Victoria Puzo, LCSW, On-line Help Group CoordinatorMarch is Social Work Month! That is Half IV of our “Celebrating Social Staff” Weblog Sequence. At present, two members of our CancerCare for Children Program, Marlee Kiel, LMSW and Victoria Puzo, LCSW, share their ideas on the significance of offering emotional help to youngsters and youths dealing with most cancers.
What impressed you to grow to be an oncology social employee? How has your function developed since becoming a member of Most cancersCare?
Marlee: Most cancers is one thing that has considerably impacted my household, inflicting me to grasp firsthand how a prognosis can have an effect on not solely the affected person, however their members of the family as properly. Due to this fact, I used to be extraordinarily excited to intern and afterward be employed by Most cancersCare and hopefully make a optimistic distinction for these going by one thing comparable. I’ve taken on a number of roles since becoming a member of Most cancersCare. I began in 2016 as a social work intern and now I’m a licensed oncology social employee. I’m member of the Youngsters’s Program, the Triple Damaging Breast Most cancers Program, the On-line Help Group Program, I facilitate the Caregiver Phone Help Group and I handle the Oppenheimer Grant, which is a grant particularly for Jewish youngsters which have been recognized with most cancers. I hope to proceed to increase my function as time goes on!
Victoria: My function right here has modified fairly a bit over the previous 4 years. Whereas I nonetheless present particular person and group counseling right here in our New York workplace, I’ve additionally gotten extra concerned in coordinating our on-line help group program. It’s a really sturdy program right here that reaches 1000’s of individuals. It’s good getting concerned in several applications and initiatives to maintain issues fascinating.
Had been you initially involved in oncology social work, or was that one thing that got here later?
Marlee: I at all times knew I needed to work in oncology; it was simply the matter of what a part of the sphere. As soon as I used to be positioned at Most cancersCare for my second 12 months social work internship all of it fell into place!
Victoria: I at all times knew I needed to be concerned in help companies or the psychological well being subject. I by no means had a particular curiosity in oncology social work till I got here to Most cancersCare as a social work intern. It felt like I used to be actually making a distinction in a profound means.
Marlee Kiel, LMSW, Oncology Social EmployeeWhat sort of supportive companies do you present to youngsters and youths who’re dealing with most cancers?
Victoria: A lot of the youngsters and youths we work with at Most cancersCare have a member of the family who’s recognized with most cancers or have misplaced a mum or dad to most cancers. Our function is to offer a protected house for them speak about their emotions, to assist them perceive their emotions and to show them coping methods which may assist them throughout this tough time. Typically we sit and discuss with them, different instances we shade or play with toys. A very powerful factor is for them to know that they’ve somebody to speak to when they’re struggling.
Why is it essential to supply supportive companies to youngsters and youths dealing with most cancers?
Marlee: Youngsters can usually be missed when a mum or dad or liked one is recognized with most cancers. They’ll often detect when one thing is improper and can almost definitely be impacted in a roundabout way. Youngsters and youths, identical to adults, can expertise a variety of feelings. You will need to be certain that they’ve a protected and personal place to course of and categorical any emotions that is likely to be current as they encounter the adjustments that include a most cancers prognosis.
What ought to mother and father find out about oncology social staff and their function in most cancers care?
Marlee: Mother and father ought to know that oncology social staff are there to make this expertise simpler for them and their youngsters in any means they will. Oncology social staff can information them in age-appropriate methods to speak with their youngsters about most cancers; we will present them with sources and be the outlet they want throughout this tough time.
What are a few of the most rewarding points of your job?
Victoria: Having the ability to assist make individuals’s lives only a tiny bit higher, even when it’s simply giving them an area to vent and cry, that’s why we do what we do. We’re not at all times in a position to repair every thing, however we stroll beside individuals and help them after they want it most.
Marlee: One of the vital rewarding points for me is figuring out that for the half hour or 45 minutes that we’ve collectively, the affected person or member of the family has the chance to specific themselves in no matter means feels proper for them. It’s too usually {that a} most cancers prognosis can take away the person’s voice or sense of management. It feels nice giving it again to them, even when it’s for a quick time frame.
What’s one aim you’ve gotten for 2018?
Marlee: An expert aim of mine is to facilitate an in-person help group. I imagine facilitating the phone caregiver help group is a good stepping stone to attain this aim.
Victoria: I’d wish to get into meditation and find out about the way it can assist my purchasers. I’ve dabbled in it over the previous 12 months however I’d wish to make it a behavior of mine. Self-care is so essential!
Study extra about Most cancersCare for Children.
« Learn Half III of our “Celebrating Social Staff” Weblog Sequence.