Counseling Services
- Psychological Oncology Services
- Psychological Oncology (Adult) Staff
- Psychological Oncology (Childhood) Staff
- Referrals
- Distress in Cancer Patients and their Family Members
- Depression
- Anxiety and Irritability
- Anger and Irritability
- Stress within the Family or Couple
- Self Image and Self Esteem Concerns
- Sexuality and Cancer
- Memory and Concentration Problems
- Pain
- Sleep Disruption
- When Mom or Dad has Cancer
- Cancer Survivorship
The diagnosis and treatment of cancer are very often major sources of stress in the lives of patients and in the lives of those closest to them. For this reason, our team includes a team of psychologists to help meet the emotional needs of patients and families. The goal of the psychology team is to reduce the psychological and emotional distress that often goes with cancer. We use well-tested methods that have been shown to be effective. These methods include providing support and compassion, and methods to help patients and family members manage their worries, sadness, anger, fatigue, or pain.
Psychological Oncology Services
Our psychological oncology team offers psychological evaluation and treatment for patients and family members who can benefit from help in coping with the stress of cancer and its diagnosis. These services are often important when cancer diagnosis or treatment causes distress and makes it hard to cope. We emphasize the use of cognitive-behavioral-based psychotherapy, which focuses on how people think, feel, and behave in response to stressors in their lives, for individuals with cancer and their loved ones. We also provide help in coping with cancer using hypnosis, relaxation training, and guided imagery training, which can help reduce symptoms like nausea or pain. In addition to helping patients cope with cancer, we provide psychological testing to help determine the effects of cancer and cancer treatment on important “cognitive” functions such as memory, the ability to concentrate, and problem-solving skills.
Referrals
Our goal is to provide psychological services to all patients and family members who are treated at the Vanderbilt University Medical Center. In order to meet the rapidly expanding needs of our patients, we also provide a referral list of psychologists, social workers, and other professionals at Vanderbilt and in the Nashville community. For example, the Vanderbilt Breast Clinic sponsors a weekly therapy group at Gilda’s club for breast cancer survivors. Some patients who live outside the immediate Nashville area find it difficult to make frequent trips to Nashville for psychotherapy. We will work with those patients to find referrals for treatment within their own communities.
Distress in Cancer Patients and their Family Members
Cancer patients and their loved ones often report concerns and difficulties related to their cancer; some of the most common of these are listed below. The goal of the psychological oncology team is to help patients and their families cope effectively with the stressful challenges that cancer presents. We offer information, support, psychotherapy, support groups, and referrals to community resources.
