Emotional wellbeing

Psychological services

It’s common to experience a wide range of intense emotions when going through cancer or supporting someone close to you through cancer.

Many people find it useful to talk through these emotions with a trained psychologist who can provide reassurance, guidance and teach coping strategies to help you manage.

Whether you are starting treatment, are just finishing up with treatment or supporting someone else, our professional psychologists are experts in providing support to people and their whānau with the distress that cancer can bring about.

Emotional wellbeing program

What are psychological services?

Depending on your needs, you may be referred through to a private Clinical Psychologist or counsellor. All of the Under the Canopy Psychologists are experienced in structuring sessions to meet your specific needs, working with individuals and whanau. The team at the Cancer Society also offer group sessions for people who might benefit from interacting with others in similar circumstances

Benefits of emotional wellbeing program

What are benefits of psychological services?

All the Under the Canopy psychologists are committed to helping people negotiate the emotional and social challenges of cancer and its treatments

Talking with one of our team members in an individual counselling session or attending one of our many group programs can help with the following:

Coming to terms with a new diagnosis

Learning to manage difficult emotions such as anger, frustration, grief, sadness, anxiety or depression

Learning stress management techniques

Talking with health professionals - what questions to ask and how

Addressing communication with family members and talking with children

Learning helpful coping strategies including relaxation and mindfulness

Making the decisions that are right for you

Coping with treatment, side effects, medical procedures and tests

Moving on with life after cancer and regaining confidence

Costs and enrolment

What will these sessions cost?

As with any private service, there is a charge associated with seeing our Health Psychologists and counsellors'. However, the first session is free. Check your health insurance policy to see if your provider includes emotional or psychological support for and subsequent sessions you make like to have.

Our team

Janelè van den Berg MA (Clin Psych)

Janelè van den Berg is a New Zealand Psychology Board (NZPB) Registered Clinical Psychologist. She moved to New Zealand from South Africa in 2017 and has been working as part of the Cancer Psychosocial Support Services across the cancer centres at Tauranga and Whakatane Hospitals since then. She also work in the Tauranga based private practice ("PsyChoru" well-being in sync).

She completed her Masters Degree in Clinical Psychology in 1996 in South Africa and since then worked in various positions within the field of Psychology (both in Government sector and in Private Practice); as well as in the Pharmaceutical Research Industry (as Clinical Research Associate and Independent Contractor).

She follows an integrative and eclectic approach, choosing psychological techniques and methods from different schools of thought with her main focus being Person-Centered. She works with a range of psychological conditions including: adjustment difficulties; stress and anxiety; mood disorders (feeling down or depressed); relationship challenges; trauma; loss and grief.

She is available for face-to-face consultations; as well as via Telehealth. She can offer consultations both in English and Afrikaans.

Motto: “The difference between ‘ordinary’ and ‘extraordinary’ is that little extra.” – Jimmy Johnson

Emotional wellbeing

Psychological services