Department of Psycho-Oncology Department of Psycho-Oncology
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Psycho-Oncology Department Overview

Mission & Vision of the Department

Mission

To provide compassionate, evidence-based psychological support that enhances the quality of life and emotional well-being of cancer patients and their families across all stages of treatment and survivorship.

Vision

To be a nationally recognized leader in psycho-oncological care, training, and research, committed to holistic healing and equitable mental health access within oncology.

Brief History of the Department

Background / Context of How It Started

Recognizing the profound psychological impact that a cancer diagnosis and treatment can have on patients and caregivers, the department was founded to address the unmet emotional, cognitive, and psychosocial needs of oncology patients. The initiative began as a collaboration between oncologists and mental health professionals who saw the need for a dedicated psycho-oncological service within the cancer care framework.

Department's Role within the Hospital

Assessment & Intervention

Screening and assessment of psychological distress and associated symptoms.

  • Addressing treatment adherence and distress management to improve quality of life and outcomes
  • Providing emotional and psychological support and psychotherapy for patients and caregivers during treatment and survivorship
  • Comprehensive screening and assessment of psychological distress, treatment-related anxiety, depression, cognitive changes, and other psychosocial challenges.

Paediatric Psycho-Oncology

  • Comprehensive emotional, behavioural, developmental and family-centered psychological support to children with cancer and their caregivers through assessment, psycho education and intervention across ill trajectory.
  • Collaborated with Pediatric Oncology to celebrate Mother's Day and Christmas, creating therapeutic spaces for joy, bonding, and emotional support for children and their families.

Palliative & End-of-Life Care

  • Providing palliative care psychotherapeutic interventions with Supporting end-of-life discussions with sensitivity and patient-centered approaches
  • Dignity Therapy for patients
  • Navigating caregiver distress and burden
  • Providing Grief & Bereavement Therapy to family members
  • Specialized psychotherapeutic support in palliative and terminal care settings.
  • Comprehensive caregiver support addressing anticipatory grief, emotional burden, and bereavement through structured interventions.

Support Group Meetings

  • Regular psychoeducation sessions to assist patients and caregivers in understanding and coping with emotional and psychological challenges during treatment.
  • Structured support group meetings for patients with shared diagnoses to foster peer connection and communal resilience.
  • Ongoing FREE SUPPORT GROUP MEETINGS include: Chemotherapy Support, Breast Cancer Support, Caregivers Group, and Stoma Support Group.

De-Addiction Clinic

  • Started 3 months ago.
  • Identification of prevalence of substance use disorders, evaluation of underlying psychological concerns, awareness on benefits of de-addiction, assessment of motivation and dependence levels
  • Treatment: Providing required detoxification with pharmacological intervention along with evidence-based practices
  • Family dynamics & intervention: Evaluating the perpetuating factors and expressed emotions hindering the rehabilitation process, and offering long-term recovery plan to enhance family functioning
  • Rehabilitation & Relapse prevention

Wigs & Prosthesis

  • Awareness about wigs for patients who have experienced hair loss due to treatment
  • Awareness about breast prosthesis for patients who have undergone mastectomy (breast surgery) and other available resources.

Departmental Profile

Type of Unit

The Department of Psycho-Oncology functions as a specialized service line and collaborative referral center, actively supporting all oncology units—including medical, surgical, head & neck, pediatric, and palliative care—by offering integrated psychological care.

Interdepartmental Collaboration

  • Works in tandem with oncology, palliative medicine, radiation oncology, head & neck oncology and other teams for holistic, multidisciplinary patient management.
  • Participates in tumor boards, case discussions, and end-of-life care planning.
  • Contributes to research, training, and capacity-building initiatives across departments.

Departmental Strengths

  • Holistic, lifespan approach addressing psychological needs from pediatric diagnosis to end-of-life care and beyond.
  • Integrated, multidisciplinary model embedded within cancer care units for timely intervention.
  • Evidence-based and inclusive practices, including trauma-informed, LGBTQIA+ affirmative, and family-centered care.

Recent Developments & Highlights

  • Launch of a dedicated De-Addiction Clinic to support oncology patients with substance use disorders.
  • Expansion of support groups to address niche populations like stoma and caregivers.
  • Integration of Dignity Therapy and grief support into palliative care protocols.
  • Training modules introduced for staff in emotional communication, stress management, trauma-informed care, and burnout prevention.

Services & Specialties

List of Services Offered – Psycho-Oncology Department

Psychological Assessment

Evaluation of distress, anxiety, depression, trauma responses, and cognitive concerns

Available: OP / IP

Psychotherapy Sessions (Outpatient)

Individual therapy addressing anxiety, depression, adjustment, grief, trauma, and identity concerns

Available: OP

Trauma-Informed Care

Therapy and support designed with sensitivity to patients' past trauma, ensuring emotional safety

Available: OP / IP

Queer-Affirmative Therapy

Psychotherapy that is inclusive, identity-affirming, and sensitive to the needs of LGBTQIA+ individuals

Available: OP

Family & Caregiver Counseling

Emotional support and guidance for caregivers, focusing on coping, burnout, and family dynamics

Available: OP / IP

Pediatric Psycho-Oncology Interventions

Emotional and developmental support for children with cancer and their families

Available: OP / IP

Support Group Therapy

Facilitated group sessions for patients and caregivers (e.g., chemo, breast, stoma)

Available: OP

Dignity Therapy

Structured life review sessions that promote meaning-making at the end of life

Available: IP / Palliative

Grief & Bereavement Counseling

Support for family members coping with loss and complicated grief

Available: OP

Palliative Care Psychological Support

Counseling for patients in palliative and terminal phases, focused on quality of life

Available: IP

De-Addiction Services

Therapy and pharmacological support for substance use, including family involvement and rehab planning

Available: OP / IP

Mental Health Screening

Routine distress screening for patients undergoing cancer treatment

Available: OP / IP / Daycare

Crisis Counseling

Immediate psychological intervention for acute emotional distress

Available: IP / Emergency

Psychoeducation Sessions

Educational sessions on coping strategies, mental health literacy, and emotional preparedness

Available: OP / Daycare

Art and Expressive Therapies

Creative therapeutic tools (e.g., drawing, storytelling) for emotional expression, especially in children

Available: OP / Pediatric / Daycare

Yoga and Mindfulness Sessions

Evidence-based relaxation practices to enhance coping and emotional regulation

Available: OP

Training & Supervision for Interns

Hands-on clinical training, case discussions, and supervision for psychology interns and fellows

Available: Academic

What Sets Our Department Apart

Holistic, Patient-Centered Care

We address the psychological, emotional, social, and cultural needs of cancer patients and their families—not just the illness. Our care extends from diagnosis through survivorship, palliative care, and bereavement, ensuring continuous psychological support throughout the cancer journey.

Specialized & Inclusive Psychotherapies

Our team is trained in trauma-informed care, queer-affirmative therapy, dignity therapy, and grief counseling, making our services sensitive, inclusive, and aligned with global best practices in psycho-oncology.

Collaborative & Integrated Model

We work closely with oncology, pediatric, surgical, and palliative care teams, participating in multidisciplinary case discussions and treatment planning to ensure psychological support is embedded in medical care.

Focus on Under-Served Populations

Our services extend beyond the hospital through outreach in geriatric care homes, support groups, and community awareness, and we are actively involved in de-addiction interventions within the oncology population—an area often overlooked.

Academic and Research Contributions

With paper presentations at national conferences (ASCO, APPON, IPOS) and award-winning research publications, our department contributes to the academic and clinical advancement of psycho-oncology in India.

Commitment to Training Future Professionals

We provide structured training and supervision to interns, postgraduate students, and fellows, helping shape the next generation of mental health professionals in oncology care.

Target Patient Group

  • All age groups: children to elderly
  • All gender identities, LGBTQIA+ inclusive
  • Patients across all cancer types and stages
  • Caregivers and families

Specialties & Sub-Specialties

  • Pediatric Psycho-Oncology
  • Palliative & End-of-Life Care
  • Trauma-Informed Therapy
  • Queer-Affirmative Psychotherapy
  • Grief & Bereavement Counseling
  • Oncology-focused De-Addiction Services

Advanced Interventions

  • Dignity Therapy
  • End-of-life communication support
  • De-addiction counseling in cancer patients
  • Trauma-informed and identity-affirming psychotherapy

Patient Flow Pathway

Referral → Screening → Assignment → Therapy → Review → Specialized Support → Follow-up

Milestones or Recognitions

2018: The department was among the first in the region as a charitable hospital to implement structured psychological screening protocols in oncology settings. Using NCCN distress thermometer as screening for all cases at the hospital.

Service Expansion: It has since expanded its services to include pediatric psycho-oncology, palliative care support, grief counseling, and various support groups.

COVID-19 Pandemic: The department played a vital role during the COVID-19 pandemic, providing ongoing psychological support to patients, caregivers, and frontline healthcare workers.

Education: Regularly conducts nursing education sessions for students at Shankara Nursing College, enhancing their understanding of psychosocial aspects in oncology care.

Policy Advocacy: Represented the department as a panelist in a strategic health policy discussion with the Honorable Health Minister of Karnataka, Mr. Dinesh Gundu Rao, advocating for the integration of Psycho-Oncology services in all hospitals.

ASCO Bengaluru 2024: Participated as a panelist at ASCO Bengaluru 2024, addressing psychosocial determinants of suicidal ideation in patients with lung cancer.

Community Outreach: Delivered a session on psychological well-being and quality of life for elderly residents and their families at a local geriatric care home.

IPOS Conference 2020: Attended the IPOS Psycho-Oncology international Conference in Chennai (2020), staying abreast of global best practices and research in the field.

APPON 2025: At APPON 2025, Chennai, department members actively contributed through paper presentations and panel discussions. One team member was honored with the Best Paper Presentation Award.

Research Publication: Published a research paper titled "Barriers to Seeking Psychological Support and Its Associated Socio-Cultural Factors in an Oncology Setting: A Mixed Methods Study" in the book "Breaking Barriers: Advancing Psychological Well-being Across Borders" (ISBN: 978-93-341-6827-3).

APPON 2024: Authored and published three research papers in the APPON 2024 conference proceedings.

Mental Health Day: Organizes annual Mental Health Day celebrations to foster awareness, dialogue, and well-being among hospital staff.

Survivor's Day: Hosts Survivor's Day Celebrations every year, honoring the journeys and resilience of cancer survivors and their families.

Training Programs: The department is actively involved in training psychology interns, postgraduate students, and fellows, offering hands-on experience in psycho-oncology in a multi-disciplinary team. Interns receive structured guidance in assessment, intervention planning, psychotherapy delivery, and interdisciplinary collaboration, with regular supervision and case-based learning to build clinical competence and confidence.

Pediatric Collaboration: Collaborated with Pediatric Oncology to celebrate Mother's Day and Christmas, creating therapeutic spaces for joy, bonding, and emotional support for children and their families.

Our Psycho-Oncology Specialists

Meet our specialized psycho-oncology experts dedicated to caring for the mind and spirit.