My Doctor Suggested I Find a Therapist to Help Cope with My Cancer Diagnosis, What Should I Expect?
When you are facing a cancer diagnosis priorities and day to day life changes seemingly overnight. During this time it is common to experience strong emotional responses to the unexpected changes such as grief, fear– and the host of other reactions you experience when you hear cancer. This is why it is not uncommon for cancer care teams to advise people to consider their mental health as a component of their overall treatment plan.
Why Would You Benefit from a Therapist on Your Cancer Care Team?
When you get a cancer diagnosis the range of emotions are overwhelming. From shock and sadness, to fear and anger, the intense emotions can easily dominate coping. While it is important to acknowledge those difficult feelings when you are facing cancer, or really any chronic illness, learning how to manage them encourages a healthier mental state to support your recovery journey.
What to Expect When You Seek Counseling After A Cancer Diagnosis
Your Therapist is There to Listen and Provide Evidence-based Support to Improve Your Cancer Journey
One of the most immediate benefits of working with an experienced therapist is a confidential private space to express your honest feelings and reactions without judgment. Therapists who specialize in working with cancer patients, Psycho-Oncologists, are first and foremost a trusted confidant, whether working with patients or their caregivers. Your therapist will be an all-important sounding board, the one you tell your story to as you start to develop your own narrative about how cancer becomes a chapter in your life’s work. Therapists offer a calm space for you to share your fears about treatment and its potential outcomes; as well as ideas about adaptive, healthy coping strategies. They will listen to your grief about the life you were planning and the sadness that may accompany physical limitations and loss of control.