Psychiatry & Psychology Services

Fred Hutch Psychiatry & Psychology Services

Phone: 206.606.1030

Our providers see patients currently in treatment at Fred Hutch, as well as those who have recently completed treatment. We are located at Fred Hutch Sloan Clinic and Fred Hutch Cancer Center – Peninsula. Telehealth appointments are also available for all Fred Hutch patients if that’s more convenient for you.

For more information on how to start receiving support from our team, ask your social worker or another member of your care team to request an appointment on your behalf.

Get the Mental Health Support You Need

Cancer affects the whole person — not just your physical health, but your mental health, too. Our team of psychiatrists and psychologists are here to support your mental health care needs during your treatment at Fred Hutch Cancer Center.

We can help you with a wide range of challenges you may face while undergoing treatment, including offering coping strategies, behavioral techniques, or medications for managing stress, anxiety, depression, sleep and more.

“We feel strongly that taking a holistic approach to care for the whole person is the best approach to helping our patients, and we try to make that care as accessible as possible to all our patients.”

— Jesse Fann, MD, MPH, Medical Director of Fred Hutch Psychiatry & Psychology Services

What to Expect

Being diagnosed with cancer and undergoing cancer treatment is stressful for anyone who has to go through it. Even with support from family and friends, this stress can quickly become overwhelming.

Our goal is to help equip you with the skills and support needed to get through treatment as smoothly as possible — and get back to doing the things you love.

Step-by-Step: What Happens During Your First Visit

Dr. Jesse Fann talks about what to expect during your first appointment with the psychosocial team.

How We Can Help

As an integral part of your cancer care team, we provide compassionate mental health care that is seamlessly integrated into your overall treatment plan. We’re proud to offer specialized coping strategies, behavioral techniques and medications for a variety of challenges, such as:

  • Stress
  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Loss and grief
  • Sleep issues
  • Fatigue and pain
  • Medical phobias
  • Substance use

First Appointment

During your first session, we’ll spend time getting to know you and what’s important to you: How are things going so far? What physical and emotional challenges are you facing? How are things going at home, at work, and in other important areas of your life? As part of this visit, we’ll ask you to complete a short survey so we can get a full picture of your treatment experience so far.

Once we have a sense of the areas where you’d like our support, we will work closely with you to come up with a personalized plan that meets your needs. That plan may include specific cognitive, behavioral or medication approaches to decrease distressing symptoms, educating and coordinating care with your medical team and caregivers, consultation with other experts on our multidisciplinary psychosocial team, or a referral to other supportive care services within or outside Fred Hutch.

Frequently Asked Questions

Our goal is to identify and address problems as early as possible, before they turn into big problems that impact your daily life and your ability to get through treatment. We recommend scheduling an appointment with our psychosocial team as soon as you notice that mental health challenges are affecting your daily life. Simply ask your social worker or another member of your Fred Hutch care team to provide a referral to our clinic.

How often you’ll be seen by our team depends on your needs. Some people visit us for a one-time consult, whereas others have appointments regularly as long as they’re receiving treatment at Fred Hutch. At your first appointment, our team will talk through your care options.

Yes, we’re happy to offer telehealth appointments for individuals receiving treatment at any Fred Hutch location.

Psychiatrists are medical doctors who have completed medical school and specialty residency training in psychiatry, which includes counseling and medication management. Psychologists have doctoral degrees with specialized training in counseling and behavioral strategies to help people with emotional distress and behavioral challenges.

Nursing Team

Laura Lynch, RN

Registered Nurse, Psychiatry & Psychology Services

Chelsea Hagmann, RN

Registered Nurse, Psychiatry & Psychology Services

More Videos

Dr. Jesse Fann covers a range of topics surrounding mental health and how the Fred Hutch Psychiatry & Psychology team can support patients.

Caring for the Mind and Body: Fred Hutch’s Approach to Psychosocial Oncology

This video explains how people experiencing cancer can benefit from Fred Hutch’s multidisciplinary psychosocial services.

The Emotional Side of Cancer

This video covers how going through a cancer diagnosis and treatment can affect your mental health, what signs to look out for, and how to start a conversation with a loved one who might be struggling.

Misconceptions Around Mental Health

This video breaks down some of the misconceptions around mental health and mental health providers.