Mary’s Place Service Spotlight: Transformational Counseling Program
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“Healing in Community” with Patricia Hannah, LCSW
When Licensed Clinical Social Worker Patricia Hannah started counseling at Mary’s Place by the Sea, she quickly realized it was exactly where she needed to be. Thanks to her extensive knowledge on trauma and various healing modalities, Patricia has played an integral role in the evolution of the “Transformational Counseling Program” that exists at Mary’s Place by the Sea today.
This program includes individual one-time counseling sessions, individual ongoing counseling support, and supportive group therapy.
Counseling Services Available for Guests
One-time counseling sessions are “solution-focused and supportive, geared towards meeting the guest exactly where they’re at,” said Patricia. “Oftentimes the women have only experienced the physical process of their diagnosis and they come to Mary’s Place to process the emotional impact.”
In addition, women who are local to Mary’s Place by the Sea and would benefit from ongoing counseling are offered additional individual counseling sessions. This service allows guests to dig deeper into their feelings, beliefs and life stressors with a licensed therapist.
Another pivotal piece of our “Transformational Counseling Program” is our Supportive Expressive Group Therapy, which was established six years ago by Susan Padovano and Patricia Hannah.
Currently, this weekly, in-person support group utilizes evidenced-based therapy modalities which engage the mind, body and soul. This includes creative expressive and embodied therapies like psychodrama, mindfulness, meditation, breathwork and yoga led by Patricia Hannah and Kim Bradle, RYT. Research shows that this modality of group therapy can help reduce stress symptoms in participants.
Support Groups that Engage the Mind, Body & Soul
Currently, this weekly, in-person support group utilizes evidenced-based therapy modalities which engage the mind, body and soul. This includes creative expressive and embodied therapies like psychodrama, mindfulness, meditation, breathwork and yoga led by Patricia Hannah and Kim Bradle, RYT. Research shows that this modality of group therapy can help reduce stress symptoms in participants.
“We heal in community, through relationships,” Patricia continued. “Support groups can be profoundly beneficial to women with cancer because they provide a safe space for vulnerability, deep sharing, mutual support, learning and growth”.
Today, this group has truly flourished into a healing community for our local guests.
Thanks to grant support and the generosity of donors, Mary’s Place is able to offer all of these counseling services at no cost to guests.