Cancer Counselling Service

Kingston Hospital’s Cancer Counselling Service, with Macmillan Cancer Support, is a free, confidential support service that offers:

• An initial consultation to discuss your needs

• One-to-one counselling for up to eight sessions

• Support when you are an inpatient

• Referral for ongoing support if needed

Our therapists follow the professional code of conduct laid down by the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy and the UK Council for Psychotherapy.

It’s very common for people who are diagnosed with cancer to suffer psychological distress. Cancer can have a devastating impact on your quality of life, as well as that of your family and carers.

When you have cancer, you face major life adjustments and, sometimes, debilitating treatments. This can result in issues like:

• Difficulty living with uncertainty and the changes cancer brings

• Depression, anxiety and anger

• Distress about change and loss

• Difficulty with relationships

• Loss of self-esteem and self-confidence

• Coming to terms with possible mortality

How the service works

If you experience any of the above issues, talk to your clinical team and they will liaise with us.

We can see you alone or with your partner or adult relatives if that helps. We don’t offer the service to children, but we can help you work out how to talk to your children about their worries and signpost you to support services if necessary.