This is an Eight-Week Support Group for GIST Caregivers.
Held every Tuesday starting May 5th at 5pm ET.
Limited to 12 participants.
Online Support Group Launching Tuesday, May 5th
As we navigate this uncertain time together, we want to offer you a little extra support. Starting Tuesday, May 5th at 5pm ET the LRG will have its own weekly support group for caregivers of people living with GIST facilitated by Chelsea Madia, LCSW and Angela Edson, LSW. In an effort to continue social distancing, we will use an electronic platform, to come together for eight consecutive weeks as a small group of 12 participants.
We will talk about all of the feelings you might be experiencing, both in relation to caring for someone living with GIST, and also navigating your role during COVID-19. We will share experiences, if you are comfortable, and speak freely about the new fears and anxieties we might be feeling as a result of this unprecedented time. The group will be a safe space not only to feel supported by your fellow GIST caretakers, but also a place to share our own coping mechanisms to get us through this stressful time. All information shared will be kept confidential.
About the Group Leaders:
Angela Edson, LSW
Angela is a licensed social worker in New Jersey. She has been an employee at the Life Raft Group for close to five years. During her graduate studies she interned at a local hospital’s outpatient cancer center providing support to patients and caregivers. Additionally, Angela has personal experience as a caregiver to loved ones with a cancer diagnosis. She understands the challenges that come along with this role and is excited to co-facilitate this support group.<
Chelsea Madia, LCSW
Chelsea Madia is a licensed clinical social worker in New York, who started in the field in 2011 counseling at-risk teens at the Child Center of New York in Jamaica, Queens. After this, her work took her to the Coalition for the Homeless in lower Manhattan, where she supported mentally ill homeless adults in their quest to move into supportive housing, as well as apply for disability benefits. From there, she worked for nine months on the Psychiatric Mobile Crisis Team at Mount Sinai Beth Israel, before being promoted to Program Manager. In November of 2018, after three years managing the team, Chelsea was diagnosed with metastatic GIST. Since that time, she has been stable on Gleevec, and now is in the early phases of starting her own private counseling practice in New Rochelle, NY.
