Counselling

Counselling, if available, is highly recommended, especially in helping the patient and carer to cope with the prospect of a lung transplant.

Counselling is about helping you to find creative responses to your present difficulties and needs.

A counsellor will provide you with time, attention, respect and support as you discover your own resourcefulness.

Unlike a friend or relative a counsellor is a professional who is trained to listen in an accepting and non judgemental way.

With a counsellor you can express your feelings openly and frankly without being afraid that s/he will become burdened by them.

Your hospital Social Worker should be able to advise you about what counselling services are available to you. They may also be able to recommend private counsellors

Private counselling sessions cost around €60 per session.

The Psychological Society of Ireland is the registration body for psychologists including counselling psychologists.

Irish Association for Counselling and Therapy provides a national directory of accredited counsellors and therapists which includes details of the counsellor’s qualifications and areas of specialisation.

The Irish Council for Psychotherapy has a register of accredited psychotherapists including family therapists.

Good advice given to a severely disabled patient: to take one day at a time; not to look back or forward.

Also see the section on SOCIAL WORK:HOW THE HOSPITAL SOCIAL WORKER CAN HELP.