Information
Michelle Suzanne Scott

Registered Social Services Worker

Email

Michelle@MichelleSuzanneScott.ca

Phone

905.244.9123

Michelle Suzanne Scott

Social media

Blog

  • Top Ten Things to Know About Grief & Loss December 13, 2016 Top Ten Things to Know About Grief & LossRecently, I was asked by a local funeral director to consider running a group at his funeral home.  As I was mulling over what to include in the information, I came up with a Top Ten List of things I wanted people to know.  The list is wordy, so I distilled it further and created a “Grief Heart” handout as well (see below Top Ten List). As always, please leave your feedback and comments about what resonates with you and what doesn’t. #10     Grief is an internal experience of all the thoughts and feelings you have when someone you love dies.  These feelings ...
  • Integrative Care for Cancer Patients May 12, 2015 Integrative Care for Cancer PatientsThe following is a guest post:  Integrative Health Care Eases Pain and Grief for Cancer Patients  The pain and grief felt by people with cancer can be debilitating and exhausting. When combined, pain and grief exacerbate each other. As pain increases, the ability to manage emotions becomes challenging. As grief intensifies, sensations of pain may increase. But the right combination of integrative health care can offer relief.  Traditional health care has long focused on easing pain for people with cancer. Many types of physical pain are controlled well with the latest medications and treatments. Pain relief is essential to quality of life, but ...
  • Low Self-Esteem January 27, 2015 Low Self-EsteemBecause a person’s self worth is developed during childhood, there may be several factors that contribute to low self esteem: Every child needs attention and love.  If you grew up in an environment where there was childhood abuse and/or neglect, chances are you struggled with a good self-image.  You may have learned that you didn’t deserve more than you got. “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me” may have been a common phrase you heard as a child.  It’s a lie.  Criticism (by family, peers, teachers, etc.) plays a big part in low self-worth.  Being bullied ...
  • What is Contemplative End of Life Care? January 19, 2015 What is Contemplative End of Life Care?Spiderman & the Little Stone Angel, Photo by:  Michelle S. Scott Contemplative (Adjective):  To allow for reflection and manifestation (expression) of deep thoughts, involving prayer or meditation and focusing on the divine presence or higher power, within. A person at the end of their life is leaving their world, including family and friends and many aspects that make up their life.  They are also going somewhere that they can’t come back from and the information about their destination is unavailable and unknown; sometimes shrouded in religious or cultural traditions and beliefs, but ultimately unknown.  Contemplative End of Life Care (CEOLC) recognizes that ...
  • Honouring Our Ancestors September 1, 2014 Honouring Our AncestorsI recently re-tweeted @sameetkumar: “When our loved ones die, they become our ancestors, those who came & went before us because we have outlived them.  They are to be honored.” This is an interesting idea, one that may not have occurred to those who don’t follow a particular tradition or religion in their daily lives.  Dr. Kumar is one of my teachers in the Contemplative End of Life Care course @ITM and I have been thinking a lot about the families I will be working with; especially those who don’t have customs and practices that will help them with grief and ...
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