COVID-19: Special Measures
Please take note that our on-site complementary therapies are currently suspended until further notice due to the current COVID-19 pandemic.
About complementary therapies
Complementary therapies provide additional support alongside your conventional treatment. They help you cope with cancer and its treatments, reduce stress, fear and anxiety, and improve your overall health and well-being.
What we offer
Most of our complementary therapists offer group workshops targeting patients who are not hospitalized or those who are post-treatment. Individual sessions are offered to hospitalized patients on the oncology and palliative units.
Our group workshops are offered throughout the year. Please take a look at our calendar for more information. The time and date for individual sessions are arranged with the complementary therapists.
- Art Therapy:
Exploring your experience in a creative way can be very healing and meaningful. Art therapy can provide a way to reduce anxiety, increase self-awareness, and reduce stress. You can understand yourself in ways that words alone cannot express.
- Music Therapy:
Music therapy can help reduce anxiety and feelings of loneliness or isolation, distract you from pain and discomfort, and help improve mood. During music therapy session, you listen to music or use musical instruments under the guidance of a music therapist.
- Therapeutic Massage:
Massage therapy offers temporary relief from the side effects caused by treatments. It helps to relieve pain, anxiety and it can promote a sense of relaxation, comfort and well being. For hospitalized oncology patients and palliative care patients.
- Reiki:
Reiki is a gentle practice that promotes very deep relaxation, strengthening the body’s ability to heal. Reiki is given by the practitioner’s laying-on of hands with light or no touch, on a fully clothed person, sitting or lying down. Reiki can provide relief from common side effects experienced from treatment.
- Meditation, Relaxation & Yoga:
Meditation, relaxation and gentle yoga in combination with simple breathing exercises and mindfulness techniques can help reduce stress, blood pressure, anxiety, pain and insomnia. Chair yoga in your hospital room is also an option.
How to register
Everyone (patients and caregivers) is welcome to join our group workshops. Whereas individual sessions are reserved for hospitalized patients treated in the oncology and palliative units. Our resources are limited and requests are prioritized according to need.
Contact us by phone (514) 934-1934 ext. 35297 or email us at cedarscansupport@muhc.mcgill.ca
