Support for Partners & Families of Stem Cell Transplant Patients
Supporting a loved one through a stem cell transplant is one of the most demanding experiences a person can face. The fear, the uncertainty, the exhaustion of caregiving and the profound loneliness of carrying it, often while everyone's attention is focused on the patient. You are not invisible. And you do not have to do this alone.
When a loved one is diagnosed with a condition requiring a stem cell transplant, life changes overnight. Suddenly you are navigating a medical world that feels overwhelming and foreign, managing your own fear while trying to stay strong for the person you love, and taking on responsibilities, practical, emotional, logistical, that nobody prepared you for.
And yet the needs of partners, family members, and caregivers are so often overlooked. The focus, understandably, is on the patient. But research is clear: the psychological impact on those who love and care for transplant patients is profound, real, and deserves dedicated attention.
This is a space for you.
A Personal & Professional Note
I come to this work from two directions, as a psychologist, and as someone with lived experience of this journey. My husband underwent a stem cell transplant, and I know firsthand what it means to sit in a hospital corridor not knowing what comes next, to hold someone else's fear while managing your own, and to try to resume ordinary life when nothing feels ordinary anymore.
My Master's research explored the lived experiences of partners supporting loved ones through stem cell transplantation. What participants told me again and again was how much it meant simply to speak with someone who already understood, someone who knew what a stem cell transplant actually involves, what the recovery looks like, and what the emotional landscape of caregiving in this context truly feels like.
What struck me during my research was something that emerged outside the formal findings, in the moments after interviews ended, when participants spoke freely. Again and again, people described previous experiences of seeking counselling or therapy, only to find themselves spending precious session time explaining the basics, what a stem cell transplant actually is, what the treatment involves, what the recovery looks like, what the risks mean. Therapists who were caring and well-meaning, but who had no frame of reference for this world.
That experience of not being understood, of having to educate your therapist while simultaneously trying to process your own pain, is an additional burden that partners and caregivers of transplant patients should not have to carry. When you work with me, you will not need to explain what SCT is. You can use our time for what matters - you.
That combination of personal insight, academic research, and clinical training is what I bring to this work.
What my research found:
My research identified five themes that repeatedly emerged in the experiences of partners and family members of stem cell transplant patients:
1. Caregiving begins at diagnosis
The caregiving role does not start at the transplant, it begins the moment of diagnosis. From that point, partners and family members take on enormous emotional and practical responsibilities, often before they have had time to process the news themselves.2. The complexity of the caregiving role
Caregivers described taking on multiple roles simultaneously, protector, advocate, and cheerleader, often suppressing their own needs and emotions in order to support their loved one. This constant role-switching is exhausting and rarely acknowledged.3. The impact on caregivers' own health
Partners and family members frequently experience significant physical and psychological consequences of caregiving, including anxiety, depression, sleep difficulties, and physical exhaustion. These needs are often invisible because the focus remains on the patient.4. Coping with caregiver burden
What helped most was having a support system, connecting with others who shared similar experiences, staying informed about the medical process, and finding ways, however small, to maintain self-care alongside caregiving.5. Resuming interrupted lives
After the transplant, partners and families face the complex task of rebuilding and resuming lives that were put on hold, often while continuing to manage ongoing uncertainty about their loved one's recovery and long-term health.These themes shape the way I work with partners and families of transplant patients. You will not need to explain the basics, I already understand the landscape you are navigating.
Who This Support Is For
I offer psychological support for:
Partners and spouses of stem cell transplant patients
Parents, siblings, and adult children supporting a family member through transplantation
Anyone in a caregiving role at any stage of the transplant journey, from diagnosis and preparation, through transplant and recovery, to long-term adjustment or bereavement
You do not need to be in crisis to come. Many people I work with are functioning, getting through each day, but carrying a level of fear, grief, or exhaustion that is quietly affecting their wellbeing and their sense of self.
What we might work on:
Processing fear, uncertainty, grief, and difficult emotions
Navigating the challenges of caregiving and changing family roles
Managing stress, overwhelm, and emotional exhaustion
Reconnecting with your own needs, identity, and wellbeing
Finding balance between caring for your loved one and caring for yourself
Strengthening resilience and self-compassion
Adjusting to life during and after treatment
Processing bereavement if your loved one did not survive the transplant
Rebuilding and resuming your life after the transplant journey
Caregiver Support Group
In addition to individual therapy, I also offer a small online support group specifically for partners and family members of stem cell transplant patients. Research consistently shows that shared stories and peer connection are among the most powerful sources of support for caregivers, and this group is built around exactly that.
The group combines psychoeducation with open discussion and peer support, and is available in English and Russian.
→ Find out more on the Groups & Events page
Practical information:
Sessions are available in person in Leidschenveen, The Hague (Den Haag), and online via Zoom for clients anywhere in the world. Given the specialist nature of this work, the majority of sessions take place online, allowing partners and family members to access support regardless of where they are based.
All sessions are up to 60 minutes.
Session fees:
Standard Rate: €80 (online or in person)
Reduced Rate: €70 (online)
FAQ:
Is this support only for people whose loved one is currently in treatment?
No. I work with partners and family members at every stage, from diagnosis and preparation, through the transplant and recovery period, and into long-term adjustment. I also work with people who have been bereaved following an unsuccessful transplant. It is never too early or too late to seek support.
Do I need a referral from a doctor or hospital?
No referral is needed. You can contact me directly to arrange a free initial consultation.
My loved one is telling me I should be fine, I feel guilty seeking support for myself.
This is one of the most common things caregivers tell me. The truth is that your wellbeing matters, not only for your own sake, but for the person you are caring for. You cannot pour from an empty cup. Seeking support is not a sign of weakness or disloyalty. It is one of the most important things you can do for both of you.
If you are supporting a loved one through a stem cell transplant or navigating life in its aftermath, I would be genuinely honoured to walk alongside you. This is work I understand deeply, both as a psychologist and as someone who has lived it.
Sessions available in English and Russian, in person in The Hague and online worldwide.