An evaluation of a cancer counselling service

The CancerBACUP London Counselling Service offered short-term face-to-face counselling to self-referred cancer patients and their relatives and friend s, provided by experienced supervised counsellors working within a humanist ic theoretical framework. This study aimed to identify its clients' charact eristics, use of the service, extent of perceived benefits and satisfaction with the service. Sociodemographic data were collected in Data Sheets from all 384 clients who booked an appointment over 18 months; they were predom inantly female, < 50 years old and from non-manual social classes. Signific antly more people in those classes and in the 30-59 age group attended thre e or more sessions. Three hundred and nine clients who attended at least on ce were sent an Evaluation Form; 142 responded. The probability of the Eval uation Forms' return was greater for those who had completed more sessions; the great majority of respondents felt that they had benefited, and were s atisfied with the service. This study, notwithstanding its limitations, sho ws that a short course of counselling may be perceived by clients to be hel pful; it also raises other issues of value to those involved in cancer serv ices and/or counselling provision.