Pathways, A Health Crisis Resource Center
In the heart of the Uptown area of Minneapolis, a place where the diversity of humanity comes together for good food, stimulating conversation and unabashed people watching, Pathways provides an oasis of support and nurturance for those who have a life threatening illness, their family, friends and care givers. It is a beautiful example of what can happen when committed members of the community gather to create a place of healing for all who are involved - participants, providers of one-on-one healing, facilitators of group programs, support staff volunteers, administrative staff, and board members.
In April of 1989, Pathways opened its doors with programs that are designed to support a creative healing response to life threatening illness, affirming that healing can occur at psychological, emotional and spiritual levels. Pathways' one-on-one and group programs provide emotional support, meditation, imagery and positive attitudes which can contribute to the healing process. All of our providers and support staff are volunteers; our only paid staff are the executive director, the office manager/volunteer coordinator, and at times a computer professional.
Pathways offers a wide spectrum of educational workshops intended to support a self-empowered approach to healing that integrates mind, body and spirit. We encourage participants to view these approaches to healing as complementary to their conventional medical care. Some of our programs present an integrated approach while others focus on physical concerns, on emotional issues, and/or on spiritual approaches to health, many of which are drawn from cross-cultural sources. Our philosophy is that there is no formula for healing, and that each person discovers their own path and what works for them. Our focus is the wholeness of the healing journey in all dimensions of our lives, and that healing can include death of the physical body. On this journey an illness may go into remission, but a "cure" may or may not be part of one's healing.
Many of our one-on-one programs could be placed under the umbrella terms of therapeutic massage and energy body work, but also include healing with color, voice and sound. The group sessions focus on the many dynamics and modalities of healing including natural foods, shamanic healing, healing laughter, meditation, grief, yoga, movement, and our relationship with living and dying.
When a person first comes to Pathways they are offered the opportunity to participate in an introductory program called Choices: Creating Resources to Develop Your Own Healing System. This challenging program brings awareness to the wide range of opportunities available when choosing a healing path, and the resources to take charge of when making those choices. It also provides information on mind/body/spirit healing, and supports development of a trusting relationship with your body.
The heart of Pathways can be found in the Renewing Life™ program, an eight week program about self renewal and life transformation for those facing a life threatening or chronic illness. It was developed by Ingrid Dilley and two colleagues in Madison, Wisconsin. Ingrid, and co-developer, Carol Troestler, have first hand knowledge of being confronted with a life threatening illness and discovering that the medical care they received was only a part of what they needed to heal. Renewing Life empowers people in the circumstance of a life threatening illness to live life more authentically and intuitively, to live life well no matter how long they live. It reverses the emotional victimization that many people feel in the crisis of illness, and gives them behavioral techniques to increase the quality of their lives. When the quality of one's life increases out of the crisis, then one can assign meaning to the crisis and release the feelings of victimization.
Researchers at the University of Wisconsin Medical School conducted a study to evaluate the effects of attending support groups on the quality of life of cancer patients, and in particular the effects of the Renewing Life program. Patients participating in Renewing Life were compared to another group of patients that simply received educational materials without group support. Results of the study indicate that patients who attended the Renewing Life program showed a statistically significant increase on the overall measure of their quality of life. Whereas the group of patients that received educational materials, but did not attend Renewing Life, did not show a statistically significant increase in their quality of life.
More than 800 participants have graduated from the Renewing Life program at Pathways since the program was first held there in February, 1991. Our Executive Director, Howard Bell, is the lead facilitator for the program, and also supervises the practicum aspect of the facilitator training when it is held at Pathways. Because of its popularity, proven effectiveness, and packaged format Renewing Life has been replicated in several hospitals in the Twin Cities area and is an excellent program for cancer centers and other non-profit centers.
The physical space that is Pathways was designed with our mission in mind and the healing needs of the participants. Upon entering, each person is greeted by a friendly volunteer who helps them find the appropriate provider or meeting room, or answers any questions. All are invited to browse through the library, read or check out a book, or relax in the warm environment of the living room. There is always hot coffee and water for tea in the kitchen, along with fresh drinking water and possibly a few snacks.
In evaluating the impact of our programs on the lives of our participants, they responded that they learned: how to set meaningful goals, to quiet my mind, that others share the same emotions and challenges, self awareness, acceptance of my illness, self empowerment, new perspectives, new resources and new solutions. They also liked the friendly atmosphere, receiving holistic information, the opportunity to vent, gaining self understanding and connecting with others.
The day to day operations of Pathways are made possible by the invaluable contributions of our volunteers&emdash;both support staff and providers of one-on-one and group programs, and the financial gifts of all of our contributors. We are very fortunate in the positive response we receive from the community in filling our financial and volunteer needs. When we asked why they volunteer at Pathways people responded that it gave them a feeling of satisfaction and fulfillment and they had a desire to help in creating a healing center. There is also a strong, altruistic "healing community" flavor at Pathways.
In reflecting on the community that sustains Pathways, all the different pieces have their separate existence and yet they all flow together and converge around the loving intention of creating a safe and healing space. I feel blessed to a part of this community; Pathways has given me so many opportunities to learn and grow, and sustained me on my own journey of healing into wholeness. You are all welcome to visit us at 3115 Hennepin Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55408. If you would like to receive our bimonthly calendar, you can write or call us at 612-822-9061.
Catherine Buelow is a founding board member and current board president of Pathways. Her background is in health care and human services. She currently does program design and project management for organizations and communities interested in developing the full potential of their members. She can be contacted through Pathways.
Return to the Index of Synapse 44, Summer 1998