Patient and Family Support 
Because cancer is a family disease, support groups offer families and friends an opportunity to share their feelings and ideas about the journey when a loved one has cancer. Sometimes just knowing others are having a similar experience can be both comforting and healing. To help patients and families cope with the emotional and practical problems associated with cancer, the Cancer Centers of Northern Arizona Healthcare offer the following services conducted by licensed social workers:
- Individual and family counseling - Counseling helps manage depression, anxiety, grief and fear. Relaxation, interactive-guided imagery and hypnotherapy services also are available.
- Support groups - General and cancer-specific support groups for patients, family and friends provide guidance and hope from others who have experienced the diagnosis of cancer. Support groups provide cancer patients and families with a loving, safe environment to share their experience. These sessions take place every second and fourth Wednesday of the month.
- New Patient Orientation - New patients meet with Cancer Center team memebers (nurses, dietitian, social worker, etc) to learn more about what they can expect during their treatment at the Cancer Centers. Patients receive a binder containing helpful resources and information and can become a place for them to organize all of the the paperwork received during treatment. New patient orientations are held on the first and third Thursdays at 8:30 a.m. in the lobby.
- Sound Healing Meditation with Jennifer Williams - This bi-monthly workshop is for patients who are interested in learning more ways to stay mentally and emotionally fit during treatment. Participants will learn valuable tools they can use at home to enrich and empower their healing process and relaxation exercises. Uses of the breath, energetic applications of the voice, toning, intention, the fundamentals of healing with vibration and basics of the chakras are all discussed. Jennifer leads participants through meditations that will increase relaxation, open healing pathways and raise the consciousness. The Sound Healing Meditation is held on the first and third Wednesdays from noon - 2 p.m. in the Breast Cancer Resource Room. Patients in all stages of treatment or recovery, caregivers and other people who offer support, are welcome to attend.
- Circle of Friends - This program is for newly-diagnosed cancer patients. Circle of Friends is a one-on-one peer support program that connects patients with experienced cancer survivors who act as a resource and offer support during and after the treatment process. Volunteers are cancer survivors who have successfully finished treatment and feel the need to reach out and help others through the journey. For more information on the Circle of Friends program or to become a volunteer, call the Cancer Center's social worker at 928 773-2327.
For more information on any of the supoprt groups at the
Cancer Centers of Northern Arizona - Flagstaff Campus, call 928 773-2261.
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