In order to participate, register by clicking the RSVP button above or by emailing programs@smithcenter.org.
We are a demand-driven and patient-led in-person and online community support group for young women and men (diagnosed between the age of 18 – 45ish) with metastatic breast cancer (MBC) in the DC, MD, and VA area. We have created this group as a means of providing both a safe community support space for people with MBC, as well as peer-led and expert-led information on living with breast cancer. This group is new and independent of any established breast cancer organization, though we are are in complete gratitude to the Smith Center for hosting us.
We facilitate our group in a democratic and participatory manner; in essence, our group is your group! Interested new members, kindly contact programs@smithcenter.org for an informal intake before coming to your first meeting.
Beginning in April 2024, the group meetings alternate between the 3rd Wednesday of the month from 6-7pm ET and the 3rd Saturday of the month from 10-11am ET. The group now meets on Zoom only.
WEEK 15
This program is being offered virtually through Zoom. If you have any questions, please email programs@smithcenter.org.
You will receive the Zoom information no later than the morning of your program.
with Phebe Duff
A community for those who want to explore ways to be present in their lives. This group will examine a different topic each week relevant to members’ lives. We will explore meditation and mindfulness practices that can be applied to life experiences in a supportive way. The group is open to people at any level of experience with meditation and mindfulness. This is a drop-in class, so you can join at any time as topics will differ each week. This is a year-long weekly class that will meet every Wednesday beginning September 18th from 5-6pm EST.
Beginning in January 2025, this class will meet from 5-6pm EST.
Please Note: This class will begin at Week 1 on September 18th.
Suggested Donation: $15/session
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 and Smith Center for Healing and the Arts. 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.
WEEK 50
This program is being offered virtually through Zoom. If you have any questions, please email programs@smithcenter.org.
You will receive the Zoom information no later than the morning of your program.
with Phebe Duff
A community for those who want to explore ways to be present in their lives. This group will examine a different topic each week relevant to members’ lives. We will explore meditation and mindfulness practices that can be applied to life experiences in a supportive way. The group is open to people at any level of experience with meditation and mindfulness. This is a drop-in class, so you can join at any time as topics will differ each week. This is a year-long weekly class that will meet every Monday from 11:30am-12:30pm EST from August 19th, 2024 – January 27th, 2025.
Please Note: This class will begin at Week 34 on August 19th.
Suggested Donation: $15/session
Classes and workshops are free or low cost on a pay-as-you-can basis, ensuring that our programs are accessible to everyone.
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 and Smith Center for Healing and the Arts. 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.
WEEK 14
This program is being offered virtually through Zoom. If you have any questions, please email programs@smithcenter.org.
You will receive the Zoom information no later than the morning of your program.
with Phebe Duff
A community for those who want to explore ways to be present in their lives. This group will examine a different topic each week relevant to members’ lives. We will explore meditation and mindfulness practices that can be applied to life experiences in a supportive way. The group is open to people at any level of experience with meditation and mindfulness. This is a drop-in class, so you can join at any time as topics will differ each week. This is a year-long weekly class that will meet every Wednesday beginning September 18th from 5-6pm EST.
Beginning in January 2025, this class will meet from 5-6pm EST.
Please Note: This class will begin at Week 1 on September 18th.
Suggested Donation: $15/session
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 and Smith Center for Healing and the Arts. 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.
Please see the brief questionnaire required to participate in this series above the Program Schedule.
with Phebe Duff
offered in partnership with MedStar Washington Hospital Center
This program is being offered virtually over 9 weeks from Tuesday, January 7 through March 4 from 5:30-7:30pm ET. The program also includes a mini virtual retreat on February 22nd from 9:00am-12:00pm. We ask that participants commit to attending all sessions including the mini-retreat. Limited space available.
We are asking participants to contribute toward their participation in this program, however, we do not want cost to be a barrier to anyone in accessing this program. As such, we are encouraging each person to choose to contribute a one-time amount between $25 to $150 that feels comfortable for you based on your own personal income circumstances. If you have any questions, please contact us, we are happy to discuss any additional issues privately.
Are you at a tipping point, overwhelmed by the stress of our fast-paced lives?
Are you experiencing life events affecting your physical, psychological or emotional wellbeing?
Are you just looking for a way to get your life back into balance?
The good news is that you already have the resources you need to come back to health and wellbeing. Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) in Cancer Recovery training can help you reconnect to those inner resources. Even if you’ve never heard of mindfulness or have never meditated, MBSR can teach you these skills.
This interactive, experiential course runs for 9 weeks and includes:
- Guided instruction in mindfulness meditation practices
- Gentle stretching and mindful yoga
- Small and large group discussions
- Daily home practice assignments
- A three-hour mini-retreat of uninterrupted practice on Saturday, February 22nd
Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) was developed by Jon Kabat-Zinn at the University of Massachusetts Center for Mindfulness. MBSR has over 25 years of peer-reviewed research covering a wide variety of physical and mental health issues. It is the most scientifically researched and validated mindfulness program and is used in clinical and non-clinical settings worldwide.
What are the benefits of MBSR?
Mindfulness is the practice of present moment, non-judgmental awareness of one’s life experience. Through the use of mind/body techniques, one begins to relate to the stress and anxiety in life differently in ways that allow for more creative solutions and possibilities.
It can help you:
- Improve focus and concentration
- Improve mind-body awareness
- Reduce reactivity and increase calm
- Support better behavioral choices and Improve the ability to handle the ups and downs of life
- Feel kinder to yourself and others
- Improve relationships
- Experience more positive emotions
- Start or restart a meditation practice
To participate, please fill out this brief questionnaire <here>
PROGRAM SCHEDULE:
| Week |
Date |
Topic |
| 1 |
01/07/25 |
Introduction and Orientation |
| 2 |
01/14/25 |
Mindfulness |
| 3 |
01/21/25 |
Mindfulness Attitudes |
| 4 |
01/28/25 |
Mindy-Body Wisdom and Healing |
| 5 |
02/04/25 |
Balance in the Autonomic Nervous System |
| 6 |
02/11/25 |
Mindful Coping |
| 7 |
02/18/25 |
Cultivating Beneficial States of Heart and Mind |
| RETREAT |
02/22/25 |
Mini-Retreat: A Morning of…. Silence |
| 8 |
02/25/25 |
Deepening and Expanding |
| 9 |
03/04/25 |
Moving Into the World |
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 and Smith Center for Healing and the Arts. 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.
WEEK 49
This program is being offered virtually through Zoom. If you have any questions, please email programs@smithcenter.org.
You will receive the Zoom information no later than the morning of your program.
with Phebe Duff
A community for those who want to explore ways to be present in their lives. This group will examine a different topic each week relevant to members’ lives. We will explore meditation and mindfulness practices that can be applied to life experiences in a supportive way. The group is open to people at any level of experience with meditation and mindfulness. This is a drop-in class, so you can join at any time as topics will differ each week. This is a year-long weekly class that will meet every Monday from 11:30am-12:30pm EST from August 19th, 2024 – January 27th, 2025.
Please Note: This class will begin at Week 34 on August 19th.
Suggested Donation: $15/session
Classes and workshops are free or low cost on a pay-as-you-can basis, ensuring that our programs are accessible to everyone.
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 and Smith Center for Healing and the Arts. 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.
