The Psych-Oncology Team: Supporting the emotional wellbeing of children, young people and families accessing Cancer Services : University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Being told you have cancer can affect many parts of your life, including your emotional and psychological wellbeing. It can change the way you think, feel or cope with everyday life. It can also affect your relationships with others. Your loved ones may experience these changes as well.

Our psych-oncology team

We are a team of clinical psychologists, psychotherapists, psychiatrists, mental health nurses and wellbeing practitioners. We work closely with the rest of your healthcare team to make sure all your needs are met.

We support children and young people up to 25 years old who have cancer, or have had cancer in the past and remain under a consultant’s care at UCLH. We can also support your family members or partners if they are having difficulties that relate to your diagnosis.

What we offer

Many young people seek support to help them navigate the challenges of living with cancer. We offer different types of support, which may include:

Individual support

A safe space to talk about what you’re going through, especially if it’s hard to share with family, your partner or your healthcare team.
Time alone, with family or in a group to help make sense of your feelings and experiences.
Access to specialised emotional support and treatment.

Group support

Taking part in group activities can help you to connect with others who are going through similar experiences. Our groups provide a space to share ideas, and many include fun and creative activities. Some of the groups we offer are:

Just Bead it Group: For young people aged 13-25 at any stage of their cancer care pathway.
Journeying After Cancer Group: For young people aged 13-25 who have difficulties with learning, memory or thinking after cancer treatment.
The Rainbow Group: For LGBTQ+ young people aged 16-19 who are receiving care at UCLH. This group provides a safe space to meet and connect with others and share experiences.
Worry After Cancer Group: For young people aged 13-25 who have completed cancer treatment and are struggling with anxiety or fears about cancer returning.
Sleep Group: For young people aged 13-25 who are having trouble sleeping.
T12 North Wellbeing Workshop: For young people admitted to ward T12 North.
T11 Beading Group: For children admitted to ward T11 North.

We understand that the people who support you, like parents, family members or partners, may also need guidance and support. That’s why we offer appointments for them through our ‘drop-in’ system.

They are welcome to book more than one appointment, but we can’t always guarantee they will see the same healthcare professional each time.

We can explain how the ‘drop-in’ booking system works when we speak with you.

We use a variety of approaches to help manage the emotional and psychological effects of cancer and its treatment. These include:

Psychotherapy
Counselling
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)
Mindfulness
Narrative therapy
Family therapy
Medication.

We will tell you more about each of these approaches and explain how they can help you. 

How can I be referred?

If you or your family would like support from our team:

Speak to your clinical nurse specialist (CNS), doctor or ward nurse and they will contact us on your behalf
Contact us on 020 3447 9086 or uclh.capsychology@nhs.net.

It is up to you if or when you choose to see us. You may find our support helpful during treatment or after your treatment is finished.

How long will I need to wait for my first appointment?

We prioritise referrals for young people currently having treatment, but we will aim to call you within two weeks of receiving your referral. When we contact you, we will talk to you about the type of support available for you. We will also tell you how long you are likely to wait for your first appointment. 

Depending on your circumstances, your appointment will take place:

On the ward or daycare unit
In one of our clinic rooms on the 3rd floor of the University College Hospital Macmillan Cancer Centre
Remotely via telephone or video call.

Respecting your privacy

You may want to talk to us about private or personal things during your appointments. We want you to know that you can talk to us in confidence, and we will always respect your privacy. We will only share information about you with your agreement and when necessary. We will talk to you about this in detail when we see you. If you have any questions or concerns, please ask us.