Cancer Psychology Service

The Cancer Psychology Service provides specialist psychological assessment, intervention, and support for people with cancer.

A diagnosis of cancer can understandably affect a person’s mood and wellbeing. Feelings of fear, anger, sadness, and helplessness are common and are very natural. There are many ways people find support. These can include family, friends, the cancer team, self-management, and support groups. However, some people may feel they have got ‘stuck’ in some way, are struggling with feelings, and finding it hard to cope with day-to-day life. Seeing a psychologist can help to provide the tools and understand to enable people living with cancer to feel they have more choice over what they do, while learning how to manage difficult thoughts and feelings. This can and often does have a positive effect on a person’s quality of life.

We work alongside all the multi-disciplinary cancer site teams, and with the hospital and community palliative care teams, to promote psychologically informed care and to support the psychological wellbeing of staff.

Who Are We?

We have a team of Practitioner Psychologists and counsellors working within a wider Psychology network, and alongside medical colleagues.

Practitioner Psychologists and counsellors have had training in assessment and treatment of psychological/ emotional problems and work with people when they are experiencing emotional or personal difficulties. Within this service they specialise in helping people cope with and adjust to the emotional stresses and strains that can accompany a cancer diagnosis. We often also have Trainee Clinical and Counselling Psychologists and university placement students working with us.