Healthy communication can be a lofty goal at the best of times- and even more so while living with cancer and its stresses. This workshop aims to provide you with practical tools to help build skills in healthy communication and mindful listening. These tools can help decrease stress and increase connection with oneself and others. The Canadian Cancer Survivor Network is pleased to have Registered Clinical Counsellor Genevieve Stonebridge from InspireHealth Supportive Cancer Care present this webinar. InspireHealth is a Canadian leader in supportive cancer care with medical doctors, clinical counsellors, dietitians, exercise therapists all working together to support you and your family in your cancer experience.   About the presenter: Genevieve Stonebridge has been working in cancer care since 2010, and with InspireHealth as a clinical counsellor since 2015. She is passionate about supporting people living with, through or beyond a cancer diagnosis. With compassion, creativity and openness she believes in meeting patients where they are at. From her personal and professional experience, Genevieve knows how important communication skills are while navigating the health care system and in interpersonal relationships too. First introduced to Inspire Health in 2001, when she herself was diagnosed with cancer as a young adult, Genevieve was strongly influenced by InspireHealth’s patient-centered approach – especially the benefits of personal reflection and self-care gained through counselling, meditation, movement and fun. Now cancer-free for over 15 years, Genevieve is devoted to creating safe and inspiring places for people to explore their cancer experience. This includes holding space for both the suffering and joys of life. Genevieve lives in Victoria, BC, with her husband and grey tabby cat Gus. She is a qualified Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) teacher in training, and weaves mindfulness into everything she does. Follow CCSN on social media: Twitter - https://twitter.com/survivornetca Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/CanadianSurvivorNet Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/survivornet_ca/ Pinterest - https://www.pinterest.com/survivornetwork

2. Welcome to
Healthy
Communication
With InspireHealth,
Supportive Cancer Care
Genevieve Stonebridge, MA RCC
Registered Clinical Counsellor, Counselling team Lead at InspireHealth

3. Outline for Today
1. Introduction to InspireHealth
2. “What, Why & How” Healthy
Communication can help while
navigating a cancer diagnosis
3. Questions?

4. InspireHealth
• Not-for-profit charity founded in 1997.
• Partially funded by BC Ministry of Health.
• We rely on donations from the community
to provide our classes & programs.
• All of our classes and programs are
completely free of charge.
• No referral required.
Vancouver
Online
Kelowna
Victoria

5. InspireHealth's Clinical
Team
• Supportive Care Physicians (MD, CCFP)
• Clinical Counsellors
• Exercise Therapists (Clinical Exercise
Physiologists & Kinesiologists)
• Registered Dietitians
All services currently offered via telehealth
or video conference

6. Supportive Cancer Care Model

7. Welcome to Healthy Communication
1. What is healthy communication?
2. Why healthy communication and
cancer?
3. How to communicate healthily and
mindfully:
I. Practice Mindfulness – STOP
II. The Power of Listening
III. Know your boundaries
IV. Use “I” statements
V. Communicate Assertively

8. What is Communication?
“Imparting or exchanging information…
A means of connection between people...”(dictionary.com)

9. A few Tools for Healthy Communication
• Courage, Compassion & Curiosity
• Listening
• Body Language, Eye Language
• Tone of voice
• Words: could vs. should, and vs. but,
sometimes vs. always/never
• Open Language: “I” statements
• Timing and Environment
• And mindfulness, remember to breathe ☺

10. Using an I statement
I feel sad (state an emotion),
because I am sick, and I am worried I am
burdening you (and/or include thoughts)
Avoid “You make me feel like I am a burden”
“I” language helps us take the empowered and
personally responsible stance.
*A feeling statement is NOT- I feel that you are, I
feel as though, or I feel like. These are thoughts.

11. Why is Healthy Communication important- in
everyday life, and in a cancer diagnosis?

12. Healthy communication can Reduce stress
Vector
created
by
@pch.vector
-
www.freepik.com/vectors/coffee

13. Healthy communication can increase connection
Vector
created
by
@pch.vector
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www.freepik.com/vectors/people

14. Mindful Communication and the brain
www.mindful.org

15. How to practice Mindful Communication

17. The Importance of Listening
By
Leah
Pearlman,
www.dharmacomics.com

18. 1.Be Present and Pay Attention.
2.Body language and eye contact
3.Minimal encouragers “uh-huh,
yes.”
4.Reflective listening “What I hear
you saying is…. Sounds like…”
5.Ask Questions- Be curious not
judgmental
6.Clarify “What did you mean
when you said…? Is this what
you mean…..?”
Listen with the intent to
understand,
Not with the intent to reply!
Listening Skills:

19. What are boundaries?

20. •
Designed
by
Freepik
www.freepik.com
Boundaries exist on a spectrum

21. Why are boundaries important?

22. Why are Boundaries important?
By
Leah
Pearlman,
www.dharmacomics.com

23. Examples of boundary setting in a cancer experience:
1) Information sharing, how much and to who.
2) It is perfectly acceptable to say, “I would rather not say more about this.”
3) Be mindful about telling people sensitive information.
4) Tell people when a conversation becomes stressful. You can say, “This is not
helpful.”
5) Preserve and Prioritize your energy
6) Share your expectations for social distancing before visits.
7) Share your personal preferences and values with your health care team.
From- Cancer Today, American Association for cancer research

24. Phases of Setting a Boundary
1. Establish a boundary
2. State your boundary
3. Commit and Persevere
4. Assert your Right.

25. “I’m Ok.
You’re Ok.”

26. Assertive:
“I clearly
express,
believe and
respect that we
both have
rights and
needs. I’m Ok.
You’re Ok.”
Passive:
“Others rights
and needs take
precedence
over my own.
You’re Ok.
I’m Not Ok.”
Aggressive:
“I boldly insist
that my rights
and needs
prevail. I’m
Ok. You’re
not Ok”
Passive
Aggressive:
“I subtly make
sure my rights
and needs will
prevail.
I’m Ok,
You’re not
Ok.”

27. Assertive Communication:

28. Assertive Communication Steps:
1.Acknowledge the other person’s
experience/request/opinions
“YOU”
1.Describe what’s happening for
you, distinguish between
thoughts and feelings “ME”
1.Suggest possible solutions,
alternative ideas, or make a
request “WE”

29. How could you response Assertively?
A loved one is concerned about your diagnosis and
wants to help you.
They share ideas about some research they have
read about a diet that they think you should go on.
How do you respond?

30. How could you response Assertively?
You tell a close friend that you are scared
about your diagnosis.
They tell you "You just need to be positive, I am
sure everything will be fine!”
How do you respond?

32. Take a Moment to quietly write
possible responses to one of these situations.
(Advice about a diet, “Just be positive”)
Remembering to STOP and use the steps of
Assertive communication: You, Me, We
1.Acknowledge the other person’s
experience/request/opinions YOU
1.Describe what’s happening for you, distinguish
between thoughts and feelings ME
1.Suggest possible solutions, alternative ideas,
or make a request WE

33. Assertive Communication Steps:
1.Acknowledge the other person’s experience/opinions
Describe the facts of the situation with empathy for your listener
I hear you would like to help and have a diet idea for me.
I appreciate that you value positivity and care about me.

34. Assertive Communication Steps:
2. Describe what’s happening for you, distinguish between
thoughts and feelings. It can be helpful here to ask ourselves what
stories might we be making up. What thoughts and feelings are we
having.
I feel overwhelmed with the amount of information I
am receiving right now.
When you tell me to be positive I feel stressed. I
want to be positive and hope for the best, but can’t
ignore my feelings- I feel scared.

35. Assertive Communication Steps:
3. Suggest possible solutions, alternative ideas, or make a
request. This is a crucial piece in communication- build the bridge
between us. Make requests or suggestions.
Can I let you know in the future if I am interested in hearing
about the research you have read? OR I value our time
together and want to talk about other things besides my
cancer.
Can we find a way to be positive and also honour all my
feelings? It is very normal to feel scared with a cancer
diagnosis and I want and appreciate your support.

36. Assertive Communication Steps:
1.Acknowledge the other person’s
experience/request/opinions
1.Describe what’s happening for you,
distinguish between thoughts and
feelings
1.Suggest possible solutions, alternative
ideas, or make a request

37. Mindfulness- Pause - STOP. Take a deep breath. Find your
authentic yes/no.
Get Curious, Courageous & Compassionate with yourself and
others!
Remember this is a skill to learn!
Use I statements and take personal responsibility
Mindful & Healthy Communication reduces stress, creates joy,
maintains boundaries, and creates connection.
Join us at InspireHealth for weekly workshops and classes about
Healthy Communication, Mindfulness and more!
How to get started today

38. Questions?

39. Resources
Assertive communication resources: Wellbeing After Cancer workbook
Assertive diagram by Dr. Susan Cain, Ed. D & Taylor Viering
Boundaries: Where You End and I Begin, by Anne Katherine
Full Catastrophe Living by John Kabat Zinn
How to be an Adult in Relationships by David Richo
Set Boundaries Find Peace by Nedra Glover Tewwab
Setting Boundaries Blog Hester Hill Schnipper from Cancer Today
The Five Keys of Mindful Communication by Susan Gillis Chapman
The Gifts of Imperfection by Brene Brown
When the Body Says No by Gabor Mate
Jieyu Li, Xingjuan Luo, Qian Cao, Yi Lin, Yinghua Xu, Qiuping Li, "Communication Needs of
Cancer Patients and/or Caregivers: A Critical Literature Review", Journal of
Oncology, vol. 2020, Article
ID 7432849, 12 pages, 2020. https://doi.org/10.1155/2020/7432849