Home → Day-to-Day Matters → Talking to Your Family and Friends About Breast Cancer → Ask-the-Expert Conferences: Family, Friends, Relationships → February 2007: Partners, Loved Ones, Caregivers: Taking Care of You → Tips to get kids to go to counseling?

Tips to get kids to go to counseling?

Page last modified on: October 16, 2008

Question from laurie: I have 3 children that will not go to counseling. Any suggestions?: Answers —Rosalind Kleban, L.C.S.W.: This is hard to answer because I'm not sure why you believe that they need counseling. Most children go through the experience without requiring counseling. If children's lives remain relatively stable, they are truly able to weather this crisis. I would only be concerned if there was a large disruption in their ability to cope in school or to get along with friends. If those things are going well, just because there's somebody dealing with cancer does not necessarily mean they need counseling.; Marc Silver, author: From my experience, it's very important to be honest with your kids. You don't have to tell them everything, every little detail, but you shouldn't try to hide that Mom has cancer or isn't feeling well. And the Dad can play an important role. He should be the go-to parent if Mom's not feeling well because of chemo, surgery, or radiation. He should be the one the kids can ask their questions of.

On Wednesday, February 21, 2007, our Ask-the-Expert Online Conference was called Partners, Loved Ones, Caregivers: Taking Care of You. Author Marc Silver and moderator Rosalind Kleban, L.C.S.W. answered your questions about how you can take care of your loved one and yourself during and after breast cancer treatment.

The materials presented in these conferences do not necessarily reflect the views of breastcancer.org. A qualified healthcare professional should be consulted before using any therapeutic product or regimen discussed. All readers should verify all information and data before employing any therapies described here.

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Meet the Experts

Marc Silver is the author of Breast Cancer Husband: How to Help Your Wife (And Yourself) Through Diagnosis, Treatment, and Beyond.

Rosalind Kleban, L.C.S.W. is administrative supervisor for psychosocial programs at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center's Lauder Breast Center in New York City, where she leads weekly support groups for women with early and advanced breast cancer.