Cancer Therapy & Psycho-Oncology in New York
City Lights Psychology | Flatiron, Manhattan
At City Lights Psychology, we provide Cancer Therapy and Psycho-Oncology services in Manhattan for individuals, couples, and families navigating the emotional impact of cancer. Whether you are newly diagnosed, in treatment, adjusting to survivorship, or supporting a loved one, therapy can help you navigate fear, uncertainty, identity changes, relationship strain, and emotional overwhelm with deeper support and understanding.
Licensed Psychologists | In-Person & Virtual Sessions | Flatiron, Manhattan
Who We Work With in Psycho-Oncology Therapy?
Individuals Recently Diagnosed with Cancer
For individuals processing the shock, fear, and emotional disorientation that often follows a diagnosis. Therapy supports emotional stabilization during periods of uncertainty and rapid medical decision-making.
Individuals in Active Treatment
For those navigating chemotherapy, radiation, surgery, or ongoing treatment while managing anxiety, exhaustion, emotional numbness, or the pressure to keep functioning.
Cancer Survivors & Fear of Recurrence
For individuals struggling with hypervigilance, uncertainty, identity changes, or difficulty adjusting after treatment has ended.
Caregivers, Partners & Family Members
For partners, caregivers, and loved ones managing emotional burnout, anticipatory grief, role changes, and the ongoing stress of supporting someone through illness.
Individuals Navigating Medical Trauma & Body-Related Anxiety
For individuals experiencing heightened anxiety around physical symptoms, medical settings, procedures, scans, or changes in their relationship with their body after illness.
Emotional & Psychological Concerns We Support
We work with clients experiencing a wide range of emotional responses connected to cancer and chronic illness, including:
Fear of Recurrence
Persistent anxiety about scans, symptoms, uncertainty, or the possibility of illness returning.
Medical Trauma & Loss of Control
Emotional distress connected to hospitalizations, invasive procedures, treatment complications, or overwhelming medical experiences.
Anxiety & Cognitive Overwhelm
Constant mental preoccupation, overthinking, catastrophic thoughts, or difficulty feeling emotionally present.
Identity Changes After Illness
Questions related to self-image, purpose, relationships, physical identity, and adjusting to life after diagnosis or treatment.
Emotional Numbness & Burnout
Feeling emotionally disconnected, exhausted, or unable to process what has happened due to prolonged stress and survival mode.
Relationship & Family Stress
Changes in communication, emotional distance, caregiving strain, or shifting family dynamics during illness and recovery.
Our Approach to Cancer Therapy at City Lights Psychology
Supportive & Insight-Oriented Therapy
Therapy provides a space where you do not have to minimize, filter, or stay emotionally “composed.” We focus on helping you understand your emotional experience rather than forcing you into positivity or quick coping strategies.
Psychodynamic & Relational Work
The experience of illness often surfaces questions about identity, relationships, and what matters. We work psychodynamically, exploring the emotional and relational patterns that shape how you are experiencing illness, treatment, and recovery.
Trauma-Informed Therapy
For clients experiencing medical trauma, we integrate trauma-informed approaches to address fear, hypervigilance, emotional shutdown, or difficulty feeling safe in your body again.
IFS-Informed & Relational Work
Many individuals experience conflicting emotional states during illness: fear, anger, guilt, relief, gratitude, resentment. Therapy helps you understand these internal experiences without judgment or self-criticism.
Cancer Therapy During Different Phases of Illness at City Lights Psychology
After Diagnosis
Early sessions often focus on emotional stabilization, processing shock, and managing the overwhelming pace of information and decisions.
During Active Treatment
Therapy supports emotional regulation, stress management, communication, and coping with the physical and emotional demands of treatment.
After Treatment & Survivorship
Many individuals notice anxiety increases once treatment ends. Sessions often focus on fear of recurrence, identity shifts, rebuilding routine, and adjusting to life after treatment.
Support for Caregivers, Partners & Families
Cancer affects relationships as much as individuals. Partners and caregivers often shift into emotional and logistical support roles while managing their own stress internally.
Therapy can support:
- Communication during illness and recovery
- Caregiver burnout and emotional fatigue
- Parenting and family stress
- Boundary-setting and emotional support
- Navigating uncertainty together as a couple or family
What We Focus on in Therapy Sessions
- Managing fear, uncertainty, and emotional overwhelm
- Processing medical trauma and treatment-related stress
- Rebuilding a sense of stability and emotional grounding
- Navigating identity changes after illness
- Addressing relationship and caregiving dynamics
- Reducing hypervigilance around symptoms and health anxiety
- Developing coping strategies that feel realistic and sustainable
In-Person & Virtual Therapy Options
Dr. Emma Shimony, PsyD, MPH
In-Person Therapy in Flatiron, Manhattan
Dr. Shimony offers private in-person sessions in our Flatiron office, integrating CBT and psychodynamic approaches to help individuals and couples manage the anxiety, health-related fears, and identity shifts that come with a cancer or chronic illness diagnosis.
Virtual Therapy Across Multiple States
Secure telehealth sessions are available across: New York | New Jersey | Connecticut | Florida
Virtual sessions give clients undergoing treatment the flexibility to maintain consistent support around chemotherapy, appointments, and recovery — without the added burden of travel.
Dr. Zhaoyi Chen, PsyD, MA
In-Person Therapy in Flatiron, Manhattan
Dr. Chen provides in-person sessions in Flatiron in both English and Mandarin, drawing on meaning-centered psychotherapy to support clients and families processing a cancer diagnosis — including the added layers of cultural expectation, family obligation, and identity that often shape the experience for Asian and immigrant clients.
Virtual Therapy Across Multiple States
Secure telehealth sessions are available across: New York | New Jersey | Florida
Virtual therapy allows clients managing treatment fatigue, caregiving duties, or distance from Manhattan to stay consistently supported, in their preferred language, throughout treatment.
Insurance & Payment Information
City Lights Psychology is primarily an out-of-network provider. Sessions are paid directly, and many clients use out-of-network benefits for reimbursement.
We provide superbills that can be submitted to your insurance provider. We recommend contacting your insurance company directly to understand your reimbursement eligibility and deductible.
HSA/FSA payments and standard payment methods are accepted.
Questions?
About Cancer Therapy & Psycho-Oncology
Do I need to be in active treatment to start therapy?
No. Therapy can be helpful at any stage, including diagnosis, treatment, remission, survivorship, recurrence, or caregiving.
Can therapy help with fear before scans or medical appointments?
Yes. Many individuals experience heightened anxiety leading up to scans, appointments, or test results. Therapy focuses on reducing anticipatory anxiety and managing uncertainty more effectively.
Is therapy appropriate if I feel emotionally numb rather than emotional?
Absolutely. Emotional numbness is a very common response to prolonged stress, medical trauma, and survival mode. We work with numbness directly, helping you understand what it is protecting and, at your pace, reconnecting with your emotional experience.
Can caregivers or partners attend therapy too?
Yes. We work with caregivers, partners, and family members. In the sessions, we focus on the shifts to the relationships and what illness has changed between you.
Do you offer virtual sessions for clients undergoing treatment?
Yes. Telehealth is often especially helpful for individuals managing fatigue, recovery, medical schedules, or limited mobility. We offer telehealth sessions in New Jersey, Connecticut, and Florida.
What if I already have support from family and friends?
Support systems are valuable, but therapy offers a separate space focused entirely on your internal experience, including thoughts or emotions you may not feel comfortable expressing elsewhere.
Still Have Questions?
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