Behavioral Oncology Services
One member of the support staff who plays an integral role in providing comprehensive cancer care is our health psychologist. Dr. Jeffrey Porter is a highly trained and experienced health psychologist who, along with our medical oncologists, specializes in the management of cancer and hematological illnesses. As a specialist in understanding the interaction between illness and well-being, Dr. Porter assists patients in coping with the stress related to their cancer, as well as in promoting better health.
Dr. Porter earned his doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology from Western Michigan University. He completed his internship in medical psychology at Geisinger Medical Center in Danville, Pennsylvania. Following completion of a clinical and academic fellowship in Health Psychology at the Consortium for Advanced Psychology Training/Hurley Medical Center/Michigan State University, Dr. Porter stayed on at Hurley Medical Center as the Director of Oncologic Psychology before transitioning into a purely clinical role at the Genesys Hurley Cancer Institute in Flint, Michigan. He is a member of the American Psychological Association and the American Psychosocial Oncology Society. Dr. Porter joined Cancer and Hematology Centers of Western Michigan in 2006. Your oncologist or nurse may talk with you about seeing our health psychologist, or you are welcome to initiate a visit on your own. Some of the most common reasons patients see the health psychologist are:
- Evaluation and management of depression and anxiety
- Assessment and management of cancer-related fatigue
- Assessment and management of sleep problems
- Recommendations for coping skills for managing stress and uncertainty
- Recommendations for medications to manage depression, anxiety, insomnia or fatigue
- Counseling to facilitate successful emotional processing of their illness
- Counseling to promote successful adjustment to cancer-related lifestyle changes
- Couples counseling to discuss how cancer is affecting the marriage/family
- To increase knowledge about health-promoting behaviors such as diet, exercise and other activity
- To develop a program for exercising, eliminating tobacco use, or making other significant behavior changes
Office visits with the Cancer & Hematology Centers of Western Michigan health psychologist are covered by insurance as either part of your cancer care or as a separate behavioral health benefit. If interested, a billing specialist will assist you in determining your coverage for our health psychology services.
Please talk with your physician or nurse to arrange to see our health psychologist or contact scheduling directly to make an appointment.