Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
The purpose of this study is to see if a Single Counseling Session for Cancer can help reduce psychosocial distress and improve quality of life in people with cancer who are waiting to receive ongoing counseling services (outpatient psychotherapy services). The Single Counseling Session for Cancer-which I will refer to as the "study counseling" during this call-is a one-session, 60-minute counseling program designed to reduce anxiety and depression symptoms in people with cancer who are waiting to receive outpatient psychotherapy services. The researchers will look at whether the study counseling is effective in participants and practical (feasible) for them to complete.
Inclusion Criteria: * Patient must have pathologically confirmed cancer (per EMR). * Patient with localized or advanced cancer (per EMR). * Patient is on a waitlist of at least 2 weeks or more for MSK Counseling Center intake and will not complete a New Visit with a clinical psychologist prior to intervention (these patients will be replaced) (per EMR, patient's care team, or self-report) * Has not had and is not scheduled to have an appointment with an MSK psychiatrist or MSK Counseling Center advanced practice provider (per EMR, patient's care team, or self-report) * Age ≥ 18 (per EMR) * En…
The one-time counseling session will be a problem-solving focused program that will try to strengthen the belief in the ability to manage the challenges of the cancer diagnosis and treatment
called "After Diagnosis: A Guide for Patients and Families" for review. Again, this booklet includes information about cancer, living with cancer, making treatment decisions, talking to others about cancer, cancer treatment, and questions for the cancer care team. It will be given in person or by email.