Macmillan Cancer Psychological Support (CaPS) Team
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The Macmillan Cancer Psychological Support (CaPS) Team is here to help you cope with, and adjust to, the emotional and psychological difficulties associated with cancer.
We offer free, confidential one-to-one appointments for people living with and beyond cancer who are receiving care at St Georges’ Hospital to help with cancer-related psychological difficulties. Appointments are also available to carers and can include working with couples and families as appropriate.
You are welcome to call us to arrange an initial appointment or to ask any questions you may have.
Alternatively you can ask your CNS, GP or the Macmillan Information and Support Centre to make a referral to our service.
Our session can be face-to-face, by telephone or by video call. We routinely offer short term intervention and the number of sessions you require will be agreed with yourself.
How can we help you?
Our team are here to help you deal with the emotional and psychological side effects of cancer and will offer you information, support and practical help. Whilst individuals can struggle at different points of their cancer care, the sorts of difficulties we can help you with can include:
- Living with uncertainty in your present and future
- Coping with how cancer affects your relationships
- Managing the demands of home and family life while caring for yourself
- Talking to children about a cancer diagnosis
- Feelings of depression, anxiety, trauma and anger
- Coping with adjustment, change and loss
- Feeling unhappy about changes in the way you look
- Coping with pain, discomfort, fatigue and treatment side-effects
- Coping with how cancer affects your relationships and/or sexual functioning
- Coping with how cancer affects self-esteem and sense of self
- Coming to terms with possible end-of-life issues
- Managing complex mental health issues alongside cancer
- Initiating and/or reviewing psychiatric medication
The Macmillan Cancer Psychological Support (CaPS) Team offers counselling, clinical psychology and liaison psychiatry input and is made up of experienced clinicians who are able to work with patients to address their psychological and emotional needs using a range of interventions.
You may find you would benefit from a few consultations with a counsellor or clinical psychologist to help to get you ‘back on track’ if you feel you are struggling, or you may benefit from a course of an evidence-based talking therapy intervention.
Alternatively if talking therapies are not right for you, you may find you would benefit from a different level of support (e.g. if you have pre-existing mental health difficulties and/or are already taking psychiatric medication) and seeing a liaison psychiatrist may be more appropriate.
We can help you find the right support in your local community.
Information for healthcare professionals
Please consult our referral guidelines (PDF) to help you consider whether to refer a patient to our team.
Referrals should be returned to:
cancer.psychologicalsupport@stgeorges.nhs.uk
or can be posted/faxed using the information on the form.
