This program is being offered virtually through Zoom. In order to participate and receive the Zoom link, register by clicking the RSVP button above or by emailing programs@smithcenter.org.

You will receive the Zoom information no later than the morning of your program.

with Phebe Duff and Virginia Barnes Ricketts, MS, LCPC

offered in partnership with:

This presentation is designed to help cancer patients reduce suffering from the pain and stress associated with their illness. The presentation integrates mindfulness and psychoeducation. Both are evidence-based strategies for improving well-being and quality of life in patients experiencing pain. Participants will learn ways to cultivate a sense of peace in their lives while living with cancer.


About Phebe Duff

Phebe Duff is a long-time meditator and Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) facilitator. She completed the Community Dharma Leader program at Spirit Rock Meditation Center in Woodacre, CA and the Dharmacharya program offered by the Venerable Pannavati at Heartwood Refuge in Hendersonville, NC. Phebe has facilitated MBSR courses for a wide variety of populations since 2005. Since retiring after a 30+ year career in human resources and as a professional musician, Phebe has taught meditation and MBSR for Wellness House of Annapolis, a cancer support organization providing various kinds of emotional and other support services to people recently diagnosed with cancer or living
with cancer, family members and caregivers of cancer patients and people who have lost a loved one to cancer. Working with the cancer community and sharing the practices of meditation and mindfulness to support their healing journey has been the best experience of her teaching career.

About Virginia Barnes Ricketts, MS, LCPC

Virginia is a psychotherapist in private practice in Annapolis, Maryland serving adults and adult families with a broad range of mental health needs. Virginia has worked for the past five years as a counselor and group leader at Annapolis Wellness House where she has been able to combine her professional training with her personal experience as a breast cancer survivor. Virginia is committed to sharing with her patients the most current information in psychological science, and works to translate research into useful understandings of human behavior. Virginia brings insight into conscious and unconscious mental processes so that thoughts, feelings, and behaviors can be understood in the most constructive ways. Her goal is to help patients develop strategies for more effectively navigating and enjoying their lives, while continuing to grow as human beings.

This program is being offered virtually through Zoom. In order to participate and receive the Zoom link, register by clicking the RSVP button above or by emailing programs@smithcenter.org.

You will receive the Zoom information no later than the morning of your program.

with Jenn McRobbie

offered in partnership with:

Going through cancer as a young adult is already tough, but do you sometimes feel like your family and friends just don’t understand what you’re dealing with? Are you feeling extra stress in your relationships as a result of your cancer experience? Join us for a presentation and discussion on how to better communicate and manage expectations with friends and family.


About Jenn McRobbie

Jenn McRobbie is a lifestyle and fitness coach, speaker and author. In 2013, Jenn was serving as a volunteer supporting cancer survivors as they worked to regain their fitness when she was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 38.  Jenn turned her intensely personal and vulnerable experience into a springboard for sharing a message of resilience and positivity. Her book, published in March 2015, is an Amazon best-selling book entitled, Why is She Acting So Weird? A Guide to Cultivating Closeness When a Friend is in Crisis. It is her treatise on empowering friends to rise and lift each other during crisis. Since the publishing of her book, Jenn has traveled the United States and Canada conducting workshops and speaking about her experiences in order to help survivors find common ground with their friends and family as they maneuver through a diagnosis together. In addition to being an advocate for cancer survivors and their friends and family, Jenn loves fitness. She believes that there is an intrinsic connection between physical wellness and mental wellbeing. Using a combination of fitness techniques, mindfulness, and her own experiences coming back after major surgeries, Jenn encourages people to focus on functional movement and corrective exercise. Her favorite past time is teaching classes at her local Orangetheory Fitness Studio.

To register for this program, please visit: http://ow.ly/5AFF50Hzo09

In Partnership with Life with Cancer and Hope Connections

Hot Topics for Young Adults : Let's Talk About Sex AND Pleasure

For young adults, sex is an important topic, and pleasure may be the most important aspect of sex. For young adults with cancer, there are unique questions and concerns about sex and sexual health that the medical team may not be adequately answering, and pleasure is likely never discussed. Join us as we have a frank and honest conversation, and provide accurate information to help support a safe, healthy, and pleasurable approach to sex and cancer.


About Hope Connections

Hope Connections for Cancer Support

Our mission: To help people with cancer and their loved ones deal with the emotional and physical impact of cancer through participation in professionally facilitated programs of emotional support, education, wellness, and hope.

About

About Life with Cancer

Inova Life with Cancer

Life with Cancer, a program of the Inova Schar Cancer Institute, has become Northern Virginia’s leading cancer education and support organization. We offer a variety of programs and services for patients, survivors, and their family members to help individuals cope with cancer, its treatments, and survivorship in the best possible way.

About Us

This program is being offered virtually through Zoom. In order to participate and receive the Zoom link, register by clicking the RSVP button above or by emailing carla@smithcenter.org.

You will receive the Zoom information no later than the morning of your program.

In Partnership with Life with Cancer and Hope Connections

Hot Topics for Young Adults: I Swear You Aren’t Crazy: Impacts of a Young Adult Cancer Diagnosis on Your Mental Health

Receiving a cancer diagnosis at any age is a shock to the system. But for a young adult, it is even more unexpected, traumatic, and often finds us stumbling in the dark. Explore the impact that a cancer diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship has on a young adult. We will also review the unique barriers to the young adult cancer population, what’s “normal,” and when to ask for help. Learn some basic coping strategies for dealing with life when it feels like you are struggling just to tread water every day. Facilitated by Oncology Certified Social Worker, Courtney Weaver, LSCW. Courtney is an oncology clinical therapist with Inova’s Life with Cancer program.


About Hope Connections

Hope Connections for Cancer Support

Our mission: To help people with cancer and their loved ones deal with the emotional and physical impact of cancer through participation in professionally facilitated programs of emotional support, education, wellness, and hope.

About

About Life with Cancer

Inova Life with Cancer

Life with Cancer, a program of the Inova Schar Cancer Institute, has become Northern Virginia’s leading cancer education and support organization. We offer a variety of programs and services for patients, survivors, and their family members to help individuals cope with cancer, its treatments, and survivorship in the best possible way.

About Us

This program is being offered virtually through Zoom. In order to participate and receive the Zoom link, you must register through www.lifewithcancer.org or email Lauren.Broschak@inova.org.

In Partnership with Life with Cancer and Hope Connections

Sometimes, words aren’t enough to describe the emotional impact of cancer on young adults. Join us as we discuss emotional health, explore how art therapy can support young adults coping with cancer, and engage in an art experiential activity.


 

About Hope Connections

Our mission: To help people with cancer and their loved ones deal with the emotional and physical impact of cancer through participation in professionally facilitated programs of emotional support, education, wellness, and hope.

About

About Life with Cancer

Life with Cancer, a program of the Inova Schar Cancer Institute, has become Northern Virginia’s leading cancer education and support organization. We offer a variety of programs and services for patients, survivors, and their family members to help individuals cope with cancer, its treatments, and survivorship in the best possible way.

About Us

This program is being offered virtually through Zoom. In order to participate and receive the Zoom link, you must email info@hopeconnectionsforcancer.org to register.

In Partnership with Hope Connections, 2Unstoppable, and Life with Cancer

Join DC Metro Young Adult Cancer community partners: 2Unstoppable, Hope Connections, Life with Cancer and Smith Center for inspiration and support to help you stay active after diagnosis, during treatment, and long into survivorship.

About 2Unstoppable

2Unstoppable is a non-profit organization founded by two women with a personal history of Breast Cancer and who realized the many benefits of staying active during and after treatment. We now want to help other women on their cancer journeys experience a better quality of life and improved outcomes through exercise.

https://2unstoppable.org/about-1/

About Hope Connections

Our mission: To help people with cancer and their loved ones deal with the emotional and physical impact of cancer through participation in professionally facilitated programs of emotional support, education, wellness, and hope.

About

About Life with Cancer

Life with Cancer, a program of the Inova Schar Cancer Institute, has become Northern Virginia’s leading cancer education and support organization. We offer a variety of programs and services for patients, survivors, and their family members to help individuals cope with cancer, its treatments, and survivorship in the best possible way.

About Us

This program is being offered virtually through Zoom. In order to participate and receive the Zoom link, you must register here or by emailing carla@smithcenter.org

with Jenn McRobbie

Going through cancer as a young adult is already tough, but do you sometimes feel like your family and friends just don’t understand what you’re dealing with? Are you feeling extra stress in your relationships as a result of your cancer experience? Join us for a presentation and discussion on how to better communicate and manage expectations with friends and family.

About Jenn McRobbie

Jenn McRobbie

Jenn McRobbie is a lifestyle and fitness coach, speaker and author. In 2013, Jenn was serving as a volunteer supporting cancer survivors as they worked to regain their fitness when she was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 38.  Jenn turned her intensely personal and vulnerable experience into a springboard for sharing a message of resilience and positivity. Her book, published in March 2015, is an Amazon best-selling book entitled, Why is She Acting So Weird? A Guide to Cultivating Closeness When a Friend is in Crisis. It is her treatise on empowering friends to rise and lift each other during crisis. Since the publishing of her book, Jenn has traveled the United States and Canada conducting workshops and speaking about her experiences in order to help survivors find common ground with their friends and family as they maneuver through a diagnosis together. In addition to being an advocate for cancer survivors and their friends and family, Jenn loves fitness. She believes that there is an intrinsic connection between physical wellness and mental wellbeing. Using a combination of fitness techniques, mindfulness, and her own experiences coming back after major surgeries, Jenn encourages people to focus on functional movement and corrective exercise. Her favorite past time is teaching classes at her local Orangetheory Fitness Studio.