Cancer Centre Psychology Service
Phone: (08) 8222 2623
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