Counseling

Counseling may be for groups, individuals, or for a particular purpose such as helping manage grief. Counseling may be led by a professionally trained person or may be peer-to-peer. Some of the organizations that offer counseling to help a broad spectrum of people affected by cancer are listed below. Many organizations that only serve those with a specific type of cancer also offer counseling and may be listed with links for that type of disease.


Group


These organizations offer support groups for people with cancer - caregivers, children, or friends and loved ones. They may take place face-to-face, by phone, or online.


American Cancer Society

Provides Reach to Recovery, a peer support program for women with breast cancer, Man to Man, a peer support and educational program for men dealing with prostate cancer; and Look Good…Feel Better, which helps women overcome the appearance-related side effects of cancer treatment.
800-227-2345
www.cancer.org


Breast Cancer Resource Committee

Directed specifically to the African-American population, providing early detection programs, treatment education, support groups, peer counseling and newsletters to prevent and reduce the incidence of breast cancer among African-American women.
www.bcresource.org


CancerCare

Group counseling is provided by trained social workers for anyone affected by cancer; patients, caregivers, children, loved ones, and the bereaved.
800-813-4673
212-712-8400
www.cancercare.org


Family Caregiver Alliance

Provides services to caregivers including peer information exchange (email groups), publications, training, workplace program, research and policy issues.
800-445-8106
415-434-3388
www.caregiver.org


Well Spouse Association

Gives support to partners of the chronically ill or disabled. Provides support groups where members can share their thoughts and feelings with others facing similar circumstances in a supportive, nonjudgmental environment. 800-838-0879
732-577-8899
www.wellspouse.org


The Wellness Community

Dedicated to providing emotional support, education, and hope for people affected by cancer through professionally led support groups, education workshops and other activities.
888-793-9355
202-659-9709
www.thewellnesscommunity.org


Individual


These organizations provide individual counseling, which can mean offering a toll-free support line or one-on-one consultation with an oncology social worker.


American Psychosocial Oncology Society

Offers a toll-free help line where patients and their caregivers can obtain referrals to local psychiatrists, nurses, social workers or counselors skilled in the management of cancer related stress.
866-276-7433
434-293-5350
www.apos-society.org


Cancer Hope Network

Provides one-to-one support for patients and their families by connecting patients and family members with trained volunteers who are cancer survivors with similar experiences. Support is provided by telephone.
877-467-3638
908-879-4039
www.cancerhopenetwork.org


Kids Konnected

Dedicated to helping children of parents who have cancer. Services include a 24-hour hotline for kids, support group meetings, summer camps, and an online chat room.
949-582-5443
www.kidskonnected.org


Conversations

An organization for those fighting ovarian cancer and related illnesses. Provides tips for coping with the side effects of ovarian cancer and matches women seeking to contact others with the disease.
806-355-2565
www.ovarian-news.org


Pregnant With Cancer Network

Provides a woman-to-woman network to match women newly diagnosed with cancer during pregnancy with women who have been through the experience.
800-743-4471
716-839-7119
www.pregnantwithcancer.org