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DownloadThe Macmillan Psychological Therapies Team provide a range of psychological therapies for patients with cancer and their families who are attending the Sussex Cancer Centre and up to 6 months after completing treatment.
Laura Pritchard is the lead psychotherapist who manages the team. She is an experienced counsellor and psychotherapist and has a background of working as a cancer nurse specialist with over 25 years experience in cancer care.
There are also a number of qualified and student volunteer counsellors, psychotherapists and hypnotherapists in the team who are trained to work with patients and families who have a cancer diagnosis.
The diagnosis of cancer is a disturbing experience for most people. In some ways, dealing with the emotions can feel just as difficult as coping with the physical aspects of the disease. Different people have different responses, from numbness to fear, anger, anxiety and grief and often all of these! Sometimes emotional adjustment takes longer than the physical recovery.
The Macmillan Psychological therapies team can help with this emotional adjustment which can also help you to better manage physical aspects of the disease and treatment.
The range of evidence-based therapies that are available include:
You can expect to be offered an assessment appointment with Laura at the earliest point available and at a time that is convenient to you. Sometimes there is a awaiting list and urgent referrals will be prioritised. At this appointment you will be given the opportunity to talk privately and confidentially about your situation and will be offered an evidenced based psychological therapy. You may be offered further appointments with one of the other therapists or ongoing appointments may be with Laura depending on what is best for you and which psychological therapy you are offered. Each session is 50 minutes and needs to focus on issues related
to having a cancer diagnosis.
Referrals can be made by your clinical nurse specialist or doctor.
This service is free and appointments are offered from Mondays to Fridays. It is available for people diagnosed with cancer and close family members who live in the Brighton and Hove area and who are having treatment at the Sussex Cancer Centre or are within 6 months of completing treatment. It is also available for people that live across Sussex that are currently attending for treatment in the Sussex Cancer Centre.
Contact for Laura Pritchard
Macmillan Lead for Psychological therapies is 01273 664694
Karen Connolly Secretary Telephone: 01273 696955 Extension 67437
Email: karen.connolly@nhs.net
British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy (BACP)
Telephone: 0870 443 5252 Link to: www.bacp.co.uk
COSRT (College for Sexual and Relationship Therapy)
Telephone: 0208 543 2707 Link to: www.cosrt.org.uk
Cancer Counselling Trust Link to: www.cancercounselling.org.uk
UKCP (United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy)
Telephone: 0207 436 3002 Link to: www.psychotherapy.org.uk
Macmillan Cancer Support
Telephone: 0808 808 2020 Link to: www.macmillan.org.uk
Macmillan online discussion forum
Link to: www.macmillan.org.uk/share
Samaritans Telephone: 0845 790 9090 Link to: www.samaritans.org.uk
Sussex Cancer Centre Reception Telephone:01273 696955 Extension 64324
Chemotherapy Reception Telephone: 01273 696955 Extension 64799
Radiotherapy Reception Telephone: 01273 696955 Extension 64091
Macmillan Psychological therapies Telephone:
01273 664694 or 01273 696955 Extension 67437
Macmillan Horizon Centre
Email: horizoncentre@macmillan.org.uk Telephone: 01273 468770
Disclaimer
The information in this leaflet is for guidance purposes only and is in no way intended to replace professional clinical advice by a qualified practitioner.
Publication Date: March 2018
Review Date: January 2023
