Cancer and Chronic Illness
A diagnosis of cancer or serious illness can upend your world. It can feel shocking, unfair, terrifying or hard to accept.
Suddenly, normal life is exploded, and you are a patient, attending medical appointments, undergoing surgery and treatment, and facing uncertainty. Your life, body, sense of self, relationships, work and finances can all be impacted.
A space just for you
While your health is cared for by a medical team, your emotional wellbeing can often get missed. Speaking with a counsellor who is outside your friendship group or family can help.
You can air difficult feelings in confidence, ‘let off steam’ and give voice to what are often complex, contradictory emotions. Together, we can begin to understand all the ways your illness has impacted you.
Through steady support, you can feel lighter, calmer and more resourced.
You might be feeling...
Shocked, angry or unable to accept the diagnosis
Betrayed by your body
Distressed about worrying family and friends
Unable to ask for help, or feeling that people don’t want to talk about it
Uncertain about your future
Pressure to ‘fight’ and be positive, when in fact you feel frightened or low
Post treatment
The time after treatment can also be gruelling, and saturated with vulnerability.
The reality of what you have been through begins to sink in, but loved ones and friends may assume that since treatment is over, you’re fine. This can leave you feeling alone, but unable to voice your feelings.
Some common reactions are…
Missing the ‘safety’ of regular tests and a medical team supporting you
No longer trusting your body – you may be symptom-free but worried about what is happening inside, unseen
Low confidence and self-esteem
Fearing recurrence, which can colour how you feel about your body, future, job and relationships
Feeling guilty – for ignoring symptoms; for using up NHS time; for not being as energetic, slim, or cheerful as before; for losing your libido, appetite, motivation
Afraid of dying
Scarred by a traumatic time in hospital – the wards, staff, medical interventions, atmosphere
How I will support you
Together, we will explore what you are going through in a way that is both supportive and practical. I will invite you to share what specifically brings you to therapy. I’ll listen carefully, and together we will begin to understand how illness is impacting you and what you would like to get from therapy.
Short-term therapy (10–15 sessions):
A focused space where you can talk freely, build back some resilience and feel supported.
Longer-term therapy:
A deeper, ongoing exploration of long-standing patterns, beliefs and behaviours that may have been brought into sharp relief by illness. Or working to make sense of deeper questions around meaning, life, death and endings.
Session Cost
To begin with, I offer a free 15-minute call (phone or Zoom).
This is a relaxed, no-obligation space for you to see whether working together feels right.
Sessions are priced at £60 and last 50 minutes at a regular time each week. This consistency provides a supportive and containing space.
I understand it’s not always easy to commit – we can talk through what works best for you.
Being seriously ill or supporting a loved one can feel isolating and you may be unsure who to talk to about your experience, not wanting to burden others or unleash a tide of difficult emotions.