We hope that the information on this page can help you find the best service for you. We understand that as people we cannot be perfectly fitted into boxes, and that sometimes there may be several services which could help.

We know that healthcare works best when there are smooth handovers, and as services we want to ensure that you are getting the right support for you at the right time.

If we feel that one of the other services on this page may be better placed to offer a therapy to meet your needs, we will discuss this with you. We work closely together, and with your consent we will send your referral to the best team.

Macmillan Counselling and Psychology Service work with adults affected by cancer, whether you have received the diagnosis yourself, or a loved one. The support can begin any time from the point of diagnosis. We are best placed to offer this support when you are still regularly visiting the hospital. For this reason, we work with you during your cancer treatment and up to six months after ending treatment.

Both Talking Therapies Portsmouth and Talking Therapies Hampshire work with adults affected by cancer, whether you have received the diagnosis, or a loved one. The support can begin any time from the point of diagnosis. Talking Therapies services can offer support at any time on your cancer journey, but may not be the best fit if you are regularly visiting hospital or living with a life-limiting condition. We can work with people long after cancer treatment has ended.

Rowans Hospice Psychology Service are a team of psychologists, psychotherapists and counsellors based at Rowans Hospice in Waterlooville, who specialise in providing psychological therapy to adults in Portsmouth and Southeast Hampshire who are living with a life-limiting illness. We also support carers and families impacted by a life-limiting illness and bereaved people.

For more information about each of these services, click on the buttons below:

Talking Therapies Portsmouth is the primary care mental health service for Portsmouth, provided by Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust.

We’re a team of therapists and researchers who specialise in common mental health difficulties.

If you’re struggling with low mood, anxiety and stress because of being affected by cancer, we provide talking therapies to help you cope and feel better.

Our service to you is free and confidential.

Our website can be found at Talking Therapies Portsmouth

Whether you yourself have been diagnosed with cancer, or you’re the relative or friend of someone who has, Talking Therapies Portsmouth can offer emotional support.

We can help with adjusting to a new diagnosis and to life after cancer treatment and beyond.

If you or a loved one are currently going through medical treatment, or living with advanced cancer, it may be that one of our partner services will be better placed to suit your needs.

Talking Therapies Portsmouth is for people aged 16 and above who are registered with Portsmouth GP in postcodes PO1- PO6.

We know the courage it takes to ask for help, and we hope you’ll consider therapy with us.

You can self-refer by calling us on 0300 123 3934 or by completing the secure form on our website: Refer — Talking Change

Rowans Psychology Service are a team of psychologists, psychotherapists and counsellors based at Rowans Hospice in Waterlooville, who specialise in providing psychological therapy to adults in Portsmouth and Southeast Hampshire who are living with a life-limiting illness. We also support carers and families impacted by a life-limiting illness and bereaved people.

We work hard to understand your unique experience, and then tailor the support we provide to meet your specific needs. You might need a supportive space to talk about your feelings and experiences, or want to think about how to live as well as you possibly can alongside your illness or in your role as a carer.

When possible, we invite you to meet with us in our therapy rooms at the hospice. However, if you are unable to travel to us we are able to provide home visits.

Getting Referred: The Psychology Service is delivered through a partnership between Rowans Hospice and Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust. To access the service, you need to be referred by a healthcare professional. If you would like to be referred, please discuss this with your Palliative Care team, your cancer Clinical Nurse Specialist, or your GP.

There are lots of other forms of psychological support which people may find helpful outside of psychological therapy:

Local to me

Living Well Centre – The Living Well Centre team includes nurses and support workers with skills in emotional support for those affected by a life limiting condition. The team run a range of groups and activities that they can sign you up for, and are also on hand to offer one-to-one support. You might consider paying a visit to Rowans Living Well Centre in Waterlooville, or one of the ‘satellite sessions’ the team run across Portsmouth and Southeast Hampshire, as your first port of call in seeking emotional support. The Living Well team work closely with the Rowans Hospice Psychology Service and can make onward referrals when needed.

Macmillan Centre – The Macmillan Information & Support Centre at Queen Alexandra Hospital in Portsmouth offers a range of psychological support and advice to people affected by cancer. Staff and volunteers can listen to your worries and concerns, offer practical advice, and signpost to a range of other services. The Macmillan Centre Co-ordinators also form part of our Macmillan Counselling & Psychology Service, and can make a referral when needed.

Online resources

Can-Empower – Can-Empower is a free online resource for people affected by cancer. The website provides information to help you make sense of the emotional challenges of living with and beyond cancer, as well as talking providing coping tools and techniques.
The resource has been created by people with experience of cancer, healthcare professionals and researchers at the Centre for Psychosocial Research in Cancer (CentRIC) at the University of Southampton.

Cancer Care Map – The Cancer Care Map is a free website that helps you to find cancer support services in your local area, wherever you are in the UK. Local cancer support groups are often listed on here.

Living with and beyond cancer – Living with cancer can be difficult. There is help and support available both during and after treatment. You may find you don’t feel the full effect until after your treatment has finished. On this page you will find information to help you manage the effects of cancer – on your emotions, your body, your diet and your finances. Everyone’s needs will be different, depending on age and circumstances.

Further afield

Cancer Support Centres – Cancer centres are a haven of support and advice for anyone affected by cancer. We are fortunate to have a number of cancer centres across the Wessex region. Most cancer centres are led by a mix of volunteers and trained professionals, and can provide:

• counselling
• complementary therapies
• help with filling in forms
• help understanding your diagnosis or treatment

There may be times where we think that other NHS services or local charities may be better suited to your needs. We will discuss this with you, and either refer you on or let you know how to access the recommended service.

None of the services on this page offer emergency mental health care for people in crisis. Support is available from specialist services if you need urgent help.

Urgent Help

In an emergency call 999

If your life is in immediate danger, call 999 or go straight to A&E

For urgent help call 111

If you feel at risk of harming yourself or others, call 111 immediately. 111 is open all day every day.
It’s free to call from every landline and mobile phone

Emotional support

For confidential, emotional support you can contact a support line:

The Mix
Support for under 25s
www.themix.org.uk
Freephone: 0808 808 4994

Samaritans
Support for everyone
www.samaritans.org
Freephone: 116 123

CALM
Support for men
www.thecalmzone.net
Freephone: 0800 58 58 58

Shout
Support for everyone
https://giveusashout.org/
Text: 85258