Supportive Counselling For People With Cancer and Their Partners, Family And Friends

A diagnosis of cancer in yourself or a loved one can send shock waves through even the most stable relationships. I provide supportive counselling and guidance for you, and your partner, your family members and friends, helping you navigate the challenging and, at times, confusing or frightening emotional waters ahead.

I offer experienced, knowledgeable support with both treatment and the challenges of care giving and timely guidance to improve communication with loved ones and promote mutual understanding, hopefulness and well-being. Our sessions provide a calm and safe space to acknowledge and express your changing needs, to explore intimacy and sexual issues, or to consider the quality-of-life dimensions of treatment and care options.

If needed, I also provide a calm space during times when you may feel frightened or overwhelmed.

And I can help you develop the safety to talk together with loved ones about “unspeakable” thoughts and worries – yours and theirs. So you can still feel connected and supported in the most difficult moments.

Counselling sessions are available for individuals, as well as joint sessions for couples, family members and friends. And when an office visit is not possible, I can also provide confidential sessions by telephone.

POST-TREATMENT: When back to normal isn’t enough

Surviving a life-threatening illness does not always mean “getting back to normal”. Extreme experiences can change us in unexpected, unpredictable ways. Our priorities may be reordered, our perspective may have shifted, our hopes and dreams may have undergone a significant revision.

When the focus shifts from treatment to recovery, and you return to the life you were living before your diagnosis, you may then discover that you have changed in some important ways. Your cancer experiences may have tested the reliability and strength of your relationships and connections. And your changing needs now may challenge the “normal” life others expect you to resume. 

As an experienced relationship and family counsellor, I can help you and your loved ones explore this new territory with mutual support, openness and understanding. 

GETTING STARTED

Further information about my psychotherapy and counselling service is available on this site (please select from the menu above).

If you would like to schedule an initial appointment, please call my Melbourne office on 03 9041 1456. Or if you would like additional information please email me at info@melbournepsychotherapy.com.au . You can also use the confidential contact form available on this website (click on Contact above) to reach me directly now.