There is considerable evidence to suggest that cancer patients, including those with advanced disease, experience significant and long-term psychosocial problems. Work using group cognitive behavioural therapy with cancer patients has recently demonstrated a way in which it may be possible to treat emotionally distressed individuals effectively. This article reviews the literature on group cognitive behavioural psychotherapy and discusses for practitioners of all disciplines the important techniques, the value of time-limited interventions, the type of patients who may benefit, and where and how to facilitate successful interventions. Health workers with an interest in the emotional care of patients are thus provided with some understanding of the value that group cognitive behavioural psychotherapy may hold for them.