‘Coping with an MDS Diagnosis’ – Presentation by Senior Psychotherapist Surabhi Chaturvedi
10 Dec. 2025In this presentation, 'Coping with an MDS diagnosis', lead Psychotherapist Surabhi Chaturvedi from the haematology department at King’s College Hospital, London, discusses the emotional challenges of an MDS diagnosis and offers practical, evidence-based coping strategies for patients, families & carers.
Watch the presentation
This session was recorded for MDS UK Patient Support Group - November 2025.
About Surabhi Chaturvedi
Surabhi Chaturvedi is the senior psychotherapist and service lead for the Haemato-Oncology psychological support team at King’s College Hospital. An integrative psychotherapist with a background in clinical psychology, she leads a team of psychological therapists within the hospital’s Haematology, Stem Cell Transplant, and Cellular Therapies unit, providing specialist psychological support to patients and families affected by blood cancers and bone marrow failure, and delivering training on the psychological care of Haematology patients.
Resources & services - where to get help
Support from MDS UK
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Support Line: Contact us for support - 020 7733 7558
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Support Meetings: Join regular virtual meetings, ask questions & connect with others
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Patient stories & resources: read real experiences from others
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Apps, websites & services
Surahbi mentioned various resources that can support you and we've added some too.
Services
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NHS Talking therapies offers free, self-referrable mental health support for anyone struggling with anxiety, depression, or everyday emotional difficulties.
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Maggie's offers free, compassionate cancer support both in person and online, providing a welcoming space to talk, seek guidance, and feel understood.
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Apps
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Calm An app to help you manage stress and anxiety, get better sleep, and feel more present in your life.
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Headspace An app to offering evidence-based meditation and mindfulness tools, to help you create life-changing habits to support your mental health.
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Web articles
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Julia Samuel: Grieving a living loss: navigating life after a health diagnosis An exploration of “living loss” and how a life-changing health diagnosis reshapes identity, emotions, and the path forward.
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Blood cancer: Supporting body and mind by Surabhi Chaturvedi A piece by Surabhi about the importance of supporting people’s mental wellbeing throughout the course of their illness.
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Books / Audio guides
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Jon Kabat-Zinn - Full Catastrophe Living -Jon Kabat-Zinn’s Full Catastrophe Living is a classic guide to mindfulness-based stress reduction, offering practical ways to use mindfulness to cope with stress, pain, and illness. Kabat-Zinn, the founder of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), draws on his background in integrative medicine and his decades of experience in meditation and healthcare to show how mind–body practices can support healing. This seminal book is also available as an audiobook.
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Jon Kabat-Zinn – Guided Mindfulness Meditation CDs on Audible Audio practices that guide you through foundational mindfulness meditations developed as part of MBSR.
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Jon Kabat-Zinn - website. Resources, teachings, and talks from the creator of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, offering insight into mindfulness and healing.
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Further information and resources from MDS UK
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You can download our comprehensive MDS Patient Guide for clear, reliable information about living with MDS and understanding your diagnosis.
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You don’t have to face MDS alone — explore our Support section for practical advice and emotional support via our support line and virtual meetings.
