Harmony Hill Retreat Center Programs
Since 1994, Harmony Hill's Cancer Program has provided educational and life-enhancing resources designed to improve the quality of life for people challenged by cancer. The Program provides information and hands-on learning about complementary treatment therapies, how to stay healthy by practicing sensible diet and nutrition, and resources that can provide emotional support, as well as exercise practices specifically adapted for people living with cancer. The programs are highly interactive and provide the latest and most accurate therapies and practices available.
Participants in Harmony Hill's Cancer Program find renewed strength, resiliency, and a determination to heal. The tools they take with them provide a foundation for future support and ongoing personal health management. Through group support sessions, creative arts, gentle movement, and exploration of positive living strategies and healthy lifestyle choices; Harmony Hill offers participants a rich variety of opportunities for experiential learning. Perhaps most important, Harmony Hill provides program participants with a safe and nurturing place to explore the issues, choices, feelings, and concerns that people with cancer often have.
The three-day program is offered at no cost to those who attend and includes lodging and delicious meals. We also offer one day "Journey Series" offsite workshops in several locations throughout the Puget Sound. New in 2012 is the Webinar Nutrition series (called Sundays at Six). We have served over 4,000 people through these programs.We are projected to serve well over 1300 in 2013.
Recent Successes and Current Challenges
In 2012, approximately 1.6 million people were diagnosed with cancer. Cancer is a long journey for most. It starts with hearing those words, "It's cancer." After that, it is often a whirlwind of appointments, surgeries, infusions, therapies and advice. One of our Cancer Program alumni, Jan, has been part of the Cancer Program at Harmony Hill twice. She came first to a Caregivers Retreat and then came again a year later to one of our Grief and Loss Retreats (both part of the Cancer Program and offered at no cost to participants) after the loss of her spouse to Cancer. She said, "With a cancer diagnosis, life comes in a new color. You are a different species. Everything changes. Being at Harmony Hill, it was where people just know. I didn't have to explain. I was finally with others of my own kind."
The Cancer Program at Harmony Hill is not about curing cancer, but about healing the person deeply affected by a cancer diagnosis: patient, caregiver or loved-one. Cancer is a disease with an unpredictable course and duration that can cause stress for both the person with the diagnosis and the family. Social isolation can often occur in those with a cancer diagnosis due to changes in their physical body, the effects that a cancer diagnosis can have on one's mental state or the understanding of others on how to react around someone with cancer. Harmony Hill's Cancer Program offers support and resources for those affected by a cancer diagnosis.