Programme Objectives

The objectives of the programme:

• Provide an introduction to cancer, its prevention, early detection, treatment.
• Teach every day psycho-social issues with examples from our experiences in cancer.
• Provide an insight into psychological implications of every day transactions.

Workshop Structure and topics covered

Day 1

• Introductions and exploration of the cancer connect in participants
• Introduction to Cancer Patients Aid Association’s philosophy of Total Management of Cancer
• Information about cancer, its genesis, myths and misapprehensions, cancer epidemiology, prevention, faulty lifestyles, early detection, warning signs.
• Cancer treatment and terminology explained through the example of breast cancer treatment.
• Exploration of motivations in volunteering.
• Concept of change as a causative for loss, grief, different forms of coping and the role of counselors.
• Grief and Loss cycle.
• Good and bad counseling.

Home Work: Participants are asked to define a loss they have experienced and explore the grief and loss cycle from their own perspective.

Day 2

• Discussion
• Individuals relate their losses and analyse how they coped.
• Introduction to Counseling Skills: The CPAA Model
• How to Become a Better Counselor
• Genetic Counseling
• Palliative Counseling

Home Work: How to counsel patients and caregivers in different palliative situations.

Day 3

• Discussion
• Discussion of how to handle palliative situations.
• Ethics in Volunteering
• Ethical Decision Making Model
• Stress and Burnout and Self Care
• The Post Traumatic Growth Inventory

Benefits: Even if you should decide after attending the program that you don’t wish to counsel patients, you can help by conducting awareness lectures at schools, colleges and residential areas on the dangers of faulty lifestyles; by organising detection camps in high risk areas; by promoting the sale of CPAA’s Rehab Centre products. And you will take away a better understanding of your own motivations.

Certification: CPAA will give a certificate of participation for all those who complete the 3 day workshop.

Induction into CPAA: CPAA takes in a number of volunteers every year and this introductory training is a mandatory requirement. However, there is no compulsion to become a volunteer after doing the program. Those who are interested would initially work closely with experienced volunteers.

Training Faculty: The training will be conducted by Susmita Mitra and Veena Mishra Shukla, both of whom have worked for over 10 years with CPAA. Some times, we invite guest lecturers to cover some of the topics.

Registration: Advance registration fee is Rs. 1,000. On the spot registration is Rs. 1,500. This payment is tax exempt under section 80G (50% exemption). You will be sent a certificate of exemption along with receipt and letter of acknowledgement. The fees cover notes and material provided during the training, tea and lunch. Your registration will be confirmed only on receipt of the fees.

You can register online using a credit/debit card on our website. Do follow up the payment with an email to susmita.mitra@cancer.org.in. You can also pay in cash, by cheque or demand draft in the name of ‘Cancer Patients Aid Association’ and mail or hand deliver to the address below: