funded counselling
Funded counselling programme
We’re pleased to offer you our pilot-funded counselling programme for women living with ovarian cancer, as part of our support programme.
It’s important we’re able to trial this service and gather feedback so we can develop a future counselling programme that meets the needs of women with ovarian cancer.
The learnings from this pilot will help inform our ongoing programme to ensure we provide a service that best supports our community.
While we currently have funding and we’re accepting referrals, please be aware that the availability of the funded counselling sessions depends on ongoing funding. There may be times when funding gaps occur, which could lead to temporary pauses in the programme.
Access funded counselling sessions through OCFNZ
Receiving an ovarian cancer diagnosis can be overwhelming, bringing unexpected challenges and decisions. It’s important to have support during this time, and talking to a professional who is not directly involved in your life and is outside of your personal support network can be incredibly beneficial.
Our funded counselling sessions offer you a confidential space to work through the emotional and practical aspects of your diagnosis.
Who can access these sessions?
We’re offering up to three counselling or rongoā māori sessions, available to any person diagnosed with ovarian cancer, regardless of what point you’re at in your journey, including those who have completed curative treatment.
How counselling can help
Counselling and rongoā māori can help you:
- Manage the fear and anxiety often associated with an ovarian cancer diagnosis
- Navigate personal relationships and emotional issues
- Determine how you wish to communicate about your diagnosis
- Address work and other practical challenges
- Discuss intimacy and sexual health concerns related to your diagnosis
- Take a holistic approach, considering the physical, mental, spiritual and whānau aspects of wellbeing.
You can choose to access counselling at any point – whether you feel you need support right after your diagnosis or later in your journey.
How to access funded counselling
To get started, either you or your medical/health team can complete the form below.
Once we’ve received your form, our support coordinator will call you within three working days to discuss your referral.
During your conversation with our support coordinator, we’ll review the information you’ve provided and discuss the type of support you need. You’ll be able to ask any questions you have, and decide if you’d like to go ahead with accessing the funded counselling sessions.
From there, if your referral is accepted and there appears to be an opportunity to support you, you will receive your referral letter with your unique referral code by email within two business days. You’ll also receive a short questionnaire to help us understand your current situation.
With your referral letter, you can contact our partner on this pilot, TELUS Health, who will guide you through your options. You are eligible for up to three funded sessions with a counsellor of your choice from TELUS Health’s clinician network. These sessions can be conducted online, by phone, or in person, depending on where you’re located and your preference.
Once you have accessed your sessions, and you’re discharged by your clinician, we’ll send a follow-up questionnaire to gain insight into how counselling supported you and how we can improve our support offering. Your feedback will help us shape the counselling programme, and ensure it meets the needs of those who access the service.
Important information
Our funded counselling sessions are intended for short-term support and are not a substitute for urgent or crisis situations. If the situation is an emergency, please dial 111, or if you urgently need to speak with someone, please call or text 1737.
Please note: All three funded sessions must be completed within four months of your first session, and are available for your individual use – sessions cannot be transferred to others.
Confidentiality and consent
Your privacy is important to us. We will handle your information with strict confidentiality and will seek your consent before sharing any details with TELUS Health or other relevant parties. The exception to this is where we are concerned for your safety or that of others and have a duty of care to act and seek support for you.