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As a counselor and logotherapist (therapy of meaning) I have explored
with friends and clients how crises, in general, and cancer, in
particular, can offer not only danger but opportunity; perhaps even a
turning point, toward a healthier lifestyle, work that has meaning and
purpose, forgiveness and healing of relationships. The Chinese symbol
for "crisis" is a combination of "danger" and "opportunity." The
perspective that we focus on with cancer---danger or opportunity---can
significantly effect the immune system as well as our mental,
emotional and spiritual wellbeing.
More than anything else, I have been convinced that the
current response to cancer that only treats the body and ignores the
mind, heart and spirit is missing something very important. In
the Spring of '04 I had the opportunity to have long conversations
with about 20 people with cancer and nearly all of them talked to me
about the emotional and spiritual challenges of cancer as well as the
hard time that their family members were having. Over a period of 8 weeks,
I continued to get calls from people with cancer asking me if I could
help them.
Doctors are caring and compassionate professionals who have
committed years of their lives to helping people recover from
illnesses. They know, at a deep level, the fear and emotional
distress that typically comes with a diagnosis of cancer but are not in a
position to address it. Hospital social workers and nurses are
stretched so thinly, that they don't have the time to sit with each
cancer patient to explore how to create a response to cancer that can
be most healing on all levels---mind, heart, body and spirit.
Because the need is so great and the paid medical professionals are
not able to meet that need,
I have decided to launch the
Turning Point Cancer Center.
For most of us, life threatening diseases are the most
significant events in our lives. At the Turning
Point Cancer Center, we will support you in addressing the challenges
of cancer on all levels. We don't have "the answers" for you but
will help you find them within yourself. I bring to this work a
masters degree in counseling psychology and thirteen years of
experience in individual and group counseling. In addition to
having published several books and many articles, I served as
Executive Director of both the Family Peace Center and the Hawaii
Women's Business Center. I have committed my professional career
to helping people effectively address the challenges that are part of
the human experience.
I would consider it an honor to be part of your journey
at this significant moment in your life.
OUR PARTNERS
We are extremely
fortunate to have as our partners in this effort, the Hawaii Center for
Attitudinal Healing, a group of highly committed, skilled and
compassionate individuals. The concept of Attitudinal Healing was first
developed by Gerald Jampolsky, MD and his wife,
Diane Cirincione, PhD. in 1975.
At
the heart of attitudinal healing is the premise that every person possesses an
essential quality of being that is constructive, creative, peaceful and whole
and that it is possible to access this quality at any moment through our
conscious choice to do so. Attitudinal Healing is acclaimed as one of
the pioneering programs in the psychological response to crisis, illness and
dying. Trish Ellis, is the executive director of the Hawaii Center for
Attitudinal Healing.
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