I am one of the roughly two dozen counseling providers with Unite for HER Research shows again and again that the biggest factor in successful therapy is how well you click with your therapist We have a network of therapists who are experienced in working with women who have breast and ID: 930625
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Slide1
Virtual Wellness Day
Slide2Introduction
I am one of the roughly two dozen counseling providers with Unite for HER.
Research shows again and again that the biggest factor in successful therapy is how well you click with your therapist.
We have a network of therapists who are experienced in working with women who have breast and
Gyn
cancers.
Counseling is one of the modalities you can access with your passport.
Counseling is one of the modalities you can take advantage of during lockdown.
Slide3Goals
Understand the benefits of mental health counseling for people with breast and
gyn
cancer diagnoses
Understand some physiology of stress
Learn some practical self-soothing techniques you can use right
away
Meditation resources: Weekly
UFH meditation on
Facebook
, Wednesdays at 12:15
Mondays 12:15 and Fridays 9:15 on my
Transformative Therapy
Facebook
page
For all, you can call in: 515-604-9056, access code 785791
Slide4Types of Clinicians
MD: psychiatrist. Mostly prescribing/managing medications. (NP’s are getting into the field now as well, and blend meds and counseling.)
PsyD
/PhD: Doctoral level clinicians with research background. Do not prescribe medication.
LCSW: Masters degree in social work with licensure to practice therapy.
LPC: Masters degree in counseling/clinical psychology with licensure to practice therapy.
Licensed by state.
Some insurance will cover therapy; some will reimburse for out-of-network therapy.
Slide5Benefits of Counseling
Slide6Counseling at Different Stages
Counseling can be helpful during the different stages of cancer diagnosis and treatment:
new diagnosis
active treatment
survivorship
metastases/recurrence
Slide7Impact of Cancer on Emotions
Adjusting
to cancer: Rates of distress among people with breast cancer: 42%
A process in which the patient tries to manage emotional distress, solve specific cancer-related problems, and gain mastery of or control over cancer-related life events (1).
Depression
: Rates of depression among women being treated for breast cancer: 25% - 69% (2).
Anxiety
: Rates of anxiety among women with breast cancer: Up to 45% (2).
PTSD
: Many women develop symptoms of PTSD
https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/coping/feelings/anxiety-distress-hp-pdq
Depression and anxiety in women with breast cancer:
Slide8Post-Traumatic Growth
Slide9Counseling and Post-Traumatic Growth
Counseling allows us to
Process our emotions
Cope with feelings of overwhelm
Adjust to life with cancer
Manage feelings of depression and anxiety
Deal with side effects of treatment
Discuss personal issues related to
Sexuality
Spirituality
Relationships
Explore
meaning
Develop a sense of
efficacy
Slide10Mind-Body Benefits of Counseling
A 2011 study of 125 women with metastatic breast cancer found those whose depression decreased in the first year after diagnosis had longer survival (1)
A 2008 study of 227 women with breast cancer (2) who received group counseling to
Decrease Stress
Improve Mood
Support with Lifestyle Changes
Maintain Treatment and Care
Results: treatment group had 45% lower risk of recurrence and 56% lower mortality rate
(1)Decrease in depression symptoms leads to longer survival rates in women with metastatic breast cancer
(2)
Psychologic
intervention improves survival for breast cancer patients: A randomized controlled trial
Slide11Physiology of Mood
Some Science
Slide12Polyvagal Theory
The
vagus
nerve is the “wanderer”, leading from your brain throughout your viscera
The upper portion of the
vagus
nerve is associated with the relaxation “parasympathetic” nervous system
The lower portion is associated with the stressed “sympathetic” nervous system
Steven
Porges
, father of
Polyvagal
Theory, postulates that we have a third part of the nervous system which depends on social interaction ― we co-regulate through social interaction
During Covid-19 lockdown, we are missing a huge factor in human emotional regulationHow can we soften the blow?
Slide13Your Brain on Stress
Anxiety: Less connection between
amygdala
, responsible for visceral emotion, and anterior
cingulate
gyrus
, which is, in part, responsible for emotion regulation
Therapy might reconnect the two brain regions
I have a feeling! I don’t like it!! I don’t want to feel it!!
I have a feeling, I can manage it…
Slide14Your Brain and Depression
Slide15Cancer Treatment and Depression
Certain treatments seem to increase depression risk:
Chemotherapy, “chemo brain”
Hormonal therapies
Removal/shutdown of ovaries
Some pain medications, especially opiates
https://www.breastcancer.org/treatment/side_effects/depression
Slide16Other Risk Factors
Trauma: A history of traumatic incidents that have not been effectively resolved leave us more likely to develop more symptoms of stress and distress when new stressors occur
“Big T” and “little t” traumas
ACES: Research shows that adverse childhood experiences can lead to an increase in the development of a host of problems, including cancer, later in life
How do we maximize the possibility of PT growth?
Slide17A Paradigm Shift?
The “New Wave”
Slide18Slide19Bach,
D.,Groesbeck
, G., Stapleton, P., Baton, S.,
Blickheuser
, K., & Church, D. (2018)
Journal of Evidence Based Integrative Medicine
Physiological & Psychological Effects of EFT
Slide20Physiological & Psychological Effects of Meditation/Mindfulness
Slide21Self-care
The most important gift you can give yourself
Slide22Slide23What else can we do?
Schedule time for self-care every day; even small changes make a big difference
Make taking care of yourself a priority
Recognize and accept your emotions
Delegate (at work and at home
)
Accept assistance; learn to say yes
Set boundaries; learn to say no
Slide24Heart Breathing
HeartMath
Institute’s Quick Coherence Technique
Close eyes, turn attention inward
Focus on middle of chest; imagine breathing from heart
Slow down rate of breathing: 4-5 seconds in, 4-5 seconds out
Send thoughts of gratitude, compassion, appreciation to someone or something
In 3-5 minutes, you’ll have
Slowed heart rate, lower blood pressure
Increased blood flow to chest area
Slowed brain waves from high beta to alpha/theta
Increased HRV
https://www.heartmath.com/quick-coherence-technique/
Slide25Tools for Resilience
Source:
R4R.Support