Offered by Indian Mental Health and Research Centre
Program Overview
Psycho-Oncology is an emerging interdisciplinary domain that integrates psychological principles with oncology care to address the complex emotional, cognitive, behavioural, and social challenges experienced by individuals affected by cancer. With the rising incidence of cancer in India, there is an increasing demand for trained mental-health and allied professionals who can provide comprehensive psychosocial support across the cancer care continuum—from diagnosis and active treatment to survivorship, palliative care, and end-of-life stages.
This 100-hour intensive programme is designed to build specialized competencies in psycho-oncology through a structured blend of theoretical and practical training. The programme includes 24 hours of lectures, 12 hours of tutorials, and 64 hours of supervised internship, ensuring a strong emphasis on experiential and practice-oriented learning. Participants will gain hands-on exposure to psychosocial assessment, therapeutic interventions, communication strategies, grief counselling, caregiver support, and interdisciplinary collaboration within oncology settings.
The curriculum is grounded in evidence-based psycho-oncology models, integrating approaches such as cognitive-behavioural therapy, mindfulness-based interventions, trauma-informed care, and culturally responsive counselling practices relevant to the Indian context. Ethical considerations, professional boundaries, and reflective practice are embedded throughout the training to ensure responsible and competent service delivery.
Teaching–learning methods include interactive lectures, tutorials, role-plays, case discussions, case conferences, and supervised clinical exposure under experienced clinical psychologists and allied healthcare professionals. The 64-hour internship component provides real-world clinical engagement, enabling learners to apply psychosocial skills in oncology and palliative-care settings, participate in multidisciplinary teamwork, and develop clinical documentation and case formulation skills.
This programme is ideally suited for psychology students, counsellors, clinical psychology trainees, social workers, oncologists, nurses, rehabilitation professionals, and palliative-care practitioners, as well as individuals interested in psychosocial oncology, cancer rehabilitation, and survivorship care. It aims to enhance both professional competence and sensitivity in addressing the holistic needs of individuals and families navigating cancer-related challenges.
What You Will Learn
Apply psycho-oncology principles to understand the psychological, emotional, and social impact of cancer across different stages of care.
Conduct psychosocial assessments and develop case formulations using biopsychosocial frameworks in oncology settings.
Implement evidence-based psychological interventions, including CBT, mindfulness, and supportive counselling, for individuals affected by cancer.
Demonstrate effective therapeutic communication skills, including delivering difficult news and supporting patients and families.
Provide caregiver support and address family dynamics in cancer care contexts.
Apply culturally sensitive, ethical, and trauma-informed approaches in psycho-oncology practice.
Address the needs of special populations, including paediatric, geriatric, and terminally ill patients.
Collaborate effectively within multidisciplinary healthcare teams in oncology and palliative-care settings.
Demonstrate practical competencies through supervised clinical training, case documentation, and reflective practice.
