Virtual Group Therapy Within a Shared Medical Appointment: Innovative Care Delivery in Behavioral Oncology

Diagnosing and treating behavioral concerns should be prioritized throughout cancer survivorship. Behavioral health is included in national guidelines for survivorship care, but meeting those needs for a growing population of cancer survivors challenges limited behavioral health resources. This innovative implementation of group therapy and shared medical appointments enabled needs to be met using existing resources. A group therapy case study is used to illustrate the process, barriers, and benefits for patients and providers.

At a Glance

• The behavioral health needs of cancer survivors should be prioritized and treated from the point of diagnosis throughout the remainder of the patient’s life.
• The growing population of cancer survivors has increased the demand for behavioral oncology resources.
• In behavioral health, group therapy and shared medical appointments can be effective alternatives to traditional models of care for the patient and the healthcare system.