FEARS IN CHILDREN WITH ONCOHEMATOLOGICAL DISEASES: AGE-RELATED FEATURES AND PSYCHOCONSULTATION ASSISTANCE

Abstract

The article examines the psychological features of experiencing fears in adolescent children with oncohematological diseases, taking into account age characteristics and possibilities of psychological counseling.Attention is focused on the fact that oncological disease for a child is not only a medical, but also a deeply emotional and personal experience, in which fear plays a key role. The main types of fears characteristic of children undergoing treatment in an oncohematological hospital are identified: fear of pain, death, disability, isolation, loss of parental love and social rejection. The specifics of the manifestations of these fears at the verbal and non-verbal levels, as well as their impact on the psycho-emotional state of the child, are analyzed.Special attention is paid to revealing the age-related features of emotional reactions to illness. It has been established that in preschool age, bodily-affective reactions dominate, while in junior school age there is a need for cognitive explanation of the situation, and in adolescence – the number of existential fears and questions related to the future, self-perception and freedom increases. Age psychology allows for a deeper understanding of how children of different ages experience anxiety and traumatic events, which is the basis for developing effective psychocorrectional interventions. Within the framework of psychological counseling, the possibilities of using adaptive, resource-oriented methods that meet the age and emotional needs of the child are outlined. Among them: play therapy, fairy tale therapy, art therapy, narrative counseling, stabilization and emotional regulation techniques. The role of the counselor as a mediator between the child, his family and medical staff is emphasized, as well as as a specialist who helps reduce the level of distress and promotes the formation of trust, subjective control and hope. The article emphasizes that psychological assistance should be individualized, dynamic and sensitive to the context of the disease. It is concluded that the combination of knowledge of age psychology and counseling technologies is an important condition for providing high-quality psycho-emotional support to children facing oncological pathology. This allows you to maintain mental integrity, improve the quality of life and promote the child’s successful adaptation in conditions of long-term treatment.