The
Power of Caring in Health and Healing
When
I met with Don and Anna through a mutual friend, Wendy Mason, in
1988 at their home here in England we sat and talked in the garden
whilst we drank tea. Wendy knew of my work with both the dying and
those facing potentially life threatening illness. I had started
working in primary care as a counsellor at the beginning of the
1980's and, as a result of meeting Don and Anna they were able to
consolidate the observations I had made in my clinical practice
from their own heart warming experience of the power of caring in
their lives as a result of Don's terminal cancer diagnosis.
There
were many lessons which were explored and as the seminar progressed
I was able to share my own clinical experience in psychotherapy
and counselling with individuals, family members and friends growing
awareness of another powerful and yet essential growing awareness.
Don
and Anna had discovered that they needed to find who they really
were and what they really wanted both from their own lives as well
as the life that they 'shared' together in their marriage. That
Don's health and recovery from illness was not just the doctor and
medical teams responsibility and that in journeying through recovery
both Don and Anna recognised the power of their caring for themselves
and others if only we connect with our True Self.
For
me there was an affirmation in exploring with Don and Anna their
own personal journey. I had made similar journeys both with the
clients I had been working with since 1980 as well as the journey
I had progressed with my partner when they were diagnosed with lung
cancer a year before and their death some four months after such
a diagnosis.
Now,
in 2013, as I prepare to release the seminar content I reflect back
over what is nearly 25 years or working at the next stage which
we all focused on when we gathered for The Power of Caring in May
1989. As with most 'truths' the core concepts remain and in the
last twenty five years more doctors, healthcare practitioners as
well as patients and their families know about the power of emotion
and subsequent thoughts on both remaining healthy as well as recovery
from illness.
With
the publication of the book imminent I and my colleagues have decided
to offer a series of Power of Caring Seminars which will focus on
all aspects of our lives, beginning with Health and Healing and
moving towards The Power of Caring in Love and Relationships.
As
one colleague Dr Sewell said to me 'Steven, you were twenty five
years in advance. So now time to recreate what you so skillfully
created back in 1989 to share with people once again.'
25th February 2013. Steven Warren.
(c)
Steven Warren 2013. All rights reserved. The Moral Rights of the
Author Are Asserted.

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True
Self. Exploring, Understanding and Expressing by Steven Warren
Coming soon in the next few days. Monday 25th February
2013.
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Self
Management and Self Care by Ruth Sewell
The nature of my work involves
me intimately in the lives of others as they seek to find solutions
and new awareness and, ideally, to return to a state of wholeness
and healing. My professional work is in health care, and since the
1980's I have been a teacher, psychotherapist, and clinical and
academic supervisor in the field of integrated cancer and palliative
care.
Around the world a growing number
of people are working with the labyrinth, an ancient artifact which
is fulfilling a renewed role in today's world. The ultimate aim
is to help participants find effective ways to reduce levels of
stress, and to explore and develop a daily practice of applying
self-help approaches which are capable of helping them to improve
their quality of life and well-being.
'Finding quiet space in modern
living is challenging, but finding my own quiet space within a labyrinth
was an experience to be treasured'. (Teacher)
'I believe labyrinths have
applications for us in medicine for both doctors and patients as
we all need and benefit from the space that this offers.' (Senior
palliative care physician)
This book offers ideas and examples
of labyrinths in use in various situations: arts, community and
social settings; schools, collages and universities; a hospice,
and a secure hospital; counselling, psychotherapy and well-being;
churches, retreats and interfaith contexts.
We hope you will find Working
with the Labyrinth a book to browse and return to, as source
of ideas and inspiration ... We'd like to encourage readers to explore
settings and contexts very different from their own, where labyrinth
initiatives may offer surprising connections and possibilities.
We are delighted to have
gathered contributions from such diverse enthusiasts, and hope that
this book will serve as a helpful resource for anyone who - new
to labyrinths, or expert - is looking for fresh ideas and ways forward
tin introducing, creating and working with labyrinths.
Working
with the Labyrinth - Paths for Exploration. Ruth Sewell, Jan sellers
and Di Williams ISBN 978-1-84952-246-5 www.ionabooks.com
About Ruth Sewell, Ph.D.
Ruth works as a psychotherapist, Autogenic training therapist, and
lecturer in integrated palliative care and spirituality offering
clinical and academic supervision. Ruth is known for her interest
in supporting professionals in their own 'self-care' activities
and she lectures and runs workshops on the prevention of occupational
burnout and compassion fatigue on a national and international basis.
Ruth is a long-standing member of the editorial board for the journal
Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice. Her work as a psychotherapist
focuses on supporting those whose lives are affected by cancer and
those living with chronic illness; her doctoral thesis is concerned
with the experiences of women during and following breast cancer.
http://www.ruthsewell.co.uk
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(c)
Steven Warren 1989 - 2013. All rights reserved. webmaster@thepowerofcaring.co.uk
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