Cancer Centre Psychology Service

Location: Radiation Oncology, Level 3, East Wing, Royal Adelaide Hospital

Psychological services to cancer patients and their families are provided on a regular basis for as long as is considered necessary. Once in-patients are discharged it is common for them to receive ongoing support during out-patient clinics.

The Clinical Psychology Service in the Cancer Centre provides a specialist service including assessment, treatment and management planning, intervention, evaluation and consultation to in-patients, out-patients and their families, staff working with cancer patients and hospital units.

Psychological services are offered to individuals and/or couples/families, as required. 

Referrals are accepted from wards and out-patient clinics at the Royal Adelaide Hospital.

Common reasons for referral include:

• Anxiety
• Depression
• Denial Reactions
• Pre-Bone-Marrow Transplant Assessment
• Pre-Peripheral Blood Stem-Cell Transplant Assessment
• Medical Phobias
• Grief and Loss Issues
• Bereavement Counselling
• Trauma Counselling
• Crisis Intervention

Other topics that are discussed with patients include:

• Strategies to deal with making choices about treatment
• The impact that their disease has on them and others
• Strategies to discuss issues with family members
• Dealing with anxiety associated with their condition and treatment
• Psycho-educational components of their condition
• Processing specific thoughts and feelings associated with having cancer
• Benefits of relaxation training