A diagnosis of cancer can change a person’s life in the blink of an eye.
And the feeling of helplessness that often accompanies it can remain even after recovery.
So how can we help people regain a sense of control over their lives after they’ve experienced cancer?
There’s actually a unique program aimed at helping cancer survivors take back their power.
The method? Mindfulness.
Check out the short 3 minute video below to hear more about this next frontier of mindfulness practice.
Over the past few weeks, we’ve shared a variety of stories from practitioners, each of which gave us a different view of the power of mindfulness to help people transform their lives.
Whether you’re working with college students, patients with bipolar disorder, or even with people in a prison setting, mindfulness practice can make a difference.
How have you integrated mindfulness into your work? Please write about your experience in the comments below.
Has this pratitioner experienced cancer herself?
Barbara DeSpain MSW LCSW, Clinical Social Work, St. Joseph, Missouri says: July 16, 2013 at 8:56 pm Barbara DeSpain, Clinical Social Work, St. Joseph, MO 64503 says: July 15, 2013 at 11:37 am I am 75, recovering from 2 bouts of cancer recurring and getting my energy back. I have not done formal work in awhile. My only income now ( I have not billed in a long time and thankfully so because my hospital bills became eligible for state assistance) is my small social security of 922 dollars per month. I have managed to keep my license but this is a challenge now because I have no money to pay to collect ceu’s and my license comes up for renewal in Sept. Are these educational seminars ceu eliigible? Also, do you scholarships? If you honestly are in the business of helping us, can you expand that beyond asking for money for the help? I am not alone here. Many practitioners in my community are suffering financially. I may be among the worst hit, but I feel I still have something to offer after 30 some off years in professional service. I have worked in homes throughout my career with abuse / neglect and trauma with hundreds if not thousands of clients and their families. I still see people gratis and they still call on me. I realize I have made many mistakes by giving away my time but I don’t feel it has been for naught. Can you help? Sincerely, Barbara DeSpain MSW LCSW
We are incorporating mindfulness into our programs at a community mental health clinic as part of an emotional regulation group treatment program for consumers who have a history of early life trauma. I have also been integrating mindfulness into my individual work with consumers who are experiencing other mental health symptoms including depression and anxiety. Our team has recently added a section on mindfulness into the mood management skills group and as a facilitator I have been bringing in various mindfulness practice exercises as part of the check-in or prior to check-out of groups. Many participants have embraced this addition and have shared some of their own practices with the group.
I am using it in my private practice and in the large metropolitan hospital I work in. At the hospital, I facilitate cancer survivor groups that focus on wellness techniques; mindfulness practice paired with music is a real power tool! I see group members affect brighten over weeks, give them music and narration CD’s to bring home and use 7 days a week. The practice really empowers them.
I joined a Zen Buddist group to learn how to meditate. It helped me through the entire journey,i.e. radiation through healing[emotionally and physically]. The mind is a powerful tool. Twelve years later,meditation is still apart of my cancer free life. I imagine it always will be.
I am interested to learn more about the power tools. I understand counting the breath is one of them. Do you ever use visualization and imagery. My mind responds best to that.
Francine, you would find various visualisation meditations in Tibetan Buddhism, not necessarily involved with the more “religious” stuff, but also meditations about compassion like TONG LEN which even non-Buddhists can do with great benefit. Good Luck
I like the breath counting idea. The 4-Square breathing does not work for my clients. I have used 25 breaths in Hypnotic work but not considered it as a Mindfulness Practice. I will try it. I have one client who has habits based on fear and I have tried EVERYTHING to help her let go of fear and become empowered. I will try breath counting.
Counselor Koraleski’s program sounds like a very constructive, deliberate set of tools. Is such programming widely available? Is something similar available to help patients immediately upon diagnosis to make choices based on an individual’s personal values and beliefs, rather than acting out of fear and acquiescing to possibly more-aggressive-than-necessary medical industry protocals?
Hi. I want to teach mindfulness to the public in my small Arkansas community. Does anyone know if there is a program already developed for this so I don’t have to reinvent the wheel? I took an eight week class long, long ago and of course find it invaluable, but I’m not sure how to start from scratch with a community unfamiliar with mindfulness. Suggestions? Recommendations? Thanks, Turner
I am a retired psychologist who pioneered the first MBSR program in a Minnesota hospital, beginning in 1984. You can access a complete, free set of the guiding audios I used in this program at my blog, along with brief instructions for a self-guiding course in MBSR.
With best wishes,
George Shears
I am a retired psychologist who pioneered the first MBSR program in a Minnesota hospital, beginning in 1994. You can access a complete, free set of the guiding audios I used in this program at my blog, along with brief instructions for a self-guiding course in MBSR.
With best wishes,
George Shears
Hi George, that is a great blog with lots of things to ponder, but I couldn’t find the progam you mentioned above. Where can I find that post? Or, what is the name of it so I can find it in your index? Thanks, Turner
I show anyone who will listen Boyteko Breath Work..
Even just Breathing in and out through the Nose ..lengthening the exhale ..is beneficial ..
The containment of the carbon dioxide internally has a myriad of benefits..rather than exhaling it out through the mouth .
In my private praxis I see clients suffering from cancer. Introducing mindfulness in combination with hypnosis is a new possibility to help patients. ‘Yapko’s book on mindfulness and hypnosis opened my interest.
I am very interested in this topic professionally and more importantly, personally. I am an Ovarian Cancer Survivor, completed treatment in December 2011. I am currently working at a family practice so I can focus on my survivorship and what I need to do for myself. I consider myself a resilient person, but am struggling with the fear of reoccurrence. I am fortunate the cancer was detected early, am feeling well physically. I have over 10 years of experience working in Oncology and that knowledge keeps my mind in a dark and scary place. I have seen all too much what those creepy cancer cells can do. Need I say more?
I would appreciate learning more about how mindfulness can help me.
Thanks,
D
Donna Wills. FYI. If a retreat appeals to you for women who have.had ovarian cancer, check out Camp Mak-A-Dream in Gold Creek, Montana.
Effective healing from disease includes self-healing and healing of life in general. Therefore, the period after the clinical disease is gone represents another important phase of healing, which often need to include the recovery from the disease as well as recovery from the treatment.
I used mindfulness, intuition and knowledge to carefully make choices for my treatment of colon and liver cancer. I took the path of self healing and life changes, with a very comprehensive holistic healing approach. I stayed away from the aggressive toxic treatment choices of poison, burn and cut. By taking charge of my own healing, I was empowered. I have no “recovery from treatment”. I have become strong in broken places and much more connected spiritually. My fears of relapse are minimal now that I understand how the body can heal itself and how to take care of myself. Mindfulness is an essential daily tool for me to maintain connections and stay healthy.
I like the whole idea of healing.from the disease, then healing from the treatment. My son in law, recently suffered from a traumatic brain injury and was in trauma ICU for 36 days. He is still healing from the ICU. Muscle wasting, dependecy on sedatives and pain meds, bed sore( that prevented him from being accepted into a good brain rehab) are some of the things he is recovering from before we can even tackle his brain injury and spirit. I also feel there needs to be healing from the fear, anxiety and blame that encircles a family and loved ones, during this kind of trauma, so that patient and loved ones can move on with healing from a place of love.
Dear Ruth,
Thank you for the recognition that people, after successful treatment for this disease are even after many years still ‘sleep-walking’ through life. As a therapist and post cancer sufferer, this truly resonates with me. I appreciate you highlighting this issue, however all that was really heard by me was to count the breathe – Are you considering doing anything else to draw attention to this neglected area of profound suffering that extends to all those around the individual.
Many thanks
B.