Published: February 2007
When might I need counselling?
“I thought I was handling everything pretty well considering. But when I couldn't sleep anymore and just looking at my wife would make me feel like crying, I knew I needed more than “just thinking positive”.
The experience of cancer adds another layer to a person’s life. Any difficulties or stressors that were there before still need to be dealt with. In addition, cancer diagnosis and treatment have their own set of challenges.
Counselling can provide support in the following areas:
- Practical and financial (where do I go, who do I contact?)
- Emotional and mental health (depression, anxiety and grief)
- Social (relationships with others)
- Spiritual (needs relating to belief, faith and hope)
What will it help with?
“Having someone who worked with others in my situation was fantastic. My counselor listened to what was going on for me. Then we came up with ways to deal with some of the worry and anxiety that I had. I still use the deep breathing and relaxation exercises she provided for me.”
The reality is that a cancer diagnosis and receiving treatment can be as devastating emotionally as it can be physically. We know that between 35-45% of all cancer patients experience significant emotional distress. (Canadian Association of Psychosocial Oncology, The emotional facts of life with cancer, 2005, Canada). This is also true for family, friends and caregivers.
We also know that patients who receive support are better able to manage such things as:
- Fear, anxiety and depression
- Family tensions
- Relationship problems
- Lifestyle changes
- Financial stressors
What's available in the cancer centre I go to?
The BC Cancer Agency provides individual, couple and family counselling services for patients, families, caregivers, and friends. Our professionally trained counsellors and social workers are available to meet with you before, during and after treatment. There are no fees for the services provided.
Our role is to support you in:
- Assessing your emotional/mental health
- Providing feedback
- Defining what supports will be useful to improve your coping
- Creating a plan to increase your coping skills and to reduce the impact on your overall health
- Reviewing the plan to see if it worked
- Looking for more solutions
Each of our centres offers a number of supportive programs and services.
Each centre also has pamphlets, books, videos and tapes available for loan.
What's available in my community?
Not all the support you want or need has to come from the Cancer Centre you go to. We can assist you in discovering what resources are available in your home community. Don't forget that there are other resources in your community that may be able to help you access supports such as your family doctor, counselling agencies or community information lines.