Art therapy:

Our art therapy class incorporates art interventions designed to help participants manage stress, build community, and learn coping strategies through the art-making process. The instructor, Kayleen Roberts, is Master's student at Wayne State University studying Counseling and Art Therapy and currently completing her clinical internship for graduation. Her therapeutic approach is humanistic and person-centered in which she strives to meet clients as they are and where they are when they come to therapy. She has broad experience working with all ages, individually and in groups, as well as with those with Autism Spectrum Disorder and pediatric neuro- rehabilitation populations. She believes in the healing power of art and art-making and that it can be used to assist clients in meeting their goals, empowering self-growth, and building connections.

chair yoga:

with Katherine Schaefer

Chair Yoga is a practice adapted for those who may have physical limitations that make it difficult to get up and down off of the floor. The focus of the class is to gain strength, mobility, ease of movement, and includes breathing and meditation to help calm the mind. Most of the class is done seated in a chair with a few standing and balancing poses incorporated for a well rounded experience. Katherine began practicing yoga in 1993, began teaching yoga in 1996, graduated from massage school in 1997 and became a Reiki Master in 1998.  Katherine’s teaching shifted towards yoga therapy in 2002 and has been influenced by many yoga teachers, body workers, anatomists, energy medicine specialists and creative movement educators. She guides her students compassionately towards wholeness and the never ending unfolding of human potential and awakening. Katherine’s commitment to honoring the spirit of Yoga while integrating contemporary knowledge in the field of somatics is a potent combination. Katherine has been teaching yoga and doing massage and Reiki therapy for patients and caregivers for Karmanos Cancer Institute since 2017. She has been teaching REACH Yoga for Cancer for The Yoga By Design Foundation since 2013. She also teaches privately for those affected by Polio, MS, auto accidents and other conditions. Over the years Katherine has volunteered her services for Hospice of Michigan for 8 years, Haven for 3 years as well as many other organizations. She has been a member in good standing of The Yoga Association of Greater Detroit since 1996. 

Death Cafe:

with Jessica Little & Dana querido

A Healing Arts Death Cafe is a directed discussion of death, that takes place over Zoom in both small and large groups. It is a safe place to share opinions and feelings on death, dying, and LIVING.

The concept of the Death Cafe was brought to us by Healing Arts participant Lara da Rocha Vaz Pato. Lara had attended virtual Death Cafes and thought it would be a beneficial addition to our Healing Arts Program. Lara’s assumption was correct as the Healing Arts’ Death Cafe is definitely a favorite on our calendar.

Jessica Little is a Limited Licensed Professional Counselor and Art Therapist in the state of Michigan, and is honored to serve as a facilitator for the Death Cafe. She works from a humanistic foundation, with the individual care and safety of each client in mind. Her practice consists of working with clients of all ages and backgrounds experiencing a variety of mental health concerns. Jessica aims to help individuals from all walks of life find wholeness through emotional and spiritual growth. She has been working closely with the ALK Positive community since November 2020, when she assisted in the development of the art therapy group as part of the Healing Arts initiative. It is an honor to continue to support this group of resilient individuals through facilitating a Death Cafe once per month. Her goal as the therapeutic facilitator is to foster an environment of safety and support as members open up about life, death, and cancer. This is a place to explore any and all existential and wellness concerns with others who are part of the ALK Positive community.

Dana Querido was diagnosed with NSCLC at stage 4A in November 2020. In Dana’s practice as a Physical Therapist, patients would frequently talk to her during sessions because they just needed to get it out but were afraid. Many times you can't talk to those closet to you about your wishes after death, feelings about hospice, memorials and other topics your friends and family don't want to face yet. Dana thinks having a safe space to be vulnerable when talking about and processing our situation is invaluable. Here you can get your thoughts together with the help of others who are or have been there that you can then speak to those you love from a better place. We meet as a larger group then split into small groups of 3-5 people to discuss the topic of the day or branch off into an area someone in the group needs. Let's talk about how to keep living our best lives. Hope to see you there. Remember talking about death won't kill you!

Explore with writing:

Founded by and in memory of
linda webb & sarah O’Conner

The simple act of expressing our thoughts and feelings about emotionally challenging experiences on paper is proven to improve our mental and physical health as well as our immune response. It was Linda Webb and Sarah O’Conner’s hope that by sharing our experiences through poems and prompts we can begin to heal our emotional well being as we live each day the very best way we can.

To request to join the class, email alktalk@alkpositive.org.

guided imagery:

with dana dell

As a Hypnotherapist, I use the technique of Guided Imagery to help enhance my client’s physical and emotional well being. This process produces deep relaxation and helps manage symptoms of depression, anxiety and pain. Join me as we use the power of our imaginations to help foster healing of the mind, body, and spirit. Dana is a Certified Hypnotherapist, Full Mesa Shaman, and an enrichment speialist in Guided Imagery for Jewish Hospice of Michigan. Prior to this work, Dana was a board member for Kids, Kicking Cancer.

Men’s Group:

with dan wilson & Marc Rosenzweig

This group offer’s a space for men diagnosed with ALK to discuss their concerns and relate with others. The sessions are hosted by Dan Wilson and Marc Rosenzweig. Dan was diagnosed in 2019 and Marc in 2014 and are well known in the ALK community.

Mindset Reset:

with heather smith

Heather was diagnosed with Stage IV ALK+ in May 2016. She was only 34 years old, newly married and dreamt of starting a family. Her life changed immediately: she was terminal, metastatic and would be lucky to survive 5 years. She didn't believe she'd see 12 months. Three years into her journey, she suffered severe disease progression. She woke up in a hospital bed and thought "I am not living my cancer life right. I am not living my life right" and she set out on a journey to change it. Since then, she has transformed her life from surviving cancer to a thriving life (with cancer). She ditched the sad cancer patient identity to embrace a big bold beautiful life. Today, she works as a cancer-life-coach and helps her clients transform in her signature program From Survivor to Thriver, a Cancer Life Redesign. She helps transform your thoughts, reignite your life's passion and learn to generate boundless energy, overcome fatigue and reset your mindset to think better, to feel better and to BE the best version of yourself so that you can live a kick-ass life.

yoga:

with hanka mosher

I'm so excited to be part of the ALKtALK Healing Arts program. I was diagnosed ALK Positive in April 2017. I was introduced to some of you at the 2020 ALK Summit. I've practiced Yoga for 30 years, and in 2015 I was accredited with my teaching certificate. Yoga has played such a big role in my everyday life. Yoga can help you develop the practice of "Breath" the art of breathing and movement. This practice can calm the mind and enforces the practice of "staying in the moment" I love to share Yoga with fellow ALK Positive members, so please zoom in on Tuesdays.