A cancer diagnosis can be a devastating experience, one that is life-changing, stressful and all-consuming. The disease not only affects your body, but also your emotions, your mind and your spirit. It impacts all aspects of your life: your marriage, your family, your friendships, your work, your spirituality, even how you relax and receive comfort.
It can be a frightening, uncertain road. But you don’t have to travel it alone.
At Cancer Care Northwest, you’ll find the extra support you and your family need to navigate through the overwhelming emotional and social challenges you will face on your journey.
You’re Not Alone
Our compassionate, licensed therapists can guide you and your family through the emotions, changes, grief and struggles of living with cancer. You will learn ways to improve your quality of life, despite the diagnosis. Our licensed therapists offer:
With their support, you can discover an inner strength and reveal a powerful resilience that can help you overcome barriers, fight your disease head on, find peace on the journey, and fully experience life—now and after treatment.
Cancer Care Northwest has licensed therapists on staff to help you and your family cope with the emotional, spiritual and social challenges which accompany the diagnosis and treatment of cancer.
Our highly skilled, compassionate counseling services team offers individual, marriage and family counseling, support groups and other important emotional support services.
Paula McKee, MSW, LICSW
Paula is an oncology counselor with experience working with families in crisis, earning her Master of Social Work degree with a focus on Family Systems and Illness. Education in Aging Studies, as well as, Palliative Care have informed Paula’s practice with both individuals and families experiencing cancer. She has worked with Kidz Count, a Cancer Care Northwest support group for families, since 2010. Paula teaches stress-management strategies and utilizes a variety of techniques to assist families in making change, including dialogue, cognitive behavioral therapy, narrative therapy, and grief work. She is able to work with individuals and families to set and achieve goals for the health and well-being of your family.
Sheree Lobdell, MSW, LICSW
Sheree is an experienced oncology counselor who has worked with individuals and families with long-term, chronic medical conditions. She teaches stress management strategies that include Mindfulness Therapy and breathing techniques. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), a psycho-social practice that aims to improve mental health, and grief work are at the center of her practice. Sheree’s educational focus in Medical Social Work has guided her approach in working with individuals and families experiencing cancer. She works closely with her patients to set and reach goals for the well-being of patients and their families. Sheree holds a Master of Social Work degree, with a focus on social work and illness, from Eastern Washington University. She is a licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) in the state of Washington.
In addition to our counseling services team, we have other licensed therapists who help facilitate specific support groups. All of our counselors are passionate about their mission to help their clients find healing throughout their journey in battling cancer.
Nora Redfox, BSW, MSW
Nora holds a Master’s Degree in Social Work from Eastern Washington University. She is currently a social worker with Hospice of Spokane, and volunteers as a substitute counselor at Cancer Care Northwest's family support group, Kidz Count, to help young teens develop coping skills to deal with a family member’s cancer diagnosis and treatment. For eight years, Nora has been an important part of the Cancer Care Northwest counseling team, and believes that, with the guidance of the Kidz Count family support group, all family members can achieve an understanding of each other's emotions and grief so they know they are not alone.
Brad Reimer, BSW, MSW, LICSW
Brad Reimer earned his BS and MS degrees in social work from Brigham Young University. He is a licensed clinical social worker in Washington, Idaho, Oregon and Utah, and has spent the majority of his career counseling individuals, couples and families. He also has experience in adoption services—working with both single expectant parents and prospective families—and in working with autistic children. Brad’s experience in interacting with diverse age groups and issues gives him a unique perspective, and he is passionate about serving Cancer Care Northwest patients, and serves as facilitator for the Prostate Cancer Support Group.
Amy Sobosky, MS, NCSP
Amy has been working with children and families in the school setting for over seven years. She received a Master of School Psychology from Eastern Washington University in 2010. As a co-facilitator of Cancer Care Northwest’s family support group, Kidz Count, Amy helps elementary school children discuss and cope with the issues that can arise when a parent or loved one has been diagnosed with cancer.
Our licensed therapists specialize in therapy that addresses challenges like managing anxiety, depression and other emotional struggles with cancer. They are highly trained and experienced in assisting people, most of who have never had therapy before, through the seven predictable crisis points of cancer:
With their expert guidance, you and your loved ones can navigate the difficult journey through cancer, overcome emotional and social challenges, and live each day to its fullest.
Learn specialized techniques to manage your fear, pain and anxiety. Our therapists provide training and practice in:
Reestablish your connection with each other. Our therapists can help you and your spouse or partner:
Explore ways to keep your family-unit strong throughout your journey with cancer. Our therapists can help you and your family members:
Adapt to life after cancer. Our therapists can help you heal the wounds to the heart, mind and soul that can linger long after your cancer treatment is done. Learn to apply the strength and wisdom you built throughout your treatment to life after treatment.
Our licensed therapists facilitate regular support groups at CCNW's South Spokane Clinic (601 S. Sherman St). These groups provide a safe, comfortable environment to share your experiences and to receive encouragement from others who are facing similar challenges as you. They are a valuable tool in the healing process.
Please note, if a CCNW Support Group falls on a holiday that is observed by Cancer Care Northwest, the group will be cancelled. For CCNW holiday closures, please visit our website calendar. Thank you.
Breast Cancer Support Group
This group is available for women who want information, support and encouragement through the stages of cancer: patient, survivor and lifetime thriver. The group offers emotional solace as well as techniques to cope with the unexpected effects cancer has on self-image, relationships and daily lifestyle. Join us the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of each month from 5:30 to 7:00pm at the CCNW South Spokane Clinic (601 S Sherman St). Beginning 9/13/23.
Facilitator: Paula McKee, MSW, LICSW
(509) 228-1580 / paula.mckee@ccnw.net
General Cancer Support Group
This group is for patients and/or their primary support person dealing with ANY type of cancer, at any point in their journey. Our group helps people cope with the emotional, physical, social and spiritual impacts of cancer by providing a safe place to share feelings and challenges, and learn from others who are facing similar situations. Please join us the 1st and 3rd Thursday of each month from 5:30 to 7:00pm at the CCNW South Spokane Clinic (601 S Sherman St). Beginning 9/7/23.
Facilitator: Paula McKee, MSW, LICSW
(509) 228-1580 / paula.mckee@ccnw.net
The groups are open to patients, their family members and to others in the community. There is no cost for participating. If you would like to join one of the above listed in-person Support Groups, please email the support group's facilitator. Pre-registration with the group's facilitator is required. For the safety of our participants, walk-ins are not welcome.
Receive the support and encouragement you need during your cancer treatment, by attending a virtual CCNW Support Group from the comfort of your home. These groups can provide a comfortable environment to share your experiences and to receive encouragement from others who are facing similar challenges as you. They are a valuable tool in the healing process.
Men's Prostate Cancer Support Group (Virtual)
This group was created specifically for men battling prostate cancer. Come and find support from others experiencing similar challenges in the uphill climb to restored health. Please join us the 2nd and 4th Tuesday day of every month from 5:30-7:00PM.
Facilitator: Brad Reimer, MSW, LICSW
brad.reimer@ccnw.net
If you would like to participate in one of the above listed virtual Support Groups, please email the support group's facilitator. They will provide you a ZOOM meeting link, meeting ID and password. We also require you to sign and return the CCNW Zoom Support Groups Confidentiality and Risk Management Agreement prior to participating.
Additionally, we ask that you please review the CCNW Support Group Overview and CCNW Zoom Support Groups Helpful Tips & Guidelines documents before joining us in a virtual support group.
We know there is a lot of information you could be reading about your cancer and how to best care for yourself and your family. Our counseling experts have created the below downloadable guide to help you know which sites and resources are most reliable:
Cancer Care Northwest Reliable Resources (Click to download)
"The media, family, friends, coworkers, EVERYBODY should be talking about prostate cancer but NOBODY does. This group sometimes is the only place where men can talk about feelings and issues surrounding prostate cancer."
- Mike, Prostate Cancer
