thank Sylvia, Marc and Kirsten who were dedicated to cultivating a rich and exciting learning environment.

While I was offered opportunities to draw-upon, and integrate a range of psychological ideas throughout this placement, I particularly valued the team’s expertise in psychodynamic and existentialist framed therapies. These ideas and practices have become a mainstay of my therapeutic work with clients, for which I have been commended on in subsequent placements. Supervision was a particular highlight of the placement, contributing to both professional and personal growth. I was warmly welcomed into the team and I found the staff to be friendly, supportive and genuinely committed to their clients and the service.

In addition to feeling supported, I was also entrusted as an autonomous professional, and allowed to develop a rich and varied caseload. I would also like to thank the clients I worked with during my time at Queens Hospital, whom allowed me to be a part of their journey."