Pediatric Behavioral Health Support in Pediatric Oncology

Overview

Pediatric Behavioral Health and Wellness partners with pediatric hematologists and oncologists to help children and families manage the emotional challenges of cancer and chronic illness.  A pediatric psychologist works directly with the care team to address emotional, behavioral, and coping challenges that can affect a child’s health and treatment.

This integrated approach helps children and caregivers cope with diagnosis, treatment, and recovery by providing practical tools, emotional support, and coordinated care within the oncology setting.

Our Approach

A pediatric psychologist works with your child’s hematologist or oncologist as part of the treatment team and helps coordinate care with other medical providers. They screen for behavioral health symptoms, clarify concerns or diagnoses, and provide treatment recommendations. They may also provide individual or family therapy, parenting support, and strategies to reduce mental health symptoms, while connecting children and families with community mental health resources when needed.

Our pediatric psychologist can help with:

• Adjusting to medical conditions and associated stress
• Manage chronic health conditions and pain levels
• Following treatment recommendations and coping with medical procedures
• Coping with anxiety, depression, trauma, and sleep difficulties
• Addressing parenting, school, and daily functioning challenges

What Sets Us Apart?

Our Pediatric Psychologist works with your child’s Hematologist/Oncologist and specializes in working with children, teens, and young adults (under 21) with medical conditions. The pediatric psychologist’s role on our team is to support you and your family and help ease some of the stress of managing medical conditions. We work with you to identify and achieve measurable treatment goals and can meet with you either in person or virtually where you attend your outpatient medical visits.

Having a chronic or serious illness comes with unique challenges that can cause anyone to feel stressed. Access to behavioral health support right in the medical clinic can help reduce some of this stress and better support our families. It can also:

• Reduce stigma and barriers to accessing mental health care
• Improve collaboration of care
• Increase medical effectiveness through whole-person care (biopsychosocial model)

Contact Us

Please consult with your GI healthcare provider regarding access to these services. For more information about our services, please call (585) 275-2981.

Location

Pediatric Behavioral Health & Wellness in Pediatric Hematology & Oncology
Golisano Children’s Hospital
601 Elmwood Avenue, 6th Floor
Rochester, NY 14642

Phone: (585) 275-2981