Heidi Stahl, M.A.
Psychotherapist & Writing Coach

Support for People Affected by Life-Threatening Illness

Categories:

Psychotherapist

As a trained psychotherapist and survivor of Stage 3 breast 

cancer, my mission is to support others who are dealing with the effects of cancer and other traumatic illnesses.

"Serious illness is often a dark night of the soul. As such, it requires soul doctors as well as body experts...During illness, the soul comes out of hiding and shows itself in fresh realizations and new priorities." -- Thomas Moore

I believe that illness, like all life-changing events, offers us an opportunity for greater self-knowledge and greater self-love.

During times of illness, we instinctively search for...[more]

Psychotherapist

As a trained psychotherapist and survivor of Stage 3 breast

cancer, my mission is to support others who are dealing with the effects of cancer and other traumatic illnesses.

"Serious illness is often a dark night of the soul. As such, it requires soul doctors as well as body experts...During illness, the soul comes out of hiding and shows itself in fresh realizations and new priorities." -- Thomas Moore

I believe that illness, like all life-changing events, offers us an opportunity for greater self-knowledge and greater self-love.

During times of illness, we instinctively search for meaning. "Why has this happened to me?" In our need for answers, we sometimes wrongly blame ourselves. It takes care, kindness, creativity, and imagination to find the answers that express our true complexity and beauty.

When we have the support to sit with the difficult emotions that life-threatening illness evokes, we can transform fear, vulnerability, and confusion into stepping stones toward a deeper, richer life. A life of greater wholeness. Which is what true healing is all about.

I draw from several different approaches in my work: self-relations psychotherapy and mindfulness-based stress reduction among them. Although I work with clients who have faced or are facing serious issues (mortality, loss, grief), I bring loving humor to our conversations. Most importantly, I hold my clients with compassion and warmth. I am honored and privileged to be included in their journeys.

Writing Coach

I have helped many graduate students and published authors overcome writing blocks of all sizes. I have a knack for finding the places where the writing goes flat and the writer goes unconscious -- usually out of fear. I find the places where the writing, the thinking, and the feeling can go deeper and become more compelling. In the process, I help the writer find her/his voice and authority. In coaching conversations and in my written responses to writing, I bring fun back to the writing and learning process.

I take great joy in this work, because I know first hand what it feels like to be blocked...and how joyful it feels to get un-blocked. [less]

• 
  From Aditi Sengupta

  Given on Sun Mar 29, 2009.

  Wishing you all the best with your book. It will be exciting to see it get published. Today I finished...[more]

  Wishing you all the best with your book. It will be exciting to see it get published. Today I finished a course from Harvard Medical School- Department of Continuing Education about: Publishing Books, Memoirs and other Creative Nonfiction, under the direction of Jule K. Silver.MD. The course contained many useful hints to publish a book. Next year's dates for the course will be: March- 25th to 27th, 2010. Hope you can attend the course.Your contribution will be invaluable.    [less]