Cancer Psychology
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1. About us
We are a specialist service offering psychological support for adults living with cancer who may be experiencing a range of feelings and emotions related to their diagnosis and treatment. This service is available to all adults who are under the care of Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust for their cancer treatment. If your difficulties are not related to your experience of cancer we may be able to help you to access another source of support for these issues.
People may find it difficult to not only cope with the physical symptoms of cancer, but also the drastic changes to their life including those impacting their family, employment, social activity and appearance. These challenges, amongst others, could cause significant and overwhelming distress and people may struggle with feelings such as low mood, anger and fear.
This service offers an opportunity to talk with a professional trained in emotional wellbeing who can offer support to cope with such difficulties and distress. We provide a compassionate space for people to talk about their issues and emotional struggles as well as help people to learn and adapt ways to manage their psychological difficulties and move forward. The service provides a range of evidence-based psychological treatments to meet individual needs.
The psychology service also works closely with medical teams, offers training, supervision and consultancy to colleagues and contributes to the teaching and supervision of psychologists in training.
What could this service help me with?
- Feeling anxious or having panic attacks
- Feeling angry
- Low mood or feeling upset
- Coping with adjustment, change and loss
- Worries or fears about the future
- Adjusting to your diagnosis and loss of confidence
- Decisions about your treatment and medication
- Managing the demands of home and family life
- Coping with pain, fatigue and treatment side-effects
- The impact of cancer on relationships
- Feeling unhappy about the way you look
- Coping with how cancer affects your self-esteem
2. Meet the team
Hi my name is Hannah Gormley. I am a Clinical Psychologist and lead the Clinical Health Psychology Service at CHFT. I started my clinical career in 2009 and have worked with both children and adults. I particularly enjoy working with the psychological impact of health difficulties and have specialised working in the area of cancer. I enjoy teaching and being part of Health and Wellbeing events.
Hi my name is Ian Binks. I am a counsellor for Cancer Psychological Services at CHFT and have worked here since 2005. I have worked with patients with cancer for the last 25 years and it continues to be a source of rewarding work. Outside of work I enjoy dog walking, and both listening to and playing music.
Hi my name is Jaime Wood. I am a Clinical Psychologist, Accredited Cognitive Behavioural Therapist and Mindfulness Teacher and I lead the Cancer Psychology Service at CHFT. Since 2000, I have mostly worked alongside patients with physical health difficulties and I am passionate about supporting people with experiences of cancer. I love dancing, exploring nature and music.
Dr Hannah Gormley Consultant Clinical Psychologist
Dr Jaime Wood Clinical Psychologist, Accredited Cognitive Behavioural Therapist and Mindfulness Teacher
Dr Claire Spence - Clinical Psychologist
Ian Binks. Counsellor for Cancer Psychological Services
Secretary Heather Milner
3. What can you expect at your appointment?
What will happen at my first appointment?
The purpose of your first appointment is to get an understanding of the difficulties that led you to seek help and how these difficulties are affecting your life. We will also talk about what your priorities and goals are. Appointments usually last up to one hour. You are welcome to bring anyone else into the consultation if you want to include them in the discussion. We will also offer time alone with the clinician, which may help you speak freely about any concerns you may have.
What happens next?
Sometimes, the first consultation can be helpful and sufficient to meet your needs. We will discuss with you whether we feel you would benefit from further sessions and you will be offered further sessions if this seems appropriate. Sometimes there will be other services that can better meet your needs and we will be able to direct or refer you to these services if so.
What happens with the information I share with you?
We will always do our best to ensure that the information you share remains confidential. The notes we write are kept separately to your medical notes. We will write a brief summary of our understanding of your difficulties for the health professionals involved in your care and this would usually be written in a letter. We will discuss this with you in your first appointment. If we think that there is a risk of harm to you or others we would need to pass this information to somebody. We would always try to talk with you first.
4. Where will the service be offered?
Appointments are available at Huddersfield Royal Infirmary and Calderdale Royal Hospital. We can also offer telephone appointments and remote video appointments using our secure service. We will try to offer you a choice and will discuss this with you by telephone when we arrange your first appointment.
5. How can you be referred to the service?
If you feel that you would benefit from this service, please talk to a member of your cancer team, such as your consultant or clinical nurse specialist who can give you more information and make a referral if appropriate.
6. Contact Us
Our secretary can be contacted on 01484 343490 on weekdays between 8:30am-4pm. Please leave a message if you reach the voicemail and we will get back to you as soon as we
7. Other useful information
- Samaritans Available 24 hours a day to provide confidential emotional support for people who are experiencing feelings of distress and despair. www.samaritans.org 116 123
- macmillan cancer support - right there with you Macmillan Cancer Support www.macmillan.org.uk 0808 808 00 00 access further information from Macmillan on managing your emotions
- Family and carer support services Carers UK: Provide advice and information for carers. www.carersuk.org Carers UK advice line: 0808 808 7777 (open Mon-Fri, 10am-4pm)
- A charity organisation that provides information, advice, education, training and employment opportunities for carers. Telephone no: 0844 800 4361 Cruse Bereavement Care 0808 808 1677
