Welcome
I am a licensed psychologist who assists individuals and families touched by cancer and its treatment.
My goal is to help patients and families live as well as possible and to compassionately support them while assisting in the challenges brought by cancer and its treatments.
I believe that medicine alone is not enough.
Research underscores the importance of integrated medicine in which psychologists provide simultaneous psychological care and support throughout diagnosis and treatment of cancer.
This essential care improves quality of life, assists patients in making better decisions, improves coping and helps to reduce discomforts and distress.
I want to help you through this diagnosis and beyond.
About Me
As a psychologist who assists individuals and families touched by cancer and its treatment. I provide support and guidance during the challenging times that come with a cancer diagnosis.
Whether you are a patient or a loved one, my goal is to help improve your emotional well-being, overall quality of life and adapt to your changing circumstances.
Together, we can navigate the emotional rollercoaster that often accompanies cancer. I offer a safe and compassionate space to express your feelings, fears, and hopes. Through therapy, I aim to empower you and equip you with additional coping skills that can make a positive difference in your experience.
A health diagnosis may bring us together, but for many people it is the beginning of addressing other parts of their life that they find challenging whether, work, family or other social and emotional issues.
I’ve held academic jobs and supervisorial roles, and I am a down to earth, professional who values the integrity of my confidential relationship with you.
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My first year in college I decided that I was interested in psychology. I followed that path through receiving my, BA, MA, and PhD degrees.
My first job was designing a treatment program for patients and families to help them manage the distress associated with cancer.
After many years of research I decided that we needed to put my research and that of my colleagues into action by serving patients.
I have done that through my clinical work as a psychologist for 40 plus years and as the founding director of the Simms/Mann UCLA Center for Integrative Oncology for 25 years.
I remain an Ermerita Adjunct Professor of Medicine in the Department of Hematology/Oncology at UCLA.
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One of my proudest moments was receiving the “Outstanding Clinical Care Award, by the only national multidisciplinary organization dedicated to the comprehensive care of patients and families with cancer, The American Psychosocial Oncology Society.
Anne Coscarelli PhD Receives Outstanding Clinical Care Award.
I was also proud to receive the “Distinguished Service to the Profession of Psychology” by the Los Angeles County Psychological Association for my contributions to psychology and cancer.
Anne Coscarelli PhD Received Distinguished Services to the Profession of Psychology
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Psychologist in Private Practice: 2003 - present
Adjunct Professor of Medicine Emeritus Department of Medicine, Division Hematology/Oncology David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA : 2019 -present
Clinical Professor Department of Psychology University of California, Los Angeles (Volunteer) 2006 - 2017
Adjunct Professor of Medicine Department of Medicine, Division Hematology/Oncology David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA : 2005 – 2018
Founding Director Simms/Mann – UCLA Center for Integrative Oncology Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, UCLA: 1992 – 2018
Darcie Denkert Notkin Director of Psychosocial Oncology Care, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA: 2017 – 2018
Research Psychologist Department of Health Services UCLA School of Public Health: 1995 – 2004
Associate Research Psychologist Department of Health Services UCLA School of Public Health: 1993 - 1995
Associate Research Psychologist Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences Department of Medicine UCLA School of Medicine: 1989 - 1993
Assistant Research Psychologist Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences UCLA School of Medicine: 1980 - 1989
Psychologist Veterans Administration Medical Center, Sepulveda, CA :1980 – 1987
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Selected Presentations:
Coscarelli, A., Ahmed, K. Medicine Alone is Not Enough: A Model for Integrative Oncology Care Including Psychological Interventions with Complementary and Traditional Cancer Care. Paper presented at the 10th Annual American Psychosocial Oncology Society Conference, Huntington Beach February 15, 2013. – Received Best Scientific Program Poster
Coscarelli, A. Bonet L, Cleary E, Eselun M, Loewenbein S, Kim SJ, Pier TJ, Lieto C, Madnick A, Johnson A, Wenger N. Does Psychosocial Oncology have a greater role in Aid-in-Dying Prescriptions than Assessing Decisional Capacity? Paper presented at American Psychosocial Oncology Society Annual Meeting, Orlando, Florida, February 2017.
Coscarelli, A. Integrative Medicine: Wellness Throughout Treatment and Survivorship, Colon Cancer Alliance, Webinar, October 3, 2011
Coscarelli, A., Ahmed, K. Medicine Alone is Not Enough: A Model for Integrative Oncology Care Including Psychological Interventions with Complementary and Traditional Cancer Care. Paper presented at the 10th Annual American Psychosocial Oncology Society Conference, Huntington Beach February 15, 2013.
Coscarelli, A. Optimizing Wellness: Before, During and After a Cancer Diagnosis, Laguna Nigel, Centaurus, January 5, 2013
Coscarelli A, D'Ambruoso S, Wenger N, Pietras C, Hurvitz S, Pier T, Drakaki A, Walling A. An Embedded Palliative NP Model Integrated into Oncology Practice Can Partner with an Integrative Oncology Center to Increase Identification and Management of Psychosocial Needs for Patients with Advanced Cancer Paper presented at American Psychosocial Oncology Society Annual Meeting, San Diego, California, March 2016. 96.
Coscarelli, A. Impact on Providers: Psychosocial Perspectives – Symposium End of Life Option Act One Year Later Convening, Sacramento, CA September 25, 2017.
Coscarelli, A. Experiences with EOLOA: Health Systems – Symposium End of Life Option Act One Year Later Convening, Sacramento, CA, September 25, 2017.
Coscarelli A, Wenger N. California End of Life Option Act: Hoping for the Best, Planning for the Worst and Knowing your Options, Insights Into Cancer Simms/Mann – UCLA Center for Integrative Oncology 2017 Annual Insights Into Cancer Lecture Series, March 14, 2017.
Coscarelli A, Thinking About End of Life: Are you Prepared, Pacific Palisades Senior Alliance, Pacific Palisades, CA May 7, 2018.
Selected Publications: **Note I have published under Schag, and Coscarelli.
Schag, C.C., Heinrich, R.L., & Ganz, P.A. (1983). Cancer Inventory of Problem Situations: An instrument for assessing cancer patients' rehabilitation needs. Journal of Psychosocial Oncology, 1, 11-24.
Schag, C.C., Heinrich, R.L., & Ganz, P.A. (1984). Karnofsky performance status revisited: Reliability, validity, and guidelines. Journal of Clinical Oncology, 2, 187-193.
Heinrich, R.L., Schag, C.C., & Ganz, P.A. (1984). Living with cancer: The Cancer Inventory of Problem Situations. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 40, 972-980.
Heinrich, R.L., & Schag, C.C. (1984). Behavioral medicine approach to coping with cancer: A case report. Cancer Nursing, 7, 243-247.
Kames, L., Naliboff, B., Heinrich, R.L., & Schag, C.C. (1984). The chronic illness problem inventory: Problem oriented psychosocial assessment of patients with chronic illness. International Journal of Psychiatry and Medicine, 14, 65-75.
Heinrich, R.L., & Schag, C.C. (1985). Stress and activity management: Group treatment for cancer patients and spouses. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 53, 439-446.
Ganz, P.A., Schag, C.C., & Heinrich, R.L. (1985). The psychosocial impact of cancer in the elderly: A comparison with younger patients. Journal of American Geriatrics Society, 33, 429-435.
Schag. C.C., & Heinrich, R.L. (1986). The impact of cancer on daily living: A comparison with cardiac patients and healthy controls, Rehabilitation Psychology, 31, 157-167.
Ganz, P.A., Rofessart, J., Polinsky, M.L., Schag, C.C., & Heinrich, R.L. (1986). A comprehensive approach to cancer patients' needs assessment: The Cancer Inventory of Problem Situations (CIPS) and a companion interview, Journal of Psychosocial Oncology, 4, 27-42.
Ganz, P.A., Schag, C.C. Polinsky, M.L., Heinrich, R.L., & Flack, V.F. (1987). Rehabilitation needs and breast cancer: The first month after primary therapy, Breast Cancer Research and Treatment, 10, 243-253.
Heinrich, R.L., & Schag, C.C. (1987). Psychosocial impact of cancer: Cancer patients and healthy controls, Journal of Psychosocial Oncology, 5, 75-92.
Schag, C.C. & Heinrich, R.L. (1989). Anxiety in Medical Situations: Adult Cancer Patients. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 45.
Ganz, P.A., Polinsky, M.L., Schag, C.C., & Heinrich, R.L. (1989). Rehabilitation of patients with primary breast cancer: Assessing the impact of adjuvant therapy, Recent Results in Cancer Research, 115, 244-254.
Schag, C.A.C., Heinrich, R.L., Aadland, R.L., & Ganz, P.A. (1990). Assessing problems of cancer patients: Psychometric properties of the Cancer Inventory of Problem Situations, Health Psychology, 9, 83-102.
Ganz, P.A., Schag, C.A.C.., & Cheng, H. (1990). Assessing the quality of life in newly-diagnosed breast cancer patients, Journal of Clinical Epidemiology, 43,75-86.
Schag, C.A.C.., Ganz, P.A., & Heinrich, R.L. (1991). CAncer Rehabilitation Evaluation System Short-Form (CARES-SF): A Cancer Specific Rehabilitation and Quality of Life Instrument, Cancer, 68, 1406-1413.
Ganz, P.A. Schag, C.A.C.., Lee, J.J., Polinsky, M.L. Tan, S-J: (1992). Breast Conservation versus Mastectomy: Is there a difference in psychological adjustment or quality of life in the year after surgery?, Cancer, 69, 1729- 1738.
Ganz, P.A., Lee, J.J., Sim, M-S, Polinsky, M.L., Schag, C.A.C.. (1992). Exploring the influence of multiple variables on the relationship of age to quality of life in women with breast cancer. Journal of Clinical Epidemiology, 45, 473- 485.
Ganz, P.A. Schag, C.A.C.., Lee, J.J., Sim, M-S. (1992). The CARES: A generic measure of health-related quality of life for cancer patients. Quality of Life Research, 1, 19-29.
Schag, C.A.C.., Ganz, P.A., Kahn, B., Petersen, L. (1992). Assessing the needs and quality of life of patients with HIV infection: Development of the HIV Overview of Problems-Evaluation System. Quality of Life Research, 1, 397-413.
Schag, C.A.C.., Ganz, P.A., Polinsky, M.L., Fred, C., Hirji, K., Petersen, L. (1993). Characteristics of women at risk for psychosocial distress in the year after breast cancer. Journal of Clinical Oncology, 11,783-793.
Ganz, P.A., Hirji, K., Sims, M.S., Schag, C.A.C.., Fred, C., Polinsky, M.L . (1993). Predicting psychosocial risk in patients with breast cancer. Medical Care, 31, 419-431.
Ganz, P.A., Schag, C.A.C.., Kahn, B., Petersen, L., Hirji, K. (1993). Describing the quality of life impact of HIV infection: Findings from studies with the HIV Overview of Problems-Evaluation System. Quality of Life Research, 2, 109-119.
Ganz, P.A. Schag, C.A.C.., Kahn, B. , Petersen, L. (1994). Assessing the quality of life of HIV Infected Persons: Clinical and descriptive Information from studies with the HOPES. Psychology and Health, 9, 93-110.
Schag, C.A.C.., Ganz, P.A., Wing, D.S., Sim, M.-S. Lee, J.J. (1994). Quality of life in adult survivors of lung, colon, and prostate cancer. Quality of Life Research, 3,127-141.
Canales, S., Ganz, P.A., Coscarelli, A. (1995). Translation and validation of a quality of life instrument for Hispanic American cancer patients: Methodological considerations. Quality of Life Research, 4, 3-11.
Ganz, P.A., Coscarelli, A., Fred, C. Kahn, B., Polinsky, M.L., and Petersen, L. (1996). Breast Cancer Survivors: Psychosocial concerns and quality of life. Breast Cancer Research and Treatment, 38,183-199.
O'Leary, JF, Ganz, P.A., Wu, AW, Coscarelli, A., and Petersen, L. (1998). Towards a better understanding of health-related quality of life: A comparison of the Medical Outcomes Study HIV Health Survey (MOS-HIV) and the HIV Overview of Problems-Evaluation System (HOPES). Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes and Human Retrovirology, 17, 433-441.
Gritz E.R., Carmack, C.L., de Moor, C, Coscarelli, A., Schacherer, C.W., Meyers, E.G. Abemayor E. (1999). First year after head and neck cancer: quality of life. Journal of Clinical Oncology, 17, 352-360.
Ashing, T.K., Padilla, G., Tejero, J. Kramer, J. Wright, K., Coscarelli, A., Clayton, S., Williams, I. Hills, D. (2004) Understanding the Breast Cancer Experience of Women: A Qualitative Study of African Americans, Asian Americans, Latinas and Caucasians, Journal of Psychosocial Oncology, 13, 408-428
D'Ambruoso S , Coscarelli A, Hurvitz S, Wenger, Coniglio D, Donaldson D, Pietras C, Walling A. Use of a shared mental model by a team comprised of oncology, palliative care, and supportive care clinicians to facilitate shared decision-making in a patient with advanced cancer, Journal of Oncology Practice (Accpeted for Publication May 2016).
Ahmed, K, Marchand, E, Williams, V, Ganz, PA, Coscarelli, A. Development and Pilot Testing of a Psychosocial Intervention Program for Young Breast Cancer Survivors, Patient Education and Counseling, 2016, 99(3):414-20.
D’Ambruoso S.F., Coscarelli A., Hurvitz S, Wenger N., Coniglio D., Donaldson D., Pietras C., Walling A. Use of a shared mental model by a team comprised of oncology, palliative care, and supportive care clinicians to facilitate shared decision-making in a patient with advanced cancer. Journal of Oncology Practice. 12(11):1039-1046.
Walling A, D’Ambruoso S.F., Malin, JL, Hurvitz, S, Sisser, A, Coscarelli, A, Clarke R, Hackbarth A, Pietras C, Watts F, Ferrell B, Skootsky S, Wenger, NS. Effect and Efficiency of an Embedded Palliative Nurse Practitioner in an Oncology Clinic. Journal of Oncology Practice. 2017 Sep;13(9):e792-e799.
D’Ambruoso SF, Glaspy JA, Hurvitz SA, Wenger NS, Pietras C, Ahmed K, Drakaki A, Goldman JW, Anand S, Simon W, Kung J, Coscarelli A, Rosen LS, Peddi PF, Wong DJL, Santos K, Phung P, Karlin D, Walling AM. Impact of a Palliative Care Nurse Practitioner in an Oncology Clinic: A Quality Improvement Effort. JCO Oncology Practice.2021, April; 18(4) w484-e494.
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~This is a lecture on Cancer Survivorship.
Anne Coscarelli, PhD on Survivorship UCLA 7th Annual Survivorship Conference in 2013
~This is a lecture on End of Life Choices, Advance Directive and the End of Life Option Act (2017)
Note: This law has changed since the presentation in 2017. Patients are now able to make the request of aid in dying medication with only a 48 hour waiting period in California (Not a 14 day waiting period).
Article originally published in the Los Angeles Times on End of Life Option Act and its Implementation at UCLA 2017.
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Services
The types of services I offer are very much tailored to your current life and where you are in relation to cancer and its treatments.
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Hearing the word “cancer” can and usually is an overwhelming and often frightening experience. It is a time of uncertainty and often requires the ability to learn a new vocabulary and coping skills. Some guided assistance can be very helpful as you develop a treatment plan.
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As primary treatment ends, contact with the medical team decreases. This can be a time when new worries arise such as “fear of recurrence.” It is a time that people often look to change their lives or find a “new normal.” It is a prime opportunity for psychological growth. I hope to provide a safe place to explore your needs and experiences to make re-entry into day-to-day life with confidence and a plan.
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The same coping strategies may not work during a time of a recurrence or when you find out that your disease has progressed. Different worries arise and this is often a time when patients and families need more support, guidance and a place to safely consider priorities and choices.
Knowing a wide range of choices and flexible and diverse coping strategies helps prepare you for the unknown ahead.
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Cancer has the possibility of helping individuals envision the possibility of change. These changes can be in work, relationships, or priorities in life as examples. Not everyone experiences this. One common experience is that people seek a different source of meaning in their lives. Having a place to explore this is beneficial and often life altering.
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Cancer is a family disease. It affects everyone around you. Partners and friends may react differently.
The diagnosis brings changes and with change comes both uncertainty, loss and grief for the way things used to be.
Those most important to the individual diagnosed with cancer may need their own private space to process their experiences and emotions.
Sometimes families need a place to work through their concerns. the challenges they are facing, and the changes together.
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As cancer progresses, a primary concern, often neglected, is what kind of care might you want as your ability to care for your self diminished.
Do you want to avoid suffering?
Have you ever thought about end of life?
Have you watched someone go through this and has this shaped your feelings about what you want?
Do you have an advance directive that has been updated to reflect your wishes?
What are your most important remaining goals?
Would you consider using the California End of Life Option Action and do you know what it is?
I have decades of experience in this area and can speak openly and assist with making choices that are right for you.
This is an important area to spend some time thinking about and deciding what actions are best for you.
There are many proactive steps you can take to give yourself more control and to know how to educate your medical team about your goals.
Developing legacies for the treasure trove of knowledge and experience you have to pass on to loved ones can help create meaning.
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With cancer or any change in health status comes loss. Grief can come from the losses or changes of moving from having no diagnosis to a new diagnosis. Grief is part of facing the ways life may change whether permanently or temporarily. Grief can come from the loss of someone you love. No matter the event or stage that you are, grief is a common experience and having time and a space to explore that with the range of feelings and challenges is important for well-being. Grief can co-exist with may other feelings. I value the process of understanding grief, the physiological and emotional aspects of it and finding your best ways of living with and through it. Grief is not uniform and does not fit into one period of time. It evolves, has triggers and is re-experienced through the life cycle.
Contact
I am a licensed psychologist who assists individuals and families touched by cancer and its treatment.
dr.anne.coscarelli@gmail.com