Young Adult Cancer Patients, A Group Therapy Proposal
Proposal - Younger Adult Cancer Patient Support Group.
David Profitt
The Group: I am proposing to create and lead a group for younger adults who have cancer. Cancer is often seen as a common illness in older adults, but it is viewed as an exception in the lives of adults in their late teens or twenties. Many people of this younger adult age may benefit from knowing that they are not alone in their struggle. This would be a personal growth group, not a counseling or therapy group. The purpose would be for the victims of the illness to meet with others in similar positions and focus on living to their fullest potential in spite of their circumstances. The members will know that they can still enjoy life.
Applicable Theories Used: The group will draw from various psychological orientations. First, aspects of Existential therapy will be useful in helping clients realize they can rise above this horrible thing that has befallen them. In searching for the meaning they wish to apply to their own existence, they will learn that they have the capabilities to live each day to its fullest potential. Also, this theory will aid the clients in dealing with the fact that they may die, even sooner than otherwise normally expected. This theory’s work will be focused on the beginning stages of the group. After these realizations have taken place, I will begin to move towards behavior-centered approaches, such as REBT, Behavior Therapy and Reality Therapy. With the ideas of these therapies, the group members will learn to change their behaviors to better serve living their lives to their fullest potential. It is natural and will be expected that the group members will have negative behavior patterns, many having originated before the news of the cancer. However, in order to live an enjoyable life after the news, the group members will need to focus on the still valuable meaning in their lives (through Existential Group Therapy). Once they have this focus, they will need to learn behaviors which will assist them in attaining their realized full potential.
Population / Setting: As stated, this group is for cancer patients in the young adult years (most likely not to exceed 30 years of age). This group will be for patients who are still able to be active, which, with modern medicine, is common with many cancers today. The setting of the group will be casual, meeting once a week, with new members accepted once every group cycle (15 weeks, six weeks devoted to Existential growth, 7 weeks developing new behavior techniques and two weeks between groups to screen upcoming members.). Members who wish to remain in the group for another 13-week period will be welcome to do so if they have been productive members previously. These clients will be beneficial models to incoming clients.
Need/ Benefits: While many clients may need additional individual counseling, I believe there will be great benefit to everyone in being in a group setting. Visually seeing that they are not alone in their diagnosis, and interacting with the other members of the group will be a positive reinforcement to their continuing to live their lives to the fullest possible good.
Publication/ Announcement: To advertise the group, I will be sending announcements and brochures to all local AMA listed radiologists, chemotherapists, plastic surgeons specializing in cancers, and others related to the field. In addition, I will send announcements and brochures to psychologist, psychiatrists, and social workers who may have patients who qualify. The various people above can inform their clients of the group, and the clients will then be able to call (they will have all the needed information on the brochure) to set up a pre-group screening held over various dates every fifteen weeks. Potential members will be screened for age, and confirmation of cancer. Potential group participants will be screened to make sure they do not first need individual counseling to help them deal with their struggles. Only group members with a certain level of psychological health will be accepted, as to not be too great a drain or negative force on the other members. Possible members who do not meet minimum psychological qualifications may be reconsidered for future group sessions if they are receiving individual help.
Format/ Structure/Activities/Techniques: The group structure will be casual. This group will be a place where the patients can come together to be encouraged in continuing to live their lives to the fullest. The leader will work in leading discussions about not only the cancers, but the ways the patients have lived above their cancers, or can do so if they have not been. The first several sessions of the group will be largely Existential in format. The leader will help the members find within themselves the meaning they hold to their lives, and in addition, the leader will help the members compare this meaning to the potential hidden within them. The group members will take turns telling how they used to see themselves before the diagnosis, what their goals were, and how they see themselves now. Obviously, some goals may have to be reworked, but the leader will help each member realize that they can still live a productive life, and push towards a better future. After these first few sessions, the group members will hopefully realize that they can rise above their circumstances, even though for some, death is an absolute which will eventually come, and then sooner than would be the societal norm.
Once the group members have realized that there is a life they should be living, behavioral techniques will be brought in to help the members implement plans to better themselves. Negative habits, whether having developed pre or post diagnosis, will be uncovered, and new, positive behaviors will be taught, practiced, and over time, and developed as habit to replace the original negative behavior patterns. The members will be encouraged to go out with their friends and to continue to make new friends. Homework exercises in going out socially and participating in social activities will be encouraged. For those who are not adept at social interaction, or fear that their cancer will be a hindrance or wall they can not surmount, group members can role-play common social settings and interactions which the members can then practice outside the group setting as assignments. The role-play will also offer support to the members.
Precautions/ Risks/ What will not be done: This will be a personal growth group. Patients who are having a very difficult time in dealing with their cancer would best receive other therapy before entering in this group. This group will focus on improving the lives of those who have cancer. It is assumed that they worked through the initial shock and have accepted their situations and desire to figure out how to make the best of their current lives. This will be addressed in the initial screening for members. Group members will be told that the group is not designed to offer cures to their problems, nor is it a place for them to expect pity or sympathy they may feel they deserve. Members will know that they are expected to be honest about how they feel their lives are going, and they are expected to work to make their lives more productive. This is the challenge and purpose of the group. All the group members will be legal adults, so no parental permissions will be needed.
Ethical Considerations: The group will meet voluntarily and will not involve risky behaviors. However, the group will be set up so that the members are encouraged to have regular checkups with their doctor. There will be a need for the leader to be cautious to watch for members who may have slipped into denial about their condition, and are not seeking medical treatment because they have decided to "believe" they will be okay. Individual time with the members will be a good way to keep track of personal feelings which may be masked by the group's effect.
Evaluation/ Follow-up: The group would be evaluated on a continual basis. The leader will watch for improvements and regression in the members. Members will be asked weekly on their take of the group, needs, and suggestions for improvement. Members who show special needs in dealing with their cancer will be offered individual sessions, so that their group time may be more productive. For those who do not continue after the 13 week group period, there will be one or two bi-monthly meetings for follow-up.
Filed under: EDC 583 Theories and Techniques of Group Counseling
Copyright: July, 2002 - David Profitt
