Benefits of group sessions for healthcare staff who support young people with cancer
To recognise the need to provide psychological support for staff who care for young people with cancer
To learn about an intervention that was introduced to support staff working at a teenage and young adult cancer service
To understand the potential benefits of offering facilitated group sessions for healthcare staff
Healthcare professionals working in cancer care often experience high levels of work-related stress, vicarious trauma and compassion fatigue. Providing care and support to young people diagnosed with cancer can be highly demanding. Professionals who work with teenagers and young adults in cancer services likely require psychological support to help them manage the emotional burden of their work. At the Teenage and Young Adult (TYA) Cancer Service in Sheffield, England, team members have benefited from facilitated psychological support group sessions using a mix of methods including cognitive behavioural therapy, compassion-focused therapy and mindfulness-based therapy. This article provides an overview of this intervention and explains how it has helped the team.
