Introductionby Steven Warren - former psychologist, counsellor
and psychotherapist introduces his overview of the day which he
created back in 1989 entitled 'The Power of Caring.' Nearly twenty
five years have passed since the day where, after having met two
extraordinary people, I decided to create an opportunity for doctors,
nursing staff, psychologists, patients and those working in the
caring professions to share the story of Don and Anna's journey
of Don recovering from a terminal cancer diagnosis.
I examine the
key factors which result from the power of caring beginning with
our often unmet need to care for ourselves. Don focuses on the often
painful but illuminating process which he went through with the
support of his wife Anna to reach a point where he could begin to
go beyond the 'death sentence' he had received and progress to believing
that he could heal from his diagnosis.
[1
] Don and Anna Factor discuss the key phases after diagnosis of
his 'terminal cancer' and decisions on treatment. The experience
as the power of caring unfolded in their lives together and within
their own personal realisation. Both Don and Anna talk openly and
candidly and share with the audience key understandings and insights
which are as true today in 2013 as when this seminar was created.
We hear from
Anna as she explored a powerful journey within herself for as she
said "The primary issue that I realised when Don was sick without
knowing quite how sick was that whatever method he chose for healing
he needed support with it and needed to trust himself that he had
a clue what was going on and what was the best for him and we talked
a great deal about what he might do'
For Don, as
he says, "The one thought that I have come away with from this
whole experience is a deep conviction of how the psychological come
spiritual side of serious illness and in my case cancer is far far
more important than is usually credited. It is not just causally
but in terms of the cure. I realised along the way that the cancer,
whatever cancer actually is, probably arises for a whole variety
of reasons. Some of them are genetic and a lot of them have to do
with the environment'
Near the end
of this first morning session there were both questions as well
as members of the audience endorsing what Don and Anna had shared
with us in terms of the 'patient' being given respect and the right
sort of care to enable them to satisfactorily progress through the
various key elements of their psychological and emotional response
to diagnosis and thoughts towards how their medical condition would
progress in the future.
[
2] Don and Anna discuss with Steve and the audience
composed of hospital consultants, GP's, psychologists, AIDs and
cancer patients as well as hospital and hospice care nurses and
holistic practitioners how the key factors discovered in Don's return
to health can be applied through the power of caring.
From the first
session we shared some of the conversations we had been able to
explore with members of the audience during the tea and coffee break.
In our final session we wanted to take the audience through the
key factors which had been explored in the first session and demonstrate
how these expanded during the stage of recovery.
Don clearly
expressed how what had been an academic study of psychology and
the spiritual in his life before his diagnosis now became a heart
felt understanding at every level of his being and that in some
way he realised how a cancer diagnosis was for him the only turn
key of sufficient power to enable him to move to the next stage
of his life. He explored firstly his new found relationship with
self and how this impacted on his relationship with his wife Anna
and then to all the people who were important in his life. However,
the emphasis had to be on his relationship with self and subsequent
self expression from such a new found perspective.
[
3 ] Gill Edwards who was then a Clinical Psychologist and went on
to become a successful author and Steven initially
invited her to talk about the scientific research supporting the
experiences of both Don and Anna as well as patients of Dr Contreras.
However, Gill expanded on the medical and scientific viewpoints
to rapidly include her work in the holistic field.
[
4 ]Ruth Sewell MacmillianFoundation nurse tutor specialising in
cancer management and care introduced the key elements to rehabilitate
and maximise a persons potential as a result of illness and adjust
to their changed identify and status.
Ruth presented four main factors required by someone
when they are ill which are 1- their power of choice which fulfills
emotional needs and involves the power to make decisions, express
who they are as an individual and choice over the life during this
time period to express and demonstrate their abilities. 2 - Love
for the person with an illness to still be able to freely give and
receive love as well as warmth and affection along with appreciation
and support. 3 - Control, to be able to exercise control in their
lives at all levels which means feeling able to express what they
do and not want and to see that people respect their wishes by fulfilling
such wishes. So C A R E is seens as Communicatin Alliance
R releasing a persons resources Empowerment.
In conclusion
if these factors are not fulfilled in caring then Fear and Stress
result which has been shown to compromise our natural healing and
ultimately influencing both the treatment given in terms of success
and eventual outcome.
Conclusions
with Steven Warren where, nearly twenty five years on from the seminar
he created he examines what advances in integrating
the key elements of connection with true self have achieved for
mainstream medicine as well as, and more importantly, we as individuals
for remaining in good health or for those recovery from or dealing
with physical and emotional illness.
Steven Warren's
reflections and conclusions in terms of what we as individuals have
created and what we will create for the future in terms of maintaining
our own health and how we deal with both physical and psychlogical
factors.
Download
- Steven Warren reflections and conclusions MP3 Version
(opens in a separate window) minutes duration.
Summary
with Steven Warren (Recording in process and will be released
along side the audio book early March 2013) Please join our mailing
list to be update on publications by simply sending an email to
news@thepowerofcaring.co.uk
In
1989 Steven
Warren, author and speaker, met two extraordinary
people with an equally extraordinary story of how their courage
and love had overcome Dons terminal illness. After spending much
time with them exploring their experiences I asked if they would
be the main speakers at a seminar I would create.
Steven
had worked for over seven years at this time with people who were
dying, those who were bereaved and others facing both chronic as
well as life threatening illness. Such work had shown Steven how
the Power of Caring was the crucial factor in helping people to
both recover from, cope with and in many cases prolong their lives.
Modern
medicine contributed to their care but Steve had witnessed another
important factor at work, the power stemming from a crisis in their
lives to connect with their true self.
At
this time modern scientific research was beginning to confirm what
had been known from old wives stories, that the human mind and heart
played an important role in releasing the individuals own healing
potential but only as long as that individual was given the right
circumstance, support, encouragement, care and love. read more
Steven
Warren www.stevenwarren.co.uk
is the author of this and a whole series of books and published
recordings focusing on the simple fact that we have all of the answers
if only we quieten our conscious mind and its chatter, misdirection
and obvious confusion.
Written
in 2005 but only now published in 2013 the title of this book The
Power of Caring stemed from a one day seminar which Steven created
in 1989 for healthcare professionals as well as cancer and AID's
patients. The day focused around the remarkable story of Don and
Anna Factor. We explored the journey that husband and wife had made
after Don's 'Terminal' cancer diagnosis and his remarkable journey
of recovery to full health which he and his wife Anna had journeyed
upon. The key discovery between them was the power of caring for
each other and for themselves. read more
The
Power of Caring and Your Field of Perception was the second title
and then I decided to return to the original manuscript which was
created in 2005. Perhaps there are titles for other
books which will stem from The Power of Caring but, for a whole
host of reasons, the original stands in all of its simple and yet
powerful glory.. We have created this site especially to highlight
both the book and future forthcoming books by both Steven and associated
authors. But, before you buy, why not read some of the book as you
would when you visit your local bookstore but here on line by following
this link to the excerpts page.
You
can follow and participate in the world of Steven Warren by connecting
to the following links through
Donald
Factor, former patient at the Oasis of Hope Hospital in Tijuana,
Mexico an Alternative Cancer Treatment Center. Oasis of Hope specializes
at combining conventional cancer therapies with alternative cancer
treatments to improve the quality of life of patients.
Donald
Factor, famed son cosmetics giant Max factor, went to the Oasis
of Hope hospital after being told he only had 4 months to live.
"After the initial treatment and about a year of home therapy.
I was totally clear of any sign of cancer. Although I will probably
never know if any one part of my experience was the actual key to
my recovery, I am convinced that it was most likely all of it --
everything, physical, emotional, and spiritual.
To
explore what Oasis of Hope Hospital has to offer please follow this
link :