Social Services

Cancer is a family disease and can affect far more than the individual patient. In fact, many spouses and family member experience more emotional distress than the actual patient. In order to effectively care for the entire family system and manage the multifaceted problems of cancer, we have developed a social services division in our practice. Patrick Meadors, PhD, LMFT, is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with a doctoral degree in Medical Family Therapy. His specialty focuses on the impact and management of chronic illness and disability in the family. He was the first graduate of the first Medical Family Therapy Doctoral program at East Caroline University. Reverend Dr. Ray C. Ruark acquired his Doctor of Divinity from McCormick Theological Seminary and is also available for counseling.

We do not stop with physical healing, but recognize the need for emotional and social support for the entire family and aim to help the patient and all family members adjust to the diagnosis, treatment and ultimately surviving cancer.

Our social services division will aim to meet with all new patients to assess for any needs that our patients may have. Individual and family counseling is an option for those who need help adjusting to the impact of cancer, need help managing their emotions, or have other relational concerns. For those who wish to have more long-term, formal therapy, or a different therapist, referral services will be offered. In addition, social services will be able to provide additional resources (financial assistance, transportation, and living arrangements) to each family that we treat at our practice.

Several cancer support groups are meeting regularly throughout the area. The list of these support groups can be found on our website or the American Cancer Society (ACS) organizes a variety of support groups that can be found on their website. ACS has addition support programs such as “Look Good Feel Better”, “Road to Recovery”, and “Reach to Recover”. To read more about these programs, go to www.cancer.org. Social Services will also assist in connecting or registering the patient with the American Cancer Society and other cancer organization, which have a wide variety of support services.

or additional information about health in general, cancer in general or specific cancers, please browse throughout our internet listings provided at the link below. This list includes a variety of internet forums, informational websites and supplemental resources.

Community resources are available to cancer patients with special needs. The social worker is aware of these resources and can help patients and families utilize services like financial aid, transportation, and living arrangements for people out of the area.