Transformative Experiences of People Who Healed From Cancer

Abstract

Spiritually transformative experiences can also happen to people who face a diagnosis of cancer. These occurrences often convey a message to the patient, are highly-memorable, and may be accompanied by intense affect. In addition to being cathartic, patients have profound insights that are personally and collectively relevant. During this presentation James will share, drawn from his dissertation, a collection of specially-selected excerpts from patients predominantly from the United States and Australia. Each narrative will be compassionately considered, by conference participants, alongside pre-existing frameworks of spiritual, mystical, and religious experiences. This presentation will be of interest to counsellors and clinicians, people who have or know someone who presently has cancer, medical staff, and patient-advocates.

Presenter Bio

James Williams is about to complete his PhD psychology studies in the University of West Georgia’s consciousness and experience program. His two-fold interests lie in understanding and facilitating a wide variety of transformative experiences using a variety of psychological modalities, mindfulness, yoga, and Craniosacral Therapy.