Online Therapeutic Support Workshops for People Affected By Cancer

Receiving a cancer diagnosis can impact you and those around you in many different ways. These workshops have been designed to help you explore some of the common issues. The workshops are open to all patients and close family members who are affected by cancer and who live in Dorset.

Workshops are facilitated by a trained counsellor and will last approximately 90 minutes. All workshops are stand alone, so you only need to attend a workshop once but you may attend as many subjects as you wish. Spaces are limited to five households per group, which gives the opportunity for everyone to ask questions.

Anxiety workshop

We will explore what anxiety is and the impact it has on our body. We will then learn some ways to cope with anxiety.

Sleep workshop

This is probably the most common issue that arises, not getting to sleep, not staying asleep, not getting enough sleep? Let’s look at how we can manage that.

Fatigue workshop

Fatigue can be physical, mental and emotional. We will explore what you can do to ensure you have enough energy for what you need.

How will I access the sessions?

All sessions are delivered virtually, in the comfort of your own home. We will be using Microsoft Teams. When you register for the session, you will be sent a link and I will connect with you from the virtual waiting room. It is advisable to connect a few minutes before the meeting to check your audio and video are working.

You will also be encouraged to:

• Ensure that you have a confidential and private space to sit for the session, with a comfortable chair
• Use a computer rather than an iPad or phone, if possible, as this will allow you to see all participants on one screen
• Encourage others who are also using the same broadband to stay away from internet-heavy usage, like video streaming or gaming, for the duration of the session, as this is likely to interrupt your connection
• You may like to use headphones or a headset, as this will keep things more confidential and keep out external noises from wherever you are based, but it is not a requirement.

Dates for workshops

Workshops are offered on a needs basis. When you sign up, your name will be added to the waiting list. When there are sufficient numbers, you will be contacted with the date.

How do I book?

To book your space on any of the current or proposed sessions, you can send an email to counselling.services@dchft.nhs.uk or phone 07787223190.

About this leaflet

Author: Sylvia Carpenter, Counsellor for Cancer Services
Written: February 2021
Approved: March 2021
Updated: March 2022
Review date: As required
Edition: v6

If you have feedback regarding the accuracy of the information contained in this leaflet, or if you would like a list of references used to develop this leaflet, please email patientinformation.leaflets@dchft.nhs.uk