Leever Offers "Building Your Self-Care Toolbox" Program
Posted on
When you're dealing with cancer treatment, it's easy to let stress take over. To help patients cope with that stress, and as part of the Leever Cancer Center's dedication to providing comprehensive cancer support services to our patients and their families, we offer the "Building Your Self-Care Toolbox” program, a series of no-cost workshops for patients and caregivers.
The program is run by Diane Lafferty, a Certified Oncology Social Worker and a 28-year cancer survivor. In both principle and practice—through education and experience—Diane has come to understand what it means to face cancer and what tools and techniques can help patients and caregivers along the way.
Using things like meditation, breathing techniques, and journaling, Diane helps cancer patients decrease stress while increasing their coping skills.
“We’ve had a great response from attendees every single time,” says Diane, who has to date brought 12 workshops to Leever. “Those coming are motivated to learn something new. The energy is high at the end of every session; it is very, very exciting.”
Diane was part of the oncology team at MidState Medical for 13 years; she has been in private practice in Watertown for the past two. She worked with Leever’s staff social worker, Melissa Seres, as a member of Connecticut’s Social Work Oncology Group. The rest is history.
“I spoke at the Leever Cancer Center groundbreaking more than 15 years ago,” recalls Diane. “In 2016 Leever asked me to facilitate a self-care program. It feels like I have come full circle; I am beyond grateful for the opportunity to share my love of complementary therapies with the patients, caregivers, and community.”
Recognizing that each patient and caregiver is unique, Diane works to bring a wide range of programs, allowing each individual to fill their care and coping toolbox with therapies and techniques that feel right for them. Diane has conducted journaling, breathwork, and mandala workshops herself, while tapping highly qualified and uniquely experienced practitioners to deliver Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT), reflexology, meditation, art therapy, aromatherapy, yoga, exercise, and nutrition sessions.
“Diane has established and grown an important and meaningful program,” says Deborah Parkinson, Operations Manager at the Leever Cancer Center. “She is the constant thread, tying the program together. As a trained social worker, her finger is on the pulse of our patients’ needs. The response has been overwhelming and positive, with close to 40 people attending each session. Diane herself is a big part of the success of this program.”