There is a newer form of counseling called educational counseling or psychoeducational counseling. Major cancer centers have been using this approach over the past 20 years or so. If you live in an area that is able to do psychosocial research or offers programs based on research that has been done in the past, you might be able to take advantage of such a program. Some such programs might even be offered at low or no cost to you.

One of the most exciting programs to be discussed in recent years is a program that could be called a problem-solving approach. One specific program is called COPE: C (Creativity), O (Optimism), P (Planning), and E (Expert Information). In a problem-solving approach, you might work with a counselor for a limited period of time (for example, three 60-minute sessions) about a specific problem that you and the counselor have identified as something that you would like to tackle. In this model of care, you and the therapist are working on problems that you are having right now, or those that are more short-term, not long-term issues that seem as if they will go on and on. And these problems are directly linked to your cancer, not other problems that are unrelated.

Several studies have shown that this type of problem-solving helps the patient or family member work with the counselor as a team. They can break down a problem into manageable steps with actions that really make a difference in changing the outcome of a problem. This approach seems to reduce levels of psychological distress as shown by the follow up research.

Go back to Helping Children When A Family Member Has Cancer: Understanding Psychosocial Support Services.

Last Medical Review: 05/28/2009
Last Revised: 05/28/2009