Learn to use journaling as a form of self-therapy in a relaxed and safe environment. Elephants and Tea staff guide participants through writing prompts and an open discussion after each exercise as a way to empower oneself and connect to their peers.
Utilizing the idea of Narrative Therapy, we encourage participants to feel empowered to make changes in their thought pattern and behaviors regarding their experience with cancer. Participants will feel the power of sharing their story not only to help others, but to help aid in their own healing as well.
An exclusive guided journal is offered for free to whoever participates in one of our workshops. Our goal is for members of the AYA cancer community to see the impact that writing can have in their healing process, and to practice the art of narrative therapy as they continue through their experience with cancer and beyond.
Our Healing Through Writing Workshops are held in collaboration with hospitals and organizations throughout the country, as well as quarterly for our Elephants and Tea community. If you are a hospital or organization interested in partnering for a HTW Workshop, please email Kayla at kayla@elephantsandtea.com
“Dawn and Dusk: A Guided Journal for Young Adult Cancer” was created specifically for the young adult cancer community. This journal is full of over 80 prompts that are designed to provide opportunities for reflection and space to acknowledge all emotions and experiences with kindness and compassion towards oneself. These journals would not be possible without the support of our friends at I’m Not Done Yet Foundation.
Kayla Fulginiti, LCSW, OSW-C is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and the Senior Director at Elephants and Tea. She has been involved in the adolescent and young adult (AYA) oncology space since 2007, first as a Hospital Social Worker in Adult Oncology and then as a Pediatric Oncology Social Worker and School Program Coordinator. Throughout her career, she has always advocated and emphasized the importance of AYA support by assessing and raising awareness about AYA needs through direct clinical care, research, community engagement, and serving on advisory boards for various nonprofit organizations.
Whitney Hadley, MA, MSW, LSW, OSW-C is a Licensed Social Worker and Certified Oncology Social Worker who has worked with children, adolescents and young adults (AYA), and adults touched by cancer. She has extensive experience working with the AYA community and is passionate about her work in guiding individuals through writing a new life story as a cancer patient, survivor, or caregiver. Whitney is trained in Meaning-Centered Psychotherapy through Memorial-Sloan Kettering, which allows participants to explore the meaning in their cancer experiences.
Lisa Orr is the Brand Director at Elephants and Tea. She is a five-year Triple Negative Breast Cancer survivor who has found a passion in helping other young adults navigate a cancer diagnosis. She is an ambassador for the Triple Negative Breast Cancer Foundation and is the creator and host of the "Don't Call it a Journey" and the "AYA Cancer: Unfiltered" podcasts (both streaming on Apple Podcasts and Spotify). Lisa resides in Reading, Massachusetts with her husband and her two sons (ages 8 and 6). In her free time Lisa loves to write, cook, travel, and spend time with her friends and family.
Wendy Griffith MSSW, LCSW-S, OSW-C is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over 15 years of health care experience that includes clinical work with patients/caregivers and macro-level work involving project management and quality improvement. In her current role as Program Director of the MD Anderson AYA Program, she manages the strategic development and implementation of various components including clinical services, programming, outreach, communications, and reporting. Both inside and outside of that role, Wendy truly enjoys connecting with people and collaborating with the AYA community at large.
Paige Malinowski, MSW, LCSW is a pediatric clinical social worker in the Jimmy Fund Clinic at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. She provides psychosocial support and counseling to children, adolescents, and families who are coping with the impact of a pediatric hematological malignancy diagnosis. Prior to pediatrics, Paige served as the program manager of the Young Adult Program (YAP) at Dana-Farber for 9 years, managing the day-to-day clinical and programmatic operations of YAP, including clinical program development, group facilitation, patient/family outreach and support, and internal and external partnerships to enhance care for young adults with cancer.
Rachel Mihalko is the Director of Content at Elephants and Tea and is Hodgkin’s lymphoma survivor. She treasures sharing her written reflections with the community, especially because putting pen to paper brings her peace and clarity. She loves theater, writing poetry, and crafting of all sorts. Reading has fueled her passion for writing, and you will rarely find her without a book on hand.
Taylor Buss, MSW, LISW-S is a Licensed Independent Social Worker and Children & Family Program Manager at The Gathering Place in Northeast Ohio. Taylor specializes in working with children and families impacted by cancer and understands cancer's effect on the family system and individual family members. Recognizing the transformative benefits of E&T Writing Workshops, she empowers young adults with cancer to own their stories, using writing as a tool for understanding and navigating the emotional waves of a cancer diagnosis and beyond.
Elephants and Tea is a trademark of the Steven G. Cancer Foundation, a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit under federal tax guidelines.