March Newslettter announcing Second Annual 👞👟Walk for Fran's Place 👡👠

March 2022 NEWSLETTER

In this issue:

Walk-a-Thon - May 20 - 22 weekend
Meet the Team - Corina Lopez, PhD

Walk for Fran's Place

May 20-22 Weekend

SUPPORT WALK NOW

Please support our Second Annual Walk for Fran’s Place on the weekend of Friday, May 20 to Sunday, May 22. This is a Virtual Walk! Each walker can walk as little or as much as you like, solo or with others, in any location you like. You will be directly supporting our no-charge professional therapy - provided to cancer patients, their families and caregivers.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and we are aligning with this year's theme:

TOGETHER FOR MENTAL HEALTH

We recognize the importance of good mental health for everyone, and especially for those facing cancer.

CANCER TOUCHES EVERYONE. We strive to give our clients freedom from worry, anxiety, stress, and, freedom to take control of their thoughts, feelings and reactions. We want all our clients to be able to pursue a quality of life that includes productivity, success, peace, and happiness.

To donate, click the support button now. If you'd like to walk with us (remotely), when you get to the walk-a-thon page, please click the link “I want to fundraise for this” to sign up as a walker, then start raising pledges for your own walk by posting your own designated walker page on your Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and by sending emails to prospective donors. We are hoping to have 100 walkers, with 1000 supporters, and to raise $25,000. to support our clients!

Walk any or all of the 3 days, Friday through Sunday, as you enjoy your May 20th weekend. TAKE PICTURES along your walk and post them to your followers and supporters, so they can see how well you are doing, and how much fun we’re having.

If you have questions about what to do, or need help setting up your walker page, please contact cancercounseling@gmail.com.

Thanks!

The entire Fran’s Place Team

SUPPORT WALK NOW

Meet the Team

Corina Lopez, PhD

How did you become involved with Fran's Place?

I was fortunate that Fran even found me. She called me out of the blue asking me if I was interested in helping Fran’s place one afternoon. She said she searched for hours for psycho-oncologists in the SoCal area and after some time finally found my website. It was meant to be 😊

What is your personal experience with cancer?

I lost my paternal grandfather to stomach cancer years ago. What impacted me the most was the importance of dying with dignity and the practice of Ho’oponopono, the Hawaiian indigenous practice of forgiveness and reconciliation. I work with the Ho’oponopono mantra: “I love you” “I’m sorry” “I forgive you” “Thank you” and “Goodbye” with myself and teach my patients about it frequently.

How did you get involved in therapy for cancer patients and their families?

My psycho-oncology work began at practicums during graduate school. I had wonderful supervisors that taught me the value of cultivating mindfulness in the present moment, compassion, and spirituality as a way to facilitate healing.

What is a memorable experience you can share?

I remember a special moment with a patient that lost her father to cancer. We explored various ways to honor his memory and spent some time discussing how to build a Dia de los Muertos altar. We discussed that in our Mexican culture, death is another stage in life and that those that have passed live on in spirit and continue to be part of the family. Our conversations centered on the idea that death is not only about grief and mourning but also about celebration and love and that healing is found in the dualism of experiences that exist in our everyday (e.g. death/life, joy/grief).

Why are you committed to Fran's Place?

I am committed to increasing the quality of life in people with cancer and their families and believe that finances should never be an obstacle for people to have support and dignity during such a difficult time. I am proud to be part of Fran’s place and thankful that there are programs like this available. I know from personal experience how important these services are and that they are not always available to the people that need it the most.

Dr. Corina Lopez is a bilingual health psychologist who provides services to help people cope with the psychological and emotional aspects of health and illness. She has a passion for her Latinx community and a strong focus on first generation experience, Latina professionals, transgenerational trauma, and identity development. She supports individuals who are dealing with life transitions including becoming ill, chronic illness, bereavement and other losses, end of life, acculturation, job/school stress, aging and more. She believes that mental health is more than the absence of illness; it is about feeling engaged and connected in life, and living authentically. Dr. Lopez uses a holistic approach to health and strongly believe in the mind-body-spirit connection. Her therapeutic style is direct, genuine, and warm. She is dedicated to providing quality services for people of all backgrounds, identities, and experiences.

Connect with us:

Contact: cancercounseling@gmail.com / (949) 474-4337

Fran’s Place / Center for Cancer Counseling is a nonprofit 501(c)3.

Tax ID: 33-0877271. Donations are tax deductible.

All donor information is kept confidential.

Mail address: 450 Apollo Street Suite E, Brea, California 92821

https://www.centerforcancercounseling.org/