The Touch Of Compassion

 
 

Empowering The Caregiver is a ground breaking workshop designed to educate physicians, nurses, home health aides, homemakers and nursing assistants about the power of appropriate compassionate touch in their delivery of personal care to patients.


This workshop has been distinguished by Women Healing Women of the Center for the Study of World Religions at Harvard Divinity School as an initiative worthy of development and sponsorship. The workshop met rigorous requirements, exemplifying a project in which women healers are taking a leadership role in promoting health.

A Workshop for Home Health Aides, Homemakers, and Nursing Assistants Sponsored by The Women Healing Women Project, Harvard Divinity School.

This workshop will educate Home Health Aides (HHAs), Homemakers, and Nursing Assistants (CNAs, NA s) about “compassionate touch” in their delivery of personal care to patients. This training will help these important caregivers understand and experience the power of their presence and their touch in the care of their patients. They will be encouraged and empowered to view themselves as an important asset within their patients’ health care teams.

The goals of this workshop are:

  1. •To empower caregivers to recognize the innate healing abilities they already possess

  2. •To educate caregivers to experience human connection through safe and appropriate touch.

  3. •As a result of this caring and appropriate touch, it is expected that patients will enjoy a positive nurturing experience, will feel less isolated, and will feel involved and encouraged in their own healing processes.


In this workshop, participants will explore different types of touch, both on and off the body, and will learn simple awareness techniques that enhance their abilities to support those in illness and pain. The leader(s) will provide in-depth information on the body’s natural energy centers and will focus on developing compassion for oneself and others.

We want to stress that this training is not intended to add to the burden of work already faced by caregivers. It is meant to nurture and bring out their innate healing abilities. In our experience, this training provides great benefits to participants’ personal as well as professional lives.

 

Seminar 1 - Empowering The Caregiver

"My staff raved about this in-service. They found that it gave them concrete ideas about how to calm people by using touch. They felt affirmed for the kind of work they provide."

Day Program Coordinator
Rogerson House
Jamaica Plain, MA

"I have learned the importance of helping people just by touching them with respect and love."

Certified Nursing Assistant
Jewish Family Services
Framingham, MA

"I plan to use this training in my own life and work."

Home Health Aide
Forge Hill
Franklin, MA

"For me, it (this training) is very important because the clients are elderly people who need love, understanding and patience."

Homemaker
Jewish Family Services
Framingham, MA


Seminar 2 - THe TOuch of Compassion for Christian Healing

During this experiential workshop we will explore compassionate touch and simple awareness techniques that enhance our ability to support those in pain, forgive and develop compassion for ourselves and others. Through the use of meditation, icons, blessings/anointing, scripture, prayer, intention and the laying on of hands Jesus meets us in our brokenness and there love transforms, redeems, and heals. We will discuss in depth information on the body's natural energy centers (charkas), the difference between healing and curing, and have ample time for hands- on practice, discussion and questions. We will use our hands and hearts as a connection to God's healing energy of unconditional love- you won't read about it, you'll experience it.

 

"Dear Lord, give me the truths which are veiled by the doctrines and articles of faith,
which are masked by the pious words of sermons and books. Let my eyes penetrate the veil,
and tear off the mask, that I can see your truth face to face." - St. John of the Cross

This workshop is open to everyone: nurses, therapists, pastoral staff, hospital chaplains, spiritual directors, and lay persons who are interested in healing. There will be ample time for "hands on" practice, class discussion, and questions.   

“God's compassion for all is revealed in the human touch of Jesus." Through prayer, intention, and the laying on of hands, Jesus meets us in our brokenness, and there love transforms, redeems, and heals.

Compassionate Touch has been successfully Taught at

  1. ■Adelynrood Conference and Retreat Center
    Byfield, MA
     

  2. ■Amercian Psychiatric Nurses Convention
    New England Chapter
     

  3. ■Boston Whole Health Expo
    Park Plaza, Boston, MA
     

  4. ■Canadian Women's Club
    Boston, MA
     

  5. ■Forge Hill Senior Living Community
    Franklin, MA
     

  6. ■Framingham State College Nursing Program
    Framingham, MA
     

  7. ■Harvest Gathering-Native American Gathering
    Becket, MA

  8. ■Jewish Family Services
    Framingham, MA
     

  9. ■LaSalette Center for Christian Living
    Attleboro, MA
     

  10. ■Metrowest Medical Center
    Natick, MA
      

  11. ■Milford Hospital, Adolescent Network Breakfast
    Milford, MA
     

  12. ■New England Dental Conference, Boston, MA
     

  13. ■New England Geriatrics, 12th Annual Conference, Westboro, MA
     

  14. ■Northhampton Whole Health Expo
    Northhampton, MA
     

  15. ■Rogerson House
    Jamaica Plain, MA
     

  16. ■RUAH Spirituality Institute
    Brookline, MA
     

  17. ■U-Mass ESL Program
    Amherst, MA

  18. ■Visiting Nurses of Massachusetts
    Framingham, MA
     

  19. ■Women's Center for Wellness
    Milford, MA