Paediatric psycho-oncology workshop

Moeen Counselling Centre presents: a specialist workshop in paediatric psycho-oncology

Taught by: Dr Bahman Bahmani, PhD in counselling, associate professor and faculty member, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences.

Applicants are interviewed before admission.
⏰ Length: 32 hours.

Participants receive a certificate of attendance.

📞 For more information, please contact Moeen Counselling Centre.

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Paediatric psycho-oncology workshop: topics

1. An introduction to cancer (what cancer is, types of childhood cancer, common medical treatments, side effects of medical treatment, genetic counselling in cancer, etc.)

2. The crisis after a cancer diagnosis, and how to face it well

3. Psychological aspects of childhood cancer for parents

4. Psychological effects of childhood cancer on parents

5. Psychological effects of childhood cancer on other family members

6. Psychological consequences of medical treatment (medication, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, bone marrow transplant, changes in appearance)

7. General aspects of lasting communication with the child (giving the child medical information, assessing their developmental and cognitive stage, the child’s needs, etc.)

8. Family members’ communication with the child (parents, brothers and sisters)

9. The child with cancer and school (the teacher’s relationship with the child, the effects of cancer on schooling and learning, etc.)

10. Long-term effects of cancer and its treatments (follow-up after treatment, relapse, possible infertility, long-term side effects of treatment courses, etc.)

11. Assessing the child’s development, including:

• Motor development
• Emotional development
• Cognitive development
• Biological development

12. Taking a psychological history and assessing the child’s mental state, including:

• Assessing possible psychological disorders before the cancer
• Possible psychological disorders after the cancer

13. Psychological interventions with the child: assessment and therapeutic uses of games, stories and activities, including:

• Principles of building a therapeutic relationship with a child
• Play therapy
• Drama therapy
• Storytelling
• Role-play
• Puppet play for emotional release
• Drawing and expressing emotions
• Free, healing conversations

14. Psychological interventions with the child’s parents, using approaches suited to facing a crisis, getting through it, and growth after crisis and trauma, including:

• Helping parents recognise and cope with their emotional reactions to their child’s reactions and questions, and to their child’s early death.
• Helping parents face a crisis of meaning
• Helping parents deal effectively with existential anxieties
• Helping parents support their other children
• Helping spouses rebuild their relationship after losing a child

15. Psychological intervention with other groups around the child (nursery, school, hospital, etc.)

16. Caring for a dying child:

• Helping parents face the final stages of illness where it cannot be cured
• Helping parents recognise the particular needs of children facing early death
• Helping parents talk with the child and answer the child’s questions about death and what follows it