Interview with Roz from the Irish Cancer Society's counselling service

  • Can you tell me a little about the work you do at The Irish Cancer Society?

My name is Roz and I am a Support Line Cancer Nurse. The Support Line offers information, advice and support to anyone concerned about cancer. The Irish Cancer Society’s remote counselling service was initially set up at the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic as at this time many of the community cancer support centres had to close temporarily. During the first lockdown in particular, the distress rate was enormous and people didn’t know where to turn, they felt lost. The remote counselling service was set up as a response to this and offered a resource people could access from the safety of their homes.

  • How does remote counselling work exactly?

Most callers get in touch first by ringing our Support Line 1800 200 700 or contacting one of our cancer nurses at our 13 Daffodil Centres nationwide. The person can avail of either having their sessions with their local Cancer Support Centre (supported by Irish Cancer Society funding for counselling) or with the Irish Cancer Society Remote Counselling Service. The nurse will send a referral form to our counselling service who will refer appropriately. A person can undertake up to 6 sessions with us. We can additionally refer them to speak to a clinical psychologist if this is warranted.

  • Who is remote counselling for?

Remote counselling is for primarily for cancer patients, their family members and carers. Children can also avail of the service. Many people feel remote counselling is only for those have just been diagnosed, to help them through this period of adjustment, but this is not the case. For many people, it can be when their treatment is finishing up, it can be post treatment or it can be a year or two down the line when there are worries or fears of a reoccurrence. Many family members and carers may wish to access the service as they deal with fatigue and isolation.

  • How can remote counselling help a person?

Remote counselling will help create a supportive relationship with a professional outside their own family and friends. The counsellor will ask what is going on and how they can look to help. It gives the client the time to talk about what’s happening for them, they can discuss their fears and their worries, feel heard and listened to with no judgement. Each person is different. If a person is feeling angry or afraid, the counsellor will be there to allow them to express and acknowledge this and help normalise what they are experiencing. The counsellor will help the client find ways to reduce distress and better adapt, whether this be teaching new skills like short meditations or looking at the situation from another perspective. Some people may only wish to undertake 2 or 3 sessions, others may need more, each person’s worry is different.

  • How can people reach out and ask for help?

For information on this service or any cancer related concerns, Freephone our Support Line on 1800 200 700 or email supportline@irishcancer.ie. You can also ask about the service at one of our Daffodil Centres located in 13 hospitals nationwide.

  • What do you find are some of the things that people are confused by or maybe unsure about with counselling?

I think that many people feel, “Oh there is no point in talking about this with someone I don’t know, what good will talking do?” That is a big belief. However, bottling away those feelings or worries won’t help. Another belief is that counselling is only for people who have something in particular they want fixed, or that it is a sign of weakness if they cannot resolve a worry themselves. Many feel that the counsellor will judge them for what they say. Of course this is not the case. Counselling is a support like anything else, it helps to look at what is going on in our minds and release it, look at some of those worries and beliefs and see if they are really true. Many people find talking over the phone can help, people are met in their own space and feel more at ease. Everything discussed during remote counselling is entirely confidential, there is no recording and anything said stays with the counsellor unless in exceptional situations where there is a safety issue present.

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I think that many people feel, “Oh there is no point in talking about this with someone I don’t know, what good will talking do?” That is a big belief. However, bottling away those feelings or worries won’t help.

Support Line nurse Roz
  • Have you noticed any difference in the counselling service since Covid-19 began? Are more people calling?

Without a doubt, Covid-19 has had an extremely negative effect on those using the remote counselling service. Whether a person is newly diagnosed or the cancer is already there, the stress is higher than usual. Before the concern for many was, how will I get through treatment? Now it is, how will I get through treatment safely? Many people also have questions about the vaccine and their treatment. People’s anxiety levels around cancer treatment were high to begin with, but now they are much higher. Many are at home isolated and fearful and many felt they were pushed to their limit. The remote counselling service has been incredibly beneficial in this regard.

Anne, remote counselling service user

Cancer patient Anne from Dublin who received free counselling sessions last year spoke of the difference they made for her: “It was during the first lockdown that I was told over the phone that I had cancer. 

“I had great support from my own circle, but it got to a stage where I just wanted to speak to a trained person. I’ve experienced so many fantastic people and services over the last year, including through counselling. It’s a scary, lonely journey especially given all that’s happening in the world recently, but to know that you have these services beside you and to call upon if you need them is amazing,” Anne said.

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Learn more about our online & phone counselling

You have the option of availing of our online and phone counsellors to get the help and support you need from the comfort of your own home. The sessions take place by phone or Zoom, depending on your preference.

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For more information

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1800 200 700

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