P.A.V.E.L. association offered from the first year of establishment a psycho-emotional support for children / young people with oncological diseases and their families in three hospitals with pediatric oncology and hematology departments: Marie Curie Children's Clinical Hospital, Fundeni Clinical Institute and the Oncological Institute “Prof. Dr. Al. Trestioreanu ” Bucharest. If in 2008, there were 120 child / youth beneficiaries of these services, so far their number has increased to about 600, at the present.

Due the difficult diagnosis, children and parents find themselves together in a critical situation that they can hardly manage. The children are isolated from the group of friends, they can no longer go to kindergarten or school, they feel pain, agitation and nervousness. Parents are affected at least to the same level. Psychological support is very important from the perspective of the response to treatment, supporting physical and emotional recovery and facilitating a positive attitude in accepting the changes caused by the disease. Being very well known the very close relationship between the child and the parent, we can say that any positive change observed in the parent will later spread to the child and vice versa.

The issues addressed during of psychological counseling sessions are: cognitive distortions; fears, self-doubt, insecurity; panic attack, anger; boredom, problematic relationships, relational conflicts (stubbornness, lack of communication); difficulty smiling and laughing; the formation of false beliefs (hasty conclusions, misinterpretation of situations); rejection of the rules and an established program; setting a time for relaxation and spending free time for relaxation; lack of responsibility and commitment; refusal of treatment or investigations; facing a difficult problem; poor diet in vegetables, fruits; depression, suicide risk; starting school in the context of the diagnosis and the covid pandemic; the need for testing before each hospitalization and fears about the possibility of infection and the need to stop treatment.

Objectives aimed following the psychological intervention in children:
• compliance with treatment, pain management, relaxation;
• developing the skills to identify and manage the main negative emotions responsible for the most common problematic behaviors of children: fear, anger, sadness, so present during hospitalization but also in everyday life;
• development of social skills: to initiate and maintain an interpersonal relationship; to share objects and resources for cooperation in group activities; the ability to negotiate and manage conflict, in order to prevent / reduce aggressive behaviors;
• building a complete self-image, with awareness of personal resources and challenges;
• they will learn to laugh, to smile;
• learn the benefits of rules and a daily schedule;
• will learn about respect for themselves and those around them;
• acquiring self-knowledge and building a positive self-image;
• acquiring the ability to relax; communication and interpersonal relationships; stress control; prevention of accidents and health risk behaviors; preventing negative attitudes towards self and life; improving family relationships - especially those with the accompanying parent; personal development; prevention of interpersonal conflicts, social maladaptation and crisis situations.

The psychological counseling helps people to manage and to respond to mixed emotions about life's challenges. Asking for help is also important when feelings affect your ability to cope with daily life. One can learn ways to cope with cancer diagnosis, better manage changes, depression, anxiety and treatment side effects such as pain and fatigue.