Aims & Beliefs
Aims
Beliefs
Aims
- No one is pressurised to join in.
- No one is pressurised into talking until they feel ready to share.
- We try to provide reasssurance to people about their symptoms in order to reduce their anxiety and to provide a calming influence when people need it most.
- We show compassion and sincerity in our caring for each other, so that people want to continue to see, meet and support each other.
- We try to foster drive, determination and encouragement between members.
- Understanding and tolerance are given to members and their partners.
- People can meet others with similar problems and so share experience, treatments and others’ enthusiasm, energy and dreams.
- We can therefore exchange ideas, values and experiences with others.
- You don’t have to come to a group meeting to benefit, but can meet a member confidentially on a one to one basis.
- Confidentiality – nothing gets talked about outside the group to anyone.
- Members are committed to each other outside of meetings and group members can rely on each other.
- There is knowledge that someone is only a phone call away.
- There will be no value judgements on what you say, but members will be honest with each other.
- The group tries to be positive and express hope, but not at the expense of avoiding talking about death and endings as well about living, when there is a need to discuss these.
- Feelings are O.K. and there is a freedom to cry and to laugh.
- It is a place where you can grieve and can express difficult emotions.
- It helps people recognise their anger, and they are free and safe to express it and move on within the group.
- You can say things in the group you often can’t talk about elsewhere and people will try to listen to you and show empathy and understanding.
Beliefs
- Having a safe environment that is not frightening for people and that we all share the “fundamental purpose” for being there, i.e. you can talk to others about cancer.
- Helping people feel whole again who feel in pieces.
- You can also learn new information and skills
- Providing a network of support like a family which has strong, intimate bonds and is friendly, warm and welcoming.
- You can learn about yourself and how to react to situations.
- It should generate a sense of belonging so no member feels isolated.
- Things learned can be transferred to other parts of your life so it can either help you change and move on or accept the way things are and be at peace with that.
- Showing empathy and listening to each other.
- Taking and sharing responsibility in the group and giving love and friendship to each other.
- Not avoiding the subject of illness and cancer and that there is always hope.
- Valuing self worth and authenticity so you can really be yourself in the group.
- The acceptance of death can often enhance the quality of living.
- And there is acceptance of each person and tolerance by others of how you are.
- That people are not to be pitied for having cancer.