Career counselling for cancer survivors

ABSTRACT

Cancer survivors experience both physical and cognitive changes after treatment that can impact their vocational well-being should they decide to return to work. In this article, we explore the ways in which career counselling interventions can address the challenges faced by cancer survivors as they re-enter the workforce. Four major career-related issues are outlined: physical functioning abilities, changes in cognitive functioning, changing perspectives and support. These issues are addressed using life-career transition and career counselling theories. Theory-informed helping strategies are considered for career counselling cancer survivors as they improve their vocational life and other aspects of personal well-being.

KEYWORDS:

• Cancer survivors
• return to work
• life-career transitions
• vocational wellbeing
• personal wellbeing
• career counselling

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

Data availability is not applicable to this article. This article is entirely based on existing literature that is fully accessible to the public.

Additional information

Funding

This article was supported in part by a Research Grant awarded to Prof. Charles P. Chen from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada, Standard Grant Program, Award No. 410-2009-2394.

Notes on contributors

Charles P. Chen

Charles P. Chen, PhD, is Professor of Counselling and Clinical Psychology and a Canada Research Chair in Life Career Development at the University of Toronto, Canada.

Marjan Khanjani

Marjan Khanjani, MA, is a PhD student in Counselling and Clinical Psychology at the University of Toronto, Canada.