Psychosocial Cancer Care Program
Your Mental Health During Cancer
It is very common for people with cancer to experience a range of feelings such as worry, grief, or hopelessness. If you are facing challenging medical decisions, stress on relationships, or insomnia, the Psychosocial Oncology team is here to listen. We look forward to helping you find tools and strategies that work for you.
What We Offer You for Psychosocial Cancer Care
- Compassionate expertise focused on helping with the stress, worry, and grief that are common to the cancer illness experience. Go to Symptoms Treated
- Comprehensive assessment options, including short-term therapy, medication evaluation, and other tools tailored to your needs. Go to Treatments
- Easy access to skilled providers who offer supportive care at two convenient locations. Go to Accessing Care
- Team-based approach to treatment planning, including meetings with you and your care team to evaluate how you're managing symptoms of distress and connect you with additional help when needed. Go to Your Care Team
- Quality support services to give you and your loved ones additional resources for taking care of your social, emotional, and cognitive health throughout the treatment process. Go to Support Services
Adjusting to cancer can be challenging. People often experience a range of emotions, which may include anxiety, sadness, guilt, or helplessness. People may also develop insomnia that interferes with their ability to function effectively. While everyone responds in their own way, these forms of distress are very common when dealing with this illness.
Your quality of life is important, so if you find that any of these concerns are affecting your well-being, it may be useful to seek extra support. Our Psychosocial Oncology providers can meet with you to evaluate your situation and offer you a treatment approach designed to meet your needs.
Because having cancer can make it difficult to attend to practical matters, our team also helps with care coordination, medication management, and work or relationship issues.
If emotional difficulties are affecting your well-being, our providers can offer you tools and treatments to meet your needs.
Mental Health Care During Cancer Treatment
At the Psychosocial Cancer Clinic, we provide assessment, education, and treatment options to patients dealing with the difficulties that can accompany cancer treatment. Our skilled clinicians are deeply committed to caring for your health.
After you are referred by your oncology team, we meet with you to complete an evaluation. Our primary goal is to understand how you’re coping with any emotional distress and determine what kinds of tools and resources could benefit you. If you’re feeling on edge, depressed, or having trouble sleeping, we can also discuss how medication may help.
Our team also works with people who have a history of mental health diagnoses or symptoms prior to cancer and may need help managing their health. We can advise your providers on how to continue your mental health care in conjunction with cancer treatment.
What to Expect from Psychosocial Cancer Care
Once your Stanford oncology provider refers you to the Psychosocial Cancer Care Program, you will be contacted by one of our partners in Social Work. Oncology social workers have graduate-level training in providing psychosocial support. They will link you to one of our clinics and help you find a provider that fits your needs. In addition, they can help you or your family with local and community resources to address any cultural, financial, or continued care needs.
Once your social worker connects you with our staff in Psychosocial Oncology, we will follow up to schedule an appointment and guide you through your insurance options. We will help you access the services you have available on your plan. You are welcome to bring a family member or friend to your first appointment.
Your social worker will oversee your case to ensure you are receiving support over the course of your cancer experience. In the event that receiving behavioral health care from our specialized consultation service isn’t covered by insurance, our partners in social work will continue to provide care. Our team approach to psychosocial care allows us to offer a comprehensive range of options to meet your unique needs.
Your Care Team
Your Providers
Psychiatrist
Psychiatrists are physicians who have specialized training in evaluating and managing mental health conditions. They can offer both psychotherapy and medications as part of their treatment plan. Medications may be used to treat conditions like anxiety, depression, sleep problems, or fatigue. Our psychiatrists have specialized training in oncology that makes them uniquely equipped to help patients with the physical and psychological stresses that can arise before, during, and after cancer.
View All {0} PsychiatristsAdvanced Practice Provider
Our advanced practice providers are licensed to provide treatment for mental health concerns. They are deeply experienced in working with cancer patients. They offer counseling, recommendations for medications, and suggestions for lifestyle changes to improve your experience.
View All 2 Advanced Practice Providers
Nicole Barr, LMFT, NP
Nurse Practitioner
Laurie Ostacher, LCSW
Behavioral Health Clinician
Your Support Team
You might also be interested in support services like:
Guided Reflection and Meditation Audio Tools
It can be hard to manage the emotions and stress that arise for cancer patients and their loved ones. To help you cope during this difficult time, our psychotherapists created the following evidence-based reflections and meditations for you to listen to whenever you wish.
Our Psychosocial Cancer Program at the Stanford Cancer Centers in Palo Alto and San Jose are consultation services available to you with a referral. Please talk with your oncologist or social worker about connecting you with our program.
Please talk to your oncologist or oncology social worker about getting a referral to our Psychosocial Cancer Program in Palo Alto or South Bay.