13 Ways to Start Putting Yourself First
Coming soon
Search
-
QuestionWhat do you say to someone with cancer?
Klare Heston, LCSWKlare Heston is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker based in Cleveland, Ohio. With experience in academic counseling and clinical supervision, Klare received her Master of Social Work from the Virginia Commonwealth University in 1983. She also holds a 2-Year Post-Graduate Certificate from the Gestalt Institute of Cleveland, as well as certification in Family Therapy, Supervision, Mediation, and Trauma Recovery and Treatment (EMDR).
Licensed Social WorkerTell them you are there for them. Ask what they might need help with and offer some assistance. You can also just offer companionship—gettting a cup of coffee or just plain hanging out. -
QuestionWhat do you write to a cancer patient?Klare Heston, LCSWKlare Heston is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker based in Cleveland, Ohio. With experience in academic counseling and clinical supervision, Klare received her Master of Social Work from the Virginia Commonwealth University in 1983. She also holds a 2-Year Post-Graduate Certificate from the Gestalt Institute of Cleveland, as well as certification in Family Therapy, Supervision, Mediation, and Trauma Recovery and Treatment (EMDR).
Licensed Social WorkerLet them know you are thinking about them. Offer emotional and practical support. Use a little humor if you know them well enough. It is okay to admit your own feelings—you can say that you are surprised or bummed out about it. -
QuestionWhat do you write on a card when someone is dying?Klare Heston, LCSWKlare Heston is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker based in Cleveland, Ohio. With experience in academic counseling and clinical supervision, Klare received her Master of Social Work from the Virginia Commonwealth University in 1983. She also holds a 2-Year Post-Graduate Certificate from the Gestalt Institute of Cleveland, as well as certification in Family Therapy, Supervision, Mediation, and Trauma Recovery and Treatment (EMDR).
Licensed Social WorkerLet them know what they have meant to you. Recall some special memories the two of you have shared. People at the end of their lives are looking for meaning. -
QuestionWhat can I do for a friend with cancer?Klare Heston, LCSWKlare Heston is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker based in Cleveland, Ohio. With experience in academic counseling and clinical supervision, Klare received her Master of Social Work from the Virginia Commonwealth University in 1983. She also holds a 2-Year Post-Graduate Certificate from the Gestalt Institute of Cleveland, as well as certification in Family Therapy, Supervision, Mediation, and Trauma Recovery and Treatment (EMDR).
Licensed Social WorkerDon't ignore them or act as if you will "catch" the cancer! And by all means, do not abandon them out of awkwardness. Do something practical. Don't wait for them to tell you what to do—be proactive. -
QuestionA friend of fifty years has been diagnosed with colon cancer. During our last phone call, she thinks she told me her diagnosis but she didn't. Now, she won't talk to me. What do I do?Klare Heston, LCSWKlare Heston is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker based in Cleveland, Ohio. With experience in academic counseling and clinical supervision, Klare received her Master of Social Work from the Virginia Commonwealth University in 1983. She also holds a 2-Year Post-Graduate Certificate from the Gestalt Institute of Cleveland, as well as certification in Family Therapy, Supervision, Mediation, and Trauma Recovery and Treatment (EMDR).
Licensed Social WorkerA cancer diagnosis affects so many things in a person's life. Apologize to your friend even if it is not your mistake. Let her know how important she is to you. Don't just accept being pushed away.
Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
