As a spiritual counsellor, I support hundreds of patients and families at a major cancer center. I’ve also survived cancer four times, and had a near-death experience. This has left me profoundly grateful for my life, with a deep sense of purpose in supporting others in their spiritual journey. I know what it’s like to have cancer from both sides of the hospital bed, and have a sense of this life from both sides of the veil.
Over the past 25 years I have presented at more than 500 events. I speak and write on the most challenging topics: suffering and meaning, grief and hope, death and dying, the nature of consciousness and our connection to God through love. These are powerful explorations for everyone – and for health care professionals, patients and families in particular. My forthcoming book, Beyond Surviving: Cancer and Your Spiritual Journey, explores how spirituality can engage the crisis of cancer to evolve our consciousness in love, improving our survival and preparing us for our ultimate transformation.
I’m really interested not only in the impact my presentation will make, but supporting the momentum instilled in your audience with quality follow-through and resources. So here’s what you can expect:
The Spiritual Journey Spirituality is distinct from religion. It is reflected not so much in what one believes as it is in the quality of one’s love. Explore how the universal journey is uniquely expressed through each of us, how we are spiritual beings having a physical experience, and the role suffering and compassion play in evolving us towards our best selves.
Mindfulness The quality of your presence with yourself determines the quality of your encounter with another. This presentation explores the challenge of deep presence and the gift of becoming the love we’re looking for. Nuances in mindfulness, meditation and prayer are explored.
Compassion Fatigue Self-care is critical in maintaining vitality and depth in our practice of care of others. Learn in this presentation to recognize supportive and maladaptive coping strategies in the face of suffering, how to bring closure and honour those we care for through rituals, and deepen our own humanity as we witness those who help us prepare for our own eventual death and transformation.
Near Death Experiences – Hope, Hypoxia and Hypotheses Many patients report mystical experiences near end-of-life, which they hesitate to share for fear of judgment, dismiss as hallucination, or side effects of narcotics. The nature and frequency of these experiences are explored against medical and non-medical explanations. A supportive response from caregivers is reviewed that will help integrate these life-changing events.
The Energetic Anatomy While we have a physical anatomy, we also have an energetic anatomy. Recent developments in technology now allow us to analyze its interface with the body and how it is modulated through consciousness. The history, theory, research and effects of energy healing are explored with clinical examples from cancer care.
The Wisdom of Grief Grief is the price we pay for love, a necessary wilderness of the soul. Handled well, we emerge both vulnerable and strong. Unresolved, it cripples the heart and soul. Experience in this presentation the gateway of grief to a larger life, a deeper humanity, through integrating the unfinished love stories of our lives.
Unpacking for the Journey Death is the most undesired event in life, yet one required for our transformation. This presentation explores how practical and spiritual preparation helps on face mortality. End-of-life planning is explored along with steps that heal the heart and connect with hope.
Date |
Topic |
Sponsor |
| 28/03-02/04/2017 | Cancer Transitions: Moving Beyond Treatment | Canadian Cancer Society |
| 02/05/2017 | The Wisdom of Grief | Canadian Association of Psychosocial Oncology Conference, Vancouver |
| 13/05/2017 | Panel Member on Medical Assistance in Dying | Canadian Society of Respiratory Therapist Convention, Halifax |
| 28/05/2017 | Beyond Surviving: Stories of transformation | Atlantic Therapeutic Touch Conference, Halifax |
| 02/08/2017 | Spiritual Care of Near Death Experiencers in a Hospital Setting | International Association for Near Death Studies Conference, Westminster, Colorado |
| 17/09-23/09/2017 | Inscape: Imagining, Dreaming, Creating | With Freeman Patterson, St. Martins, NB |
| 13/10-15/10//2017 | Energy Healing in Cancer Care | Therapeutic touch Network of Ontario Conference, Barrie ON |
| 15/10-22/10//2017 | Beyond Surviving Book Tour | Greater Toronto Area |