2012 Family Support Night
Typically the third Wednesday of every month from 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
THIS MONTH - TUESDAY MARCH 20
*Except March, October, and November we will meet the third Tuesday. Click the link above for dates.*
Families will enjoy a FREE dinner starting at 6:00pm, so get here on time while it's still hot!
Separate support groups will follow from 6:30-7:30 PM
- Parents and caregivers
- Patients ages 4-11
- Siblings ages 4-11
- Teen patients and siblings together, ages 12-19.
The children's program will consist of therapeutic games and crafts, team building activities, and times for emotional expression.
Teens will have similar opportunities, with that "teen spin" on things to keep it interesting.
Parents Group Topic - TUESDAY March 20
Interactive Guided Imagery with special guest Tess Taft MSW, LICSW
What is Interactive Guided Imagery?
IGI is a unique form of Guided Imagery taught by The Academy for Guided Imagery in Mill Valley, CA. This form of imagery facilitates a guided journey inside ourselves to communicate with an image. It offers an extraordinary opportunity to experience the mind—heart—body—soul connection.
Using this tool, we can safely explore symptoms like pain, insomnia, and the physical symptoms of stress as well as evoke inner resources such as trust, guidance, faith, peace, and love. This tool can also be used during difficult times in our lives, such as when we are facing illness, surgery, bereavement, divorce, etc.
Tess Taft msw, licsw, is an oncology psychotherapist who has provided therapy to cancer patients and their loved ones in hospitals, cancer clinics, homes, nursing homes, hospice houses and private practice settings for 33 years. She received her MSW from The University of Washington in 1979 and was certified as a Marriage and Family Therapist in 1981. She has worked with Cancer Care Northwest for 18 years as an oncology psychotherapist, clinical supervisor, and as Manager of the Oncology Counseling and Stress Management Department. She teaches a Palliative Care certification program for MSW students at EWU, comprised of three classes all of which include a focus on the meaning and impact of illness upon families, and on the experiences that create our sense of purpose: Family Systems and Illness, Death and Dying, and Alternatives in Healing. Tess is a certified specialist in Interactive Guided Imagery and uses this tool in her clinical practice to help her clients alleviate symptoms of stress, pain, and grief, to prepare for surgery and bone marrow transplantation, and to explore inner wisdom and faith. She provides clinical supervision to MSW therapists in Spokane and manages a small private practice. Since 1974 she has loved her work serving people whose life-threatening diagnosis (or that of a love) has propelled them on a journey inside themselves to find emotional and spiritual healing and wholeness.
RSVP is requested to plan for food: 509-474-2759
Email: mruddis@accoinlandnw.org
or to Maggie, Kim, or Nettie
Support from: SHCH,ACCOIN, RYPIEN FOUNDATION | 
Sometimes cooking takes a backseat during hospital visits, clinic visits, and busy schedules. If you have a favorite recipe that nourished your family during stressful times, please send it (with a picture if available) to office@accoinlandnw.org. 
