‘Emotional Eating’ support on menu at St. Francis Weight Loss Center

INDIANAPOLIS – Occasional “emotional eating” isn't a problem for most people. After all, that's what makes comfort food so appealing. But turning to food every time a person has unpleasant feelings – or even positive ones – can lead to weight gain.

The holidays provide additional opportunities and temptations for emotionally-charged eating, which is why the St. Francis Weight Loss Center will offer its six-week Emotional Eating Support Group beginning Nov. 15.

The Emotional Eating Support Group at the St. Francis Weight Loss Center is for anyone trying to lose weight and struggling with emotional overeating, also known as compulsive overeating or binge eating. This group offers support to patients struggling with emotional eating, or using food for reasons other than physical hunger and feeling unable to stop the behavior.

The latest session gets under way 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 15, with each session held Tuesdays at the St. Francis Weight Loss Center, 5230-A E. Stop 11 Road, across Stop 11 Road from the Franciscan St. Francis Health-Indianapolis campus. Cost is $60 for the six-week program.

The groups will be led by Cheryl A. Moore, LCSW, a therapist at the St. Francis Weight Loss Center. Moore has extensive experience providing individual, couples, family and group therapy to patients with eating, mental health, addiction and PTSD issues.

There is a fee for those registering for the program. Call 317-528-7525 or visit StFrancisHospitals.org/weightloss for additional information.

Grieving youth learn coping skills through St. Francis Hospice program

INDIANAPOLIS -- Death is a part of the life cycle, and it’s especially difficult for children to grasp and make sense out of it, particularly when they lose a loved one.

That’s why St. Francis Hospice offers Caterpillar Kids, a support program that offers learning experiences for children ages 5 to 12.

“Children do grieve and they may express it differently than adults, but their feelings are as genuine and essential in healing,” said bereavement coordinator Karla Riggs Norton. “Caterpillar Kids brings children together in a safe, nurturing environment where they receive information about grief and learn healthy ways to cope with the death of a loved one.”

St. Francis Hospice will offer its Spring Caterpillar Kids program beginning Wednesday, April 7, and ending May 12. The workshops, which are free, are from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m., meeting each Wednesday.

Meetings are at Christ United Methodist Church, 8540 U.S. 31 South, one mile north of Greenwood Park Mall.

Led by staff trained in bereavement support for children, youngsters participate in storytelling, art projects, games and other sharing opportunities. Parents also are invited to participate in a concurrent session to assist them in supporting their children.

Registration is required. To register or for more information about Caterpillar Kids, call 317-865-2092 or toll-free at 800-390-9915.

More information about St. Francis Hospice is at www.stfrancishospitals.org/DesktopDefault.aspx?tabid=280.

Cancer support group for oral, head, neck patients meets Sept. 3

INDIANAPOLIS – Support for People with Oral, Head and Neck Cancer will hold its south side care and share group meeting from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 3.

The next class meets Thursday, Oct. 1.

The meeting is at the St. Francis Education Center, 5935 S. Emerson Ave., Suite 100. Come share your experiences and learn from other oral, head and neck cancer patients. Ample time will be provided for participants’ questions and discussion.

This monthly support group meets the first Thursday of each month and is for anyone with oral, head or neck cancer, regardless of stage or type of cancer. Caregivers are welcome.

For more information, call 317-782-4422.

St. Francis hosts support group for oral, head, neck cancer patients

INDIANAPOLIS – Support for People with Oral, Head and Neck Cancer will hold its south side care and share group meeting from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., Thursday, June 4.

The next class meets Thursday, Aug. 6.

The meeting is at the St. Francis Education Center, 5935 S. Emerson Ave., Suite 100. Come share your experiences and learn from other oral, head and neck cancer patients. Ample time will be provided for participants’ questions and discussion.

This monthly support group meets the first Thursday of each month and is for anyone with oral, head or neck cancer, regardless of stage or type of cancer. Caregivers are welcome.

For more information, call 317-782-4422.

Summer camp offers grieving kids ways to share feelings, cope with loss

INDIANAPOLIS – The loss of a loved one brings a mixed bag of emotions to anyone, but it can be a particular burden for youngsters who are trying to sort out their feelings.

Yet there’s a place in central Indiana that helps young people deal with their grief and share their feelings with others in similar situations. That’s why St. Francis Hospice is an supporter and active participant at Camp Healing Tree, which offers a special weekend opportunity for children and teens.

The camp is accepting applicants for its Aug. 21-23 session. Trained and screened volunteers from St. Francis and other area hospices are on hand to work with participants on an individual or group basis.

"The camp is designed as a support environment in which to gently teach coping skills and build self-esteem and support," said Roberta White, St. Francis Hospice coordinator. "Although the camp focuses on grief support, there also are many social and fun activities for the campers, such as swimming, arts, crafts, games, to name but a few."

Located on Indianapolis’ west side at Jameson Camp, Camp Healing Tree begins at 6:30 p.m., Friday, Aug. 21, and concludes with a memorial services for participants and their families at 11 a.m., Sunday, Aug. 23.

Because of limited availability, only first-time campers are being accepted for this year’s session.

For more information, contact Roberta White at 317-865-2092. Direct registration for Camp Healing Tree can be made by calling 317-388-2267, or visiting www.camphealingtree.org.

Group offers support, shared experiences for blood cancer patients

BEECH GROVE, Ind. – A diagnosis of leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin disease or myeloma can leave a person feeling isolated with unanswered questions.

The Indiana Blood and Marrow Transplantation unit at St. Francis Hospital & Health Centers is co-sponsoring a support group. Support for persons with a blood cancer will hold an informational meeting from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., Tuesday, June 16, at Beech Grove Meadows, 13, at 130 Albany Way.

Participants can share their experience with former and current transplant patients. This group is open to all people touched by a blood cancer seeking support from others. Ample time is set aside for participants’ questions and discussion.

This monthly support group meets the third Tuesday of each month and encourages participation of patients, families, caregivers and friends to attend. Meetings are co-sponsored by Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

To learn more, call 317-726-2275, extension 200.

More information about the Indiana Blood and Marrow Transplantation unit at St. Francis can be found at http://www.ibmtindy.com.

St. Francis-sponsored group offers support to breast cancer patients

MOORESVILLE, Ind. – There’s more to fighting cancer than good medicine and technology. That’s why St. Francis Cancer Center offers a well-designed support program to help breast cancer patients.

Designed for those with breast cancer, this group provides a safe place to share thoughts, feelings and gain practical information from others in similar situations at any treatment stage.

The group meets the first Monday of each month from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. at St. Francis Hospital-Mooresville, OB Classroom, 1201 Hadley Road. Their next meeting occurs Monday, July 6.

The sessions are offered free, however, registration is recommended. Caregivers are welcome.
To register, call 317-782-4422 or visit StFrancisHospitals.org/cancer for more information.

Support group reaches out to cancer patients, caregivers

INDIANAPOLIS – Support for People with Oral, Head and Neck Cancer will hold its south side care and share group meeting from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., Thursday, May 7.

The meeting is at the St. Francis Education Center, 5935 S. Emerson Ave., Suite 100. Come share your experiences and learn from other oral, head and neck cancer patients. Ample time will be provided for participants’ questions and discussion.

This monthly support group meets the first Thursday of each month and is for anyone with oral, head or neck cancer, regardless of stage or type of cancer. Caregivers are welcome.

For more information, call 317-782-4422.

Support group assists patients with oral, head, neck cancers

INDIANAPOLIS – Support for People with Oral, Head and Neck Cancer will hold its south side care and share group meeting from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 4.

The meeting is at the St. Francis Education Center, 5935 S. Emerson Ave., Suite 100. Former and current patients with those types of cancer are encouraged to attend and share their experiences with others. Ample time will be provided for participants’ questions and discussion.

This monthly support group meets the first Thursday of each month and is for anyone with oral, head or neck cancer, regardless of type or stage of cancer. Caregivers are welcome.

For more information, call 317-782-4422.

Diabetes patients, families served by St. Francis support program

INDIANAPOLIS – The Diabetes Support Group at St. Francis Hospital & Health Centers has launched a new series of weekly programs.

The group will meet 6:30 p.m., the first Thursday of each month, from February to December. There’s no cost for participating patients and their families.

Meetings are held at the St. Francis Education Center, 5935 S. Emerson Ave., Suite 100 in classroom 2.

For more information, call 317-782-6600.

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Support program helps kids handle grief in loss of loved one

INDIANAPOLIS – Consider the caterpillar: It builds a cocoon and remains safe until it transforms and emerges into a new life, one that takes flight.

Death is a part of the life cycle, and it’s especially difficult for children to grasp and make sense out of it, particularly when they lose a loved one. And that’s why St. Francis Hospice offers Caterpillar Kids, a support program that offers learning experiences for children ages 5 to 12.

St. Francis Hospice will offer its Spring Caterpillar Kids program beginning March 12. The workshops, which are free, are from 4:30 to 6 p.m. and run three consecutive Wednesdays with a one-week break, then resume for three additional sessions.

Meetings are at Christ United Methodist Church, 8540 U.S. 31 South, one mile north of Greenwood Park Mall.

“Children do grieve and they may express it differently than adults, but their feelings are as genuine and essential in healing,” said Barbara Weatherspoon, hospice social worker. “Caterpillar Kids brings children together in a safe, nurturing environment where they receive information about grief and learn healthy ways to cope with the death of a loved one.”

Led by staff trained in bereavement support for children, youngsters participate in storytelling, art projects, games and other sharing opportunities. Parents also are invited to participate in a concurrent session to assist them in supporting their children.

Registration is required. To register or for more information about Caterpillar Kids, call Roberta White at 317-865-2092 or toll-free at 800-390-9915.

More information about St. Francis Hospice is at www.stfrancishospitals.org/DesktopDefault.aspx?tabid=280.

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Program helps women cancer patients ‘Look Good, Feel Better’

INDIANAPOLIS – St. Francis Hospital-Indianapolis will host a free workshop for women with cancer from noon to 2 p.m., Monday, Feb. 11.

The program is at the hospital, 8111 S. Emerson Ave., Indianapolis. Family members or a support person is welcome to attend.

The Look Good, Feel Better workshop teaches women with cancer beauty techniques to help restore their appearance and self-image during chemotherapy and radiation treatments.

Volunteer licensed cosmetologists lead small groups, usually consisting of six to 10 women, through practical, hands-on experience. Women learn about makeup techniques, skin care, nail care, and options related to hair loss such as wigs, turbans, and scarves. Each group program participant receives a free kit of cosmetics for use during and after the workshop.

The workshop is supported by the American Cancer Society and the National Cosmetology Association. Participants are required to register for the workshop and may do so by calling 317- 782-4422.

More information on cancer services at St. Francis Hospital, visit www.StFrancisHospitals.org/cancer.