A few words from our Chairperson and Founder; Jacqueline
What we do
CanTalk is a cancer support group in Mallow supporting adults affected by a diagnosis of cancer.
We started with two groups, our first group was held on the 20th February 2015. The groups alternated and therefore each ran every second week. Both held as an open style group running all year round, with open access to new members to join at any time. The service is FREE OF CHARGE to attendees.
From November 2016, due to changing needs and circumstances of our attendees, we changed the format to it's current four group basis, but still remain with open access and FREE OF CHARGE for all.
At this stage we can only provide a service for over 18 year olds but in time hope to expand to provide a service for the young in the future.
Why and How we started.
CanTalk is in memory of Bill Murphy, my late husband, who so sadly passed away on 3rd Jan 2014. Bill was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma in Dec 2012 and given a terminal diagnosis. Having journeyed with my husband through his diagnosis, treatment and final months there was no service that either of us could go to for support in a group setting. CanTalk is a service that I felt and feel is much needed.
With help from a very capable and enthusiastic group of people, all affected by cancer in different ways and of the same view that talking and sharing can help and make a difference, all willing to volunteer their time and skills to assist in the running groups, I registered CanTalk and Le Cheile Family Resource Centre kindly offered us a room at no charge; here we are a few years later. Our logo is of two hands; a photograph of my hand in Bill's, which was taken while we sat waiting in hospital for treatment.
To ensure professionalism and quality of volunteers I train the team for co-facilitation prior to starting. Only once a year has passed can co-facilitators move on to become facilitators. We are also fortunate that we have psychotherapists and trainee psychotherapists volunteering and joining our team.
My qualifications
I am a Registered General Nurse working for the past 30 years in a variety of settings including palliative care, elderly care, general medical, paediatrics, theatre and endoscopy. In addition I hold a Bachelor of Nursing Studies (Hons) with DCU in 2005 continuing to study a full time Post Graduate Diploma in Integrative Psychotherapy in UCC 2006-2007, followed by Diploma and Advanced Diploma in Hypno-psychotherapy with ICHP 2007-2008. I completed a certificate in Group Facilitation in 2011 and Addiction Studies in 2013, as well as maintaining 30-40 hours per year CPD courses. I am a fully accredited counsellor with APCP and NRPC and hypno-psychotherapist with APHP and work within their ethical guidelines. My husband and I ran our own Counselling/Psychotherapy/Hypno-psychotherapy Centre in Mallow from 2010 (Mallow Therapy Centre) but were forced to close our business due to his cancer diagnosis in September 2013. I restarted my counselling work in Sept 2014, but had been putting together the concept of our 'CanTalk' service together for a while before we opened.
Thank you for taking the time to read through our web page and please pass our details to anyone you feel may benefit from what we offer.
Jacqueline.
