Psychological Support

A cancer diagnosis changes the life not only of the patient but of their entire family, and is accompanied by intense emotional experiences — from fear and confusion to anger, exhaustion, or despair.

At the National Cancer Institute, we understand these difficult challenges and how important psychological and/or spiritual support is during this time.

Why is psychological support needed?

Psychological support aims to improve the patient's emotional state and quality of life, and helps to:

• cope with anxiety, stress, and depressive symptoms;
• understand and accept the diagnosis;
• sustain motivation at every stage of treatment;
• improve communication with loved ones and medical staff;
• go through treatment and recovery more easily.

When should you seek psychological help?

Seeing a specialist is recommended if you notice:

• sleep disturbances or changes in appetite;
• heightened anxiety, inner tension, or fear;
• irritability, tearfulness, low mood;
• feelings of uncertainty, confusion, or helplessness;
• apathy, reduced interest in usual activities;
• difficulty communicating with loved ones;
• forgetfulness, reduced concentration.

Who can receive psychological help at NCI?

Psychological help is available to patients undergoing treatment or rehabilitation at our facility.

What psychological support services does NCI provide?

NCI's psycho-oncology specialists provide:

• individual and group psycho-oncological support — counseling, psychodiagnostic, corrective, preventive, and medication-based support for patients and their family members;
• psychological support for patients and their loved ones at every stage of diagnosis and treatment at NCI, aimed at mobilizing internal resources, improving treatment effectiveness, fostering communication, and improving quality of life;
• psychological support for families coping with loss (after the death of a patient of any age), including through telemedicine technologies.

Psychologists and a psychiatrist work at NCI's Center for Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine

The Center is located in Clinic No. 1 on the 1st floor (physical rehabilitation halls).

Spiritual support

Alongside psychological help, spiritual support is also available at the Institute. Our healthcare chaplain, Pavlo Sokolovskyi, works with patients and their loved ones, helping them find inner strength, hope, and peace during this difficult time.

Reach out if you need:

• Individual conversations with the chaplain in hospital wards or in the Institute's dedicated interfaith prayer room.
• Joint prayer (at the patient's request).
• Support for relatives worried about their loved ones.
• Help finding meaning and spiritual balance during treatment.

Spiritual support is voluntary and is provided with respect for each person's worldview and religious beliefs.

Chaplain Pavlo is always open to talk. You can find him:

• At Clinic No. 1 (office No. 11)
• In the prayer room (1st floor)