Philosophy & Program
Gilda’s Club is distinguished by its unique philosophy and program. Completely free of charge, Gilda’s Club encourages a sense of "expertise" among members, and emphasizes community-building, collective wisdom and shared experience.
The Gilda’s Club Program:
The Basic III
Support and Networking Groups
All Clubhouses include Weekly Wellness Groups for those living with cancer and Family Groups for family members and friends, and monthly Networking Groups focused on a particular kind of cancer or topic of common interest (prostate cancer, young adults with cancer, living solo with cancer, etc.)
Lectures and Workshops
Typical lecture topics, which are selected based on members' interests, include stress reduction, nutrition, talking to your children about cancer, and managing pain. Major workshop areas include art and other forms of self-expression, meditation, exercise and yoga, and cooking.
Social Activities
These are among the most popular offerings at Gilda's Clubs and vary from potluck suppers with music to karaoke nights to joke fests or comedy nights to major celebrations around special holidays. Having members and families come together for fun creates special bonds that enhance other individual and group experiences.
The ‘Plus' Supplements
Team Convene™
A two-hour session, facilitated by a staff member, used to create an active support network at the time of diagnosis or for any challenging situations that may follow (e.g., a hospital stay or home recuperation). Sessions include all significant friends and family in a member's life, who join together to provide support for transportation, food preparation, childcare, etc.
Family Focus™
The Family Focus meeting, including anyone a member defines as family, is facilitated by a staff member. The purpose of the session is to enlist the entire family as a resource and help them learn together how to live with cancer. It seeks to identify and discuss family beliefs about cancer, critical family issues, and immediate practical problems as well as solutions.
Noogieland™
In a special area of every clubhouse, activities are conducted for children impacted by cancer, whether directly or by having a family member or friend with cancer. Most Gilda's Clubs also have a variety of activities for teens, who frequently choose to volunteer at the clubhouse as well.
PH&D
ph&d addresses the often-neglected social and emotional needs of cancer survivors and their families and friends, through a well-defined program of education and support activities. Specifically, it assists cancer survivors in achieving perspective, integration and gaining information about their life post-treatment. ph&d also provides a unique approach to emotional and social support for those whose loved ones have died of cancer.
Gilda's Club Language
At Gilda's Club, we take care to avoid words that convey or reinforce misconceptions about cancer. Here are some examples of Gilda's Club language:
- We say, "People living with cancer," not "Cancer victims or patients"
- We say, "Learning to live with cancer," not "Coping with cancer or facing a life-threatening illness"
- We say, "Regaining control & wellbeing," not "Doing battle, struggling with cancer, or fighting for recovery"
- We say, "Opportunity to join with others and share experiences," not "Being helpless or in need of help"
- We say, "Club members," not "Clients"
- We say, "Cancer support community" not "Cancer support group"
- We say, "Living fully as one learns to live with cancer" not "Improving one's quality of life"
- We say, "A warm and welcoming clubhouse" not "A safe haven"
- We say, "Learning skills and gathering information" not "Receiving education"
- We say, "A place to express a full range of feelings" not "A place to "stay positive"
