Therapy, Counseling, and Support Resources for People with Cancer

Having cancer is hard. It affects your body, mind, and overall well-being and can also impact those around you. Psychosocial support, like therapy and counseling, can help you and your caregivers cope with the emotional, mental, and social challenges that come with cancer.

What does psychosocial mean?

“Psychosocial” refers to the interplay of your emotions, thoughts, social life, and spiritual beliefs. For example, if you are sad or anxious, it may impact your friendships.

Psychosocial problems for people impacted by cancer may include:

• Trouble coping with cancer or talking about their feelings
• Feeling apart from family and friends
• Changes in how a family gets along or works together
• Problems with making decisions, including choices about care
• Concerns about work, money, or returning to your usual activities
• Changes in how they feel about your body, sexuality, or relationships
• Grief or fears about death and dying
• Fear of the cancer coming back
• Concerns about being able to care for a loved one with cancer

Some people also have more specific mood changes, such as anxiety, depression, and distress. Symptoms can range from mild to severe and can impact your overall well-being.

What is psychosocial support?

It is normal to need some extra help when you’re dealing with cancer. Studies show that people with cancer who have social and resource support are less distressed and have a better overall quality of life. But many people who could benefit from support services don’t use them because they don’t know about them or don’t know how to find them.

Psychosocial support can include:

• Counseling (therapy)
• Education
• Spiritual support
• Group support

These and other services may be provided by mental health professionals, other health care providers, or other cancer survivors. Psychosocial support services can help you deal with your issues and refer you to other types of support, as needed.

Support groups

Support groups bring together people with similar situations. In these groups, people share their concerns and learn how others have coped. Support groups can help people deal with their feelings and side effects of treatment. They may also help members make decisions by sharing what they have learned.

Support groups might also help a person figure out how to deal with family or day-to-day issues like work and money concerns.

Privacy is key for support groups. It is vital that everyone feels safe talking about their concerns and feelings. Members need to know that what they say will not be shared outside the group.

Types of support groups

There are many types of support groups. Some support groups meet in person, while others meet online. Some include the same people in each meeting while others allow people to come and go as they need.

Some groups are led by professionals, such as social workers, psychologists, or nurses. Other groups are led by cancer survivors. Some groups are more structured, such as those that provide education. Others are open to whatever the group members want to discuss.

For people with cancer

There are support groups for all sorts of people with cancer. For instance, groups may be for:

• People with any type of cancer, or a certain kind of cancer
• People getting certain treatments
• People at a fixed point in their journey, such as those ending treatment or facing cancer that has come back
• People of a specific gender or age group

For families, caregivers, and children of people with cancer

These groups often talk about common concerns, like changes in relationships, fears, and ways to best provide support. Support groups for children and teens are grouped by age, and there is often a separate group for parents.

Choosing a support group

If you decide to join a support group, talk to the contact person about:

• Who the group is meant for
• Where and when they meet
• Whether meetings are in person or online
• How many people attend
• Who leads the meetings
• Whether the group is meant to provide education or support
• Whether you would need to talk or could just listen

You might want to try a couple of groups to see which feels right for you. Your comfort level is a helpful gauge of how good a fit the group is for you.

Counseling

Counseling can be an important source of support for people affected by cancer. Different types of counseling may work better for different people.

One-on-one counseling

Having cancer or having a loved one with cancer is a different experience for each person. One-on-one counseling gives you a chance to focus on your own feelings and concerns. It might be a good option for more private issues, like if you have severe symptoms.

One-on-one counseling can help you:

• Focus on your main problems
• Learn ways to cope with your cancer and changes in your life
• Deal with symptoms from your cancer and treatment
• Figure out how to handle changes, like end of treatment or if your cancer comes back
• Figure out how best to deal with family issues
• Deal with strong feelings
• Address your concerns about intimacy and sexuality

If you are having trouble with a family member, a counselor may suggest couples or family counseling. This helps you and your family understand the problems you’re having and why you each act the way you do. A counselor can help everyone express their feelings, resolve conflicts, and find ways to work better together.

Group counseling

Some people may also join group counseling. People who have the same kinds of concerns meet to share what they have been going through and support each other. Groups are led by a counselor and have more structure than a support group.

Counseling, either one-on-one or group, may also be helpful for children or caregivers of a person with cancer.

Choosing a cancer counselor

When looking for a counselor, think about the kind of help you need. There are many options, such as psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, psychiatric nurses, licensed counselors, and pastoral counselors. Each has different training and focus. If you are not sure which one to choose, ask your cancer care team what they suggest based on your specific needs.

Most of the time, you will want someone who has experience working with people with cancer. Counselors who focus on cancer usually know more about how people react to having cancer. Their experience with cancer, whether personal or professional, helps you see that your feelings are normal. They can also help you make sense of what’s going on with you.

Once you know what type of counselor you would like, ask your cancer care team about your options. If they don’t offer counseling services where you get treated, ask about counselors in your area. It can also be helpful to check with your insurance company. They likely have a list of those covered under your plan. You might also ask for ideas from others with cancer where you get treated or through online or in-person support groups.

Once you have found a few who might be a good match for you, see what you can find out about them. Many will have a short phone call with you to discuss what you are looking for and whether they think they can help you. Most often, this is done for free, but be sure to check ahead of time. Speaking with them can also help you get a better feel for their style and your comfort with them.

Once you begin meeting with a counselor, make sure the relationship is working well for you. Think about whether you:

• Feel safe sharing your concerns with this person
• Trust that they can help you
• Feel that the counselor listens to you and knows who you are as a person

Your feelings may be hard to describe, but trust your instincts. If you don’t feel at ease after a few sessions, you may want to try someone else.

Paying for counseling services

Most health insurance plans pay for some counseling, but coverage may be limited. Mental health coverage is supposed to be part of most insurance plans, but sometimes the amount may not meet your needs. Some policies only pay for a limited number of sessions.

Your insurance plan may also limit your choices of who you can see. They might only have contracts with certain counselors. Also, check on your copay and how much you may have to pay for visits.

If you cannot afford counseling, ask your cancer care team if there are free counseling services in the hospital or clinic where you get treated. They should know of services in your area that may adjust fees based on your income. There might also be services offered at low or no cost.