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Psychotherapeutic Modalities for Children with Cancer and Their Families

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Pediatric Psychosocial Oncology: Textbook for Multidisciplinary Care

Abstract

Over the past 30 to 40 years, a wide range of psychotherapeutic modalities have been utilized to help families of children diagnosed with cancer. One important aim of the literature in the last two decades has been focused on developing and examining these modalities in order to better understand interventions that are efficacious in improving psychosocial functioning in pediatric cancer patients and families. In this chapter, we provide an overview of a wide variety of psychological intervention tools that have been employed to decrease distress and enhance quality of life in both children and their families. These methodologies include individual psychotherapy, family and marital therapy/medical family therapy, cognitive behavioral approaches, problem-solving therapy, structured parent and family-based interventions, support groups, play therapy, art therapy, social skills training, health promotion interventions, adherence to medical regimens, as well as new and emerging therapeutic practices. Future directions in psychosocial intervention research are also discussed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Oklahoma State University, 116 N. Murray Stillwater, Stillwater, OK, 74078, USA

    Larry L. Mullins PhD, Alayna P. Tackett MS & Kristina I. Suorsa MS

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  1. Larry L. Mullins PhD
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  2. Alayna P. Tackett MS
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  3. Kristina I. Suorsa MS
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Correspondence to Larry L. Mullins PhD .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Hemat. Oncol. Massachusetts General Hosp, Div. of Child & Adol. Psychiatry & Pedia, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

    Annah N. Abrams

  2. Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Depart. of Psychosocial Oncol. & Palliat, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

    Anna C. Muriel

  3. National Cancer Instit. Center for Cance, Pediatric Oncology Branch , Bethesda, Maryland, USA

    Lori Wiener

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Mullins, L.L., Tackett, A.P., Suorsa, K.I. (2016). Psychotherapeutic Modalities for Children with Cancer and Their Families. In: Abrams, A., Muriel, A., Wiener, L. (eds) Pediatric Psychosocial Oncology: Textbook for Multidisciplinary Care. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-21374-3_6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-21374-3_6

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

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  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-21374-3

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