Mental Health Support
Empowering Young Adult Cancer Survivors: A Journey of Healing and Growth
Navigating life as a young adult cancer survivor comes with unique challenges. Beyond the physical battles, there’s an emotional journey—one that often goes unnoticed. Survivors carry immense strength while grappling with survivor’s guilt, uncertainty about the future, and the need to prioritize mental well-being.
To address these challenges, we partnered with Kaely's Kindness to create the Better You program. Our first series, held in January 2024, was a six-week program led by Munni Visco, J.D., CPC, CLC. Designed as a safe space for girls 16 and older, it focused on fostering a healthy relationship with oneself through sessions on values, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) principles, identifying limiting beliefs, understanding emotions, and honing communication skills. Participants gained tools to build the life they deserve.
Recognizing the ongoing need for mental health support among young adult cancer survivors, we launched a second, 10-week Better You series in the fall of 2024, facilitated by Melody De John, LCSWR. This program provided a safe and supportive environment to explore vital survivorship topics.
Participants who attended most sessions rated the program highly (4 or 5 out of 5) in key areas, including its relevance to their survivorship journey, exploration of identity and values, goal-setting, and personal growth. They also reported increased self-esteem and self-confidence, as well as valuable support in navigating life transitions after treatment. The program fostered a strong sense of community, provided coping strategies for fear of recurrence, addressed body image concerns, and helped participants reconnect with sources of support. Additionally, the facilitator received high praise for her guidance and support.
Building on the success of these programs and our commitment to reaching more young adults, in 2025, we launched Thursdays with Melody—a safe, drop-in Zoom space where girls can openly discuss topics like change, survivor’s guilt, staying motivated, and more.
