Support Groups

Licensed Social Workers Promote Community Among Sickle Cell Disease Patients

Social workers at University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center’s Adult Sickle Cell Disease Clinic seek to know the patients as individuals. These professionals provide support and counseling to help patients adjust to changes in their conditions. They offer education and resources to empower patients to do all they can to stay well while living with sickle cell disease.

Initially, each patient will undergo a comprehensive psychosocial assessment to give our professionals insight into their stories and their lives. Social workers can then help with goal setting and help patients work toward these goals through ongoing counseling, support and linkage to community resources.

Support Groups Promote Awareness and Coping Skills

Our social workers facilitate support groups for those impacted by sickle cell disease. The purpose of the group is to promote community, education, awareness and a supportive environment that can help people learn to cope with living with sickle cell disease and teach family and friends how to help support the patient.

The Sickle Cell Disease Support Group meets on the first Wednesday of every month from 5 – 6:30 p.m. in the Learning Lab on the first floor of UH Seidman Cancer Center. The support group offers both educational topics and traditional support group atmosphere and is open to everyone affected by sickle cell disease.

For more information on the Sickle Cell Disease Support Group, please contact Tiffany Cousino, LISW at 216-286-3844.