Psychological Consultation to a Pediatric Oncology Unit: Obstacles to Effective Intervention

Obstacles to effective psychological intervention on an oncology service with hospitalized children are viewed from the perspectives of the staff, the family, and the child. These obstacles stem from failure to recognize the process of the generation of a consultation, from the divergent expectations of the parties involved, and from the differences between the process of psychological consultation and the usual medical model. Specific case material is presented to illustrate key points.