The Healing Journey

The Healing Journey: Incorporating psychological and spiritual dimensions into the care of cancer patients Alastair Cunningham Ontario Cancer Institute www.healingjourney.ca Published by Current Oncology and the Cancer Knowledge Network © 2011 Multimed Inc .

Why we suffer ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]

Healing: the relief of suffering. Approaches: ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]

Healing (relieving suffering) through therapy at the level of mind ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]

Healing from within, or self-healing, is something we can learn ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]

Understanding and changing thoughts (judgment, guilt) Do nothing Support: comforting; emotional expression, problem solving Healthy lifestyle: diet, exercise, basic coping skills, (relaxation, imagery, thought monitoring, goal setting) Spiritual search : discovering the Self Self healing: a progressive, educational process Published by Current Oncology and the Cancer Knowledge Network © 2011 Multimed Inc .

Who should be offered psychological therapy for relief of suffering? Everyone? ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]

Is it too expensive? ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]

How professionals often disempower patients ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]

Modes of psychological intervention for cancer patients Nature of intervention Activity required Benefits Information (re disease, treatment) Listening; internet searching Greater sense of control. Sometimes more anxiety Support Sharing feelings Comfort; QoL improved. No effect on average lifespan Learning coping skills (HJ I + II) Active cognitive and behavioural change, e.g. relaxation, meditation, exercise Greater improvement in QoL than with support alone (anxiety, depression, physical symptoms). Adjunctive psychological therapy (HJ III + IV) Examining and changing habits of thought; introduction to spiritual work. Less judgment, guilt, projection. Peace of mind Poss prolongation of life. Spiritual search (HJ IV + V) Study spiritual texts. Meditation, prayer, discussion. Dropping preconceptions about reality. Discovering meaning, “Self”. Peace, acceptance. Poss further prolongation of life?

The Healing Journey: (25 years in Toronto) Alastair Cunningham Claire Edmonds Jan Ferguson (coordinator) Cathy Phillips Judy Gould Kim Watson Joanne Stephen Wellspring team www.healingjourney.ca Published by Current Oncology and the Cancer Knowledge Network © 2011 Multimed Inc .

The Healing Journey Program PMH and Wellspring Stage “ Coping with Cancer Stress” (4 weekly sessions) Large groups – lecture style “ Skills for healing” (8 weekly sessions) Mixture of didactic sessions and support groups “ Steps to spiritual healing” (8 weekly sessions) Mixture of didactic sessions and written home assignments I II III IV V “ Recovering Authenticity” Small group work, or home study “ Graduate discussion group” (no time limit) C O R E Graduate discussion group (ACIM) Published by Current Oncology and the Cancer Knowledge Network © 2011 Multimed Inc . “ Spiritual aspects of healing” Group study of “A Course in Miracles” (ACIM)

HJ level I large groups : 4 weekly sessions, lecture style. (if small groups : conventional discussion in circle) ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]

HJ level II large groups: didactic work, followed by: small groups: discussion of techniques and feelings ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]

Quote on effects of relaxation ,[object Object]

Thought management ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]

Mental imagery ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]

Spirituality: the search for ultimate meaning ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]

Importance of the spiritual/existential dimension to many cancer patients ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]

Introducing spirituality to patients through a program teaching self healing. ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]

Introducing spirituality to patients through a program teaching self healing (contd) ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]

HJ Level III: Diminishing obstacles to spiritual experience ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]

Background to Level IV: research on “remarkable survivors ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]

Results of interview study: Properties of good “self-healers ” ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]

Level IV of the Healing Journey ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]

Selecting a spiritual system suitable for use in level V, and in health psychology generally. ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]

Level V of the Healing Journey ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]

Research on psychological help for improving quality of life, and possibly length of life, in cancer patients: Results with the Healing Journey

Clinical trials (verification) approach – main limitations ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]

“ Allostatic load” (strain on all systems) Predisposition to disease Disease develops Recovery of health Diminished allostatic load No change: Illness progresses Childhood: Distorted adaptation, e.g. defensive, repressed. (“inauthentic self”) Healthier adaptation (authenticity, autonomy, Acceptance) Psychological change Published by Current Oncology and the Cancer Knowledge Network © 2011 Multimed Inc .

Research currently needed on impact of psychotherapy on survival ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]

Why is healing through the mind undervalued? ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]

Summary ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]

Summary (contd) ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]

The Healing Journey

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The Healing Journey

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