Why the Care Counsel?

The Care Counsel is a personal expression of the care I have always wanted to provide. After 13 years in hospital social work, seven with a focus on oncology, I encountered life’s twists and turns personally. I experienced being a family member of a patient in the oncology system and ultimately the loss of a parent to cancer. I became a mother to preemie twins and a move outside of Toronto necessitated a break from the hospital system.

A new role as a psychotherapist both for a medical clinic as well as my own private practice within the Halton region was eye opening. I continued to meet with clients impacted by cancer who have been treated outside of major urban centres and who did not have access to a comprehensive psychosocial support program as a part of their care. They sought direction on how to access the support that they needed.

In my private practice, I continued to specialize my work with clients in various stages of their cancer experience. I found myself supporting family members and friends who may have been ineligible for funded service at treatment centres or are no longer able to be prioritized due to staffing and funding limitations. Some individuals simply didn’t find a connection with the services provided and were seeking alternatives. Community practitioners such as myself with oncology experience and knowledge existed but finding them could be challenging and dependent on location. The Care Counsel was created to provide an experienced and reliable solution to this challenge.

My hope is that our clinic can offer you the additional support you are seeking to navigate your experience with cancer, whether you are a patient, family member or friend, and whether you are in active treatment, survivorship, or living with any stage of disease or grief.

Katie Rice
Founder & MSW