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Sunrise over Mountains

Therapy in NYC for Cancer Patients and Their Families

At Rise Psychology NYC, we recognize that cancer impacts every aspect of an individual’s life: physical, emotional, and mental. Our dedicated team of clinicians is committed to providing specialized, evidence-based psychological support to individuals diagnosed with cancer.

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Our collective expertise encompasses a broad spectrum of experiences, making sure that we can address the diverse needs of our clients with empathy and professionalism.

 

Get in touch to discover how Rise Psychology NYC can assist you on your journey.

A Patient Waiting

Why Work With Us

A woman in deep contemplation

We're a small team of mental health providers who have experience working with those deeply affected by cancer.

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We know what it takes to provide personalized care. We’ve sat beside patients through chemo and remission. We've worked with families preparing for end-of-life care. We've supported people through grief, rage, numbness, confusion, and quiet moments of hope.

 

You're not supposed to have all the answers. You just need a helping hand.

 

Rise Psychology NYC is here to walk your unique path with you and provide the help you need.

Cancer Affects More Than the Body

Cancer crashes into every part of life. It impacts your routines, your relationships, your identity, your sense of safety. One diagnosis—and suddenly the ground under your feet feels different.

 

You may feel:

  • Numb

  • Overwhelmed

  • Angry at your body

  • Disconnected from who you used to be

  • Grieving what was "supposed" to happen

  • Scared about what's next

  • Like no one really understands (not even the people who love you)

 

People may tell you to "stay positive, but sometimes that doesn't feel honest. Sometimes what you need is a space where you don't have to put on a brave face.

 

Therapy can be that space.

Senior couple walking outdoors

Serving Patients of All Ages

 

  • Older individuals with cancer may contend with additional complexities such as managing multiple health conditions, cognitive changes, and concerns about autonomy.
     

  • Our approach incorporates strategies that respect the life experiences of older adults while addressing the psychological impact of cancer diagnosis and treatment.
     

  • For younger patients, we understand that those diagnosed often face distinct challenges related to school and work. Feelings of social isolation are prevalent in this population, as peers may struggle to relate to their experiences.
     

  • We also provide support for caregivers, recognizing the emotional toll that supporting a loved one through cancer can entail. Our services aim to bolster coping strategies and reduce caregiver burnout.


We’re trained to address these specific concerns, providing support that acknowledges and validates your unique circumstances.

What We Work On in Therapy

There's no "right" way to feel when you or someone you love is living with cancer. There's no checklist.
But here are some of the things we often talk about in sessions:​

For Patients:

  • The emotional shock of a diagnosis

  • Anxiety around scans, tests, and uncertainty

  • Fear of recurrence or progression

  • Grief over changes to your body, fertility, or independence

  • Trauma from painful treatments or invasive procedures

  • Navigating intimacy and relationships after treatment

  • Finding meaning after remission—or after being told remission isn't possible

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For Caregivers:

  • Guilt over wanting a break

  • Resentment that you're afraid to say out loud

  • Decision fatigue, especially around treatment options or end-of-life care

  • The stress of balancing caregiving with work, kids, and your own needs

  • Feeling invisible while the focus is on your loved one

  • Grieving before the loss has even happened

  • Wondering what happens to you once this is over

Whatever you're feeling, you don't have to justify it. You just have to show up. We'll meet you there.

Arms

After Treatment Ends—
Then What?

Nobody talks enough about the after. When the treatments stop. When your hair grows back. When people expect you to "bounce back" and be grateful.

 

But the truth? Life after cancer is its own chapter, and it's not always easy.

 

You might still feel anxious every time the phone rings with results. You might be grieving the person you were before. You might feel unrecognizable to yourself.

A cancer survivor looks hopeful

Therapy after treatment can help you:

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  • Process medical trauma

  • Cope with fear of recurrence

  • Reconnect with your body, identity, and purpose

  • Deal with changes in friendships or relationships

  • Explore meaning-making or spiritual questions

  • Rebuild trust in your body and your future

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Recovery isn't just physical. It's emotional, and it's layered. You deserve the space and support you need to heal on every level.

Facing End of Life—

With Honesty, Dignity, and Care

If you or a loved one has been given a terminal diagnosis, the emotional terrain changes again. People around you might not know what to say. Some disappear. Others only want to talk about "miracles."

 

Sometimes what you need is to talk about reality with someone who won't try to fix it. Who won't minimize it, but will simply be there to ground you as we walk this journey together. 

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We offer therapy that holds space for:

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  • Anticipatory grief

  • Legacy work (what you want to leave behind)

  • Saying the hard things

  • Talking about death without fear or judgment

  • Making meaning out of life

  • Deep emotional processing for both the patient and the family

Comforting Hands

These conversations are sacred. They deserve time, compassion, and genuine care.

Get to Know Us

What Makes Our Practice Different

 

We're not a big clinic. We provide each individual at our practice with one-on-one care.

We're small, personal, and intentional. We take on a limited number of clients so that we can offer care that's actually caring.

 

Our founder, Dr. Fanny Ng, has

  • A background in health psychology

  • Experience working full-time in a cancer center

  • Special training in psycho-oncology and trauma

  • Lived experience working with marginalized communities in medical settings

 

And the rest of us benefit from her supervision, providing us with experience and training to help serve cancer patients and caregivers in a compassionate and understanding way.

 

If you've experienced racism, medical bias, discrimination, homophobia, or other forms of marginalization in healthcare, cancer treatment can bring those issues to the surface in painful ways.

 

  • You might feel like your pain wasn't taken seriously.
     

  • You may have had to advocate for care that should've been standard.
     

  • You might feel erased, tokenized, or pressured to show strength.
     

We offer trauma-informed care for people navigating both illness and the systems that make it harder. We understand the emotional layers—medical, cultural, familial, existential—that come with cancer. We know how the health system works. And we also know how to bridge its gaps.

Smiling woman outdoors

How It All Works

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  • We offer virtual therapy for anyone located in New York and New Jersey states

  • We also offer in-person appointments in our Midtown NYC therapy office

  • Sessions are 45-50 minutes and happen weekly (or as often as you need)

  • We work with adults, couples, caregivers, and families

  • We'll walk you through the intake process from start to finish

  • We a number of insurances and offer sliding scale rates when available
     

When to Reach Out

 

You don't have to wait for a breaking point. Some people start therapy:

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  • Right after diagnosis, to emotionally prepare

  • Mid-treatment, when the stress gets heavy

  • Post-treatment, to process what just happened

  • During remission, to rebuild identity

  • When recurrence happens, and everything changes again

  • During hospice or palliative care

  • As a caregiver, partner, friend, or adult child, navigating all the emotions​

A picture of mountains

You may not even know what you need right now. You just know you can't hold it alone anymore.

That's more than enough reason to reach out and get started.

You're Allowed to Ask for Help

Therapy won't erase what’s in the past, but it can help you carry the burden as you move forward. With more steadiness, more awareness, and more self-compassion.

 

  • Whether you're the one going through treatment or the one holding everyone else up, we're here. For the fear, the rage, the sadness, the silence.

  • For the moments you feel human again—and the ones where you feel lost.

 

You deserve support that sees the whole you. Not just the patient. Not just the caretaker. The whole, full, beautiful you.
 

Let's Start with a Conversation

No pressure. No expectations. Just an honest conversation to see if this feels like the right fit.

​We are here when you need us. Reach out now and we'll be happy to give you a free consultation.

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References & Resources

 

1. American Psychosocial Oncology Society (APOS)
https://apos-society.org/

2. National Cancer Institute: Coping with Your Feelings During Advanced Cancer
https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/advanced-cancer/feelings

3. American Cancer Society: Cancer Caregiver Support
https://www.cancer.org/cancer/caregivers.html

4. Help for Cancer Caregivers
https://www.helpforcancercaregivers.org/
5. Young Survival Coalition: Mental Health Resources
https://www.youngsurvival.org/learn/mental-health

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