Sarah F Kurker - Effective Group Therapies for Young Adults Affected by Cancer: Using Support Groups in Clinical Settings in the Us

Outlining the unique psychosocial and development issues faced by young adults affected by cancer, this text draws on qualitative data from two pilot studies conducted in the United States to illustrate how the needs of this often-overlooked population can be effectively met via group therapy in clinical settings.

Drawing on 25 years of experience as a licensed clinical social worker supporting pediatric and young adult cancer patients and their families, Kurker focuses on the role of the clinician in structuring support group sessions. Chapters draw on patient perspectives to demonstrate effective application of interventions to help adolescents work through trauma associated with a diagnosis of cancer, treatment, recovery and the impacts on their development. Outcomes from these studies also include strategies for selecting support group participants, structuring group activities and securing funding.

Effective Group Therapies for Young Adults Affected by Cancer will be a valuable text for oncology social workers and clinicians involved in adolescent support services. In addition, researchers and postgraduate students with an interest in the fields of social work, psychology and adolescent development will find the book of interest.

Sarah F. Kurker, MSW, LICSW, is an Instructor in the Department of Social Work, Arizona State University, United States. She is also a practicing Clinical Social Worker and Oncology Teen and Young Adult Support Group Facilitator, Tucson, Arizona, United States.

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Deinstitutionalizing Art of the Nomadic Museum

Practicing and Theorizing Critical Art Therapy with Adolescents

Eva Marxen

Applications of a Psychospiritual Model in the Helping Professions

Principles of InnerView Guidance

Cedric Speyer and John Yaphe

Effective Group Therapies for Young Adults Affected by Cancer

Using Support Groups in Clinical Settings in the US

Sarah F. Kurker

Fostering Resilience Before, During, and After Experiences of Trauma

Insights to Inform Practice Across the Lifetime

Edited by Buuma Maisha, Stephanie Massicotte and Melanie Morin

For more information about this series, please visit www.routledge.com/Explorations-in-Mental-Health/book-series/EXMH

First published 2021

by Routledge

52 Vanderbilt Avenue, New York, NY 10017

and by Routledge

2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon, OX14 4RN

Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business

2021 Sarah F. Kurker

The right of Sarah F. Kurker to be identified as author of this work has been asserted by her in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers.

Trademark notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks or registered trademarks, and are used only for identification and explanation without intent to infringe.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

A catalog record for this book has been requested

ISBN: 978-0-367-53381-6 (hbk)

ISBN: 978-1-003-08170-8 (ebk)

Typeset in Times New Roman

by Apex CoVantage, LLC

In memory of Gabe.

Sure you can publish it but please dont use my full name!

A sincere thank you to every young adult who has shared your cancer experience with me. I feel honored of your trust. You have inspired me to become a better social worker.

A deep remembrance to each pediatric and adult patient I have known in my years as an oncology social worker. Always in my heart to be a grateful and appreciative.

For my children Emily and Evan who bring me happiness. May you follow your dreams and know I am here always. Thank you Kevin for supporting me.

For my parents Mickey and Frances Kurker for encouraging me to follow my dreams of becoming an oncology social worker.

To social workers at Massachusetts General Hospital and in Tucson, Arizona that I have had the privilege to work with.

A sincere thank you to Joanne Cacciatore for your time and support and teaching me so much by your research

For Elsbeth Wright (Routledge Taylor & Francis EditorEducation, Psychology & Mental Health Research), who believed in my vision of this book. Thank you for providing critical feedback that has allowed my dream of writing a book about young adults with cancer a reality.

Nature and movement: for keeping me in the moment of appreciation.

Beautifully and happily edited by Jamie Valderrama. I am forever grateful for your expertise, time and encouragement.

The purpose of this book is to help young adults (approximately 16 to 26) cope with the unique issues they face as they navigate the world after they have been diagnosed with cancer. Ive been a licensed clinical social working counseling pediatric and young adult cancer patients and their families for over 25 years. I have been an oncology social worker at University Medical Center, in Tucson Arizona, Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, and creating and facilitating Candlelighterss of Southern Arizona Community Support Group. Throughout that time, I realized there was a dearth of information pertaining to addressing the special needs to young adults with cancer. General counseling techniques, etc. are not well suited to this group because of their developmental age, as well as their treatment team being either adult or pediatric. These young adults are already dealing with issues as to the transition from a child to an adult, dealing with issues of appearance, sexuality, struggling with dating, how they are perceived by peers/kids/adults/society/etc. This book uniquely addresses these issues because it combines multidimensional support to the young adults by creating a community. This community allows them to openly express their cancer experiences, the emotional attached to their experience and provides ongoing support in their everyday lives. It allows to address the developmental issues they are addressing in their daily lives. Creating this type of support group in communities across the United States is the foundation of meeting the needs of YA with cancer. This book highlights options and important elements in elevating existing groups and creating new ones. Each chapter has evidence and concrete tools to address the needs of YA with cancer.