Cancer Counseling Center
 Fighting
cancer is half the battle …living life is the other half.
A diagnosis of cancer greatly impacts your life. It affects how you
feel, it can change your relationships with family and friends, and it can
impact your plans for the future.
Many people find that in this difficult time, anxieties can be eased
through caring, sensitive support from counseling professionals. Our
Cancer Counseling Center helps you live your life to its fullest.
For more information, please call 414-649-6018.
The professionals at St. Luke's Cancer Counseling Center understand
that the medical aspect of cancer is only part of the impact. While medical expertise is essential, our counselors realize that
professional support to help you cope with the emotional aspect is
invaluable as well.
Programs for every phase of cancer care
To help cancer patients and their families face the disease and fight
it, we offer a wide variety of services, including:
 Individual,
family and group counseling
The psychiatrists and nurse
practitioners at the Cancer Counseling Center are trained in
psycho-oncology, a medical specialty that focuses on the behavioral issues
faced by cancer patients. Psychologists are frequently consulted to provide therapy for individuals, couples and families.
We offer counseling in an individual, family or group setting,
depending on the patient's needs. Our facilities include a family
consultation room, group room and individual offices for comfort and
privacy.
Educational
and support materials
Information is power when dealing with cancer. The Cancer Counseling
Center offers a wealth of information in pamphlets, videos and audiotapes
dealing with subjects from how to manage stress to forming healthy new
habits. The library focuses on providing education on topics such as
depression, anxiety, coping with cancer, coping with illness in the
family and medication. Patients can also find information on how to quit
smoking, nutrition and exercise during cancer treatments, and relaxation.
 Psychological testing
Cancer treatments can often affect a person's ability to resume normal
activities like working, attending school and driving. Our staff
provides testing to evaluate cognitive function, and to determine if
additional help may be needed before a patient can resume these
activities.
Assistance
with fatigue, pain, insomnia, appetite disturbances, anxiety and
depression Treatments designed to fight cancer can cause unpleasant
and distressing symptoms. These may be physical (fatigue, pain, appetite
disturbance) and emotional (anxiety, fear, hopelessness, depression).
The Cancer Counseling Center will help patients explore options for
treating these complications. In many instances, counseling and relaxation
tips are sufficient to deal with discomfort, but sometimes it is necessary
to prescribe medication to help reduce the physical and emotional stress.
Our aim is to find the proper balance between these options.
Complementary services
While fighting cancer is primarily a medical process, we emphasize a
patient-focused approach. That means we concern ourselves not
just with the disease, but with the complete well-being of the patient. We
offer a range of services to round out our continuum of cancer care.
Each program is designed to help our patients stay as positive as they
can while living with this serious illness.
 Support groups
Group members find understanding and information by talking with others
facing the same issues.
Nutrition counseling
Patients learn to maximize their nutrients and make wise choices to get
the most out of the food they eat.
Spiritual care
Chaplains from a variety of denominations are available to listen
and explore answers to faith-related questions.
Expressive therapy
Expressive therapy can help individuals explore, confront and
deal with their emotions about their diagnosis, treatment and future.
Expressive therapy may include:
While the Cancer Counseling Center is located at St. Luke's Medical
Center, counseling services are available at a number of locations
throughout the Milwaukee area. For more information, please call
414-649-6018.
Professional staff
Bryson, Julie A. PHD
Clinical psychologist
Dr. Bryson is a clinical psychologist who
creates a healing environment for her cancer patients and their loved
ones. She strives to discover and build on the strengths and resources
that the patient already has to help them cope. She graduated
magna cum laude in psychology from Marquette University in Milwaukee and
earned her master's and doctorate in clinical psychology from Miami
University in Oxford, Ohio.
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