Online psychotherapy

Adult patients treating cancer and their family

Challenges

The need for adjustment to the different phases of active treatment, transition to less intensive care and remission, or changes in prognosis and palliative care can lead to intense psychosocial and existential distress. That is because orienting oneself to a cancer diagnosis inevitably affects the family system, the patient/caregiver’s participation in the work environment and community, patient’s relationship with their own body, values and identities, in addition to their way of expressing and functioning in the world.

Depressive symptoms and anxiety, in addition to anticipated grief and fear of death, are not uncommon psychological responses to cancer, many times resulting from the several losses imposed by the diagnosis, temporary or permanent.

Approach

Considering this context, I accompany patients and their family members throughout their journey, assisting them in identifying their primary needs and inner resources. This will help them find strategies to maintain a good level of quality of life during their process of adjustment to the diagnosis and treatment.

Some patients prefer to focus on the implementing of Mindfulness techniques or CBT skills in their daily routine for help managing anxiety and persistent ruminating thoughts. Others prefer to dedicate to existential reflections proposed by MCP (Meaning-Centered Psychotherapy), resignifying roles, restabling important aspects of their identity, and rethinking their finitude, death and dying for a living more aligned with their reality and personal values.