The Clinical Psychologist's Work in an Oncology Department: the Clinic of the Real and the Realities of Psycho-Oncology Clinical Practice

Working as a clinical psychologist in an oncology department raises numerous questions such as the practitioner's symbolic, psychic, and theoretical position. This article is based on several psychologists' testimonies; it explores the subjective dimension of their clinical practice, the problems they encounter within the medical system, their relationships with patients and other healthcare professionals, their counter-transference issues, and their theoretical and therapeutic approaches. Despite numerous problems, the difficulties these professionals encounter lead to a clinical and theoretical creativity that may enhance the patients' quality of life and disease outcome.