Integrative Wellness: Looking Forward

203-789-3488
email: [email protected]

Once you’ve heard the words “You have cancer,” you can’t look back. You must look forward.  

You need to look past the radiation, chemotherapy, hormone therapy and surgery, and focus on how to live a healthy, happy life, with spiritual and emotional well-being. These ideas inspired the Looking Forward program, which was founded at the Hospital of Saint Raphael in 1994.  

Today, Looking Forward is a multi-faceted, nationally recognized integrative wellness, support and education program that helps cancer patients and their loved ones deal with the many issues related to this disease. It helps cancer patients take control of a seemingly uncontrollable situation. Looking Forward gives patients the information and support they need – essential elements in the recovery process.  

More than 20,000 patients have turned to Saint Raphael’s Looking Forward program over the years.

Looking Forward offerings include:

– Gentle Yoga
– Holistic Nutrition
– Support Groups 
– Chair Massage
– Educational Seminars & Workshops
– Pet Therapy
– ACS Resource Room & Lending Library
– Specialty Shops in New Haven & Hamden
– Seasons Newsletter
– Medical Pilates

Looking Forward wins Healthcare Heroes Award

Business New Haven Magazine selected the Looking Forward program for its HealthCare Heroes 2010 award in Corporate Community Service.  The award, one of 14 that the magazine grants annually to recognize the special efforts of companies, organizations and individuals in the greater New Haven health care community, is granted in recognition of a health care-oriented entity demonstrating outstanding community service outside its direct health care mission.“Because the Looking Forward program focuses on the whole patient – the mind, body, and spirit, it differentiates us by going beyond traditional medicine.  We recognize the benefits of holistic treatment through meditation, massage, yoga, support groups and counseling and other wellness therapies,” said Margot Manocchio, Administrative Director of the Father Michael J. McGivney Center for Cancer Care at Saint Raphael’s. Some of those other therapies include pet therapy, energy balancing, tai chi, and special workshops such as healing through woodworking that have been featured at several of the program’s wellness retreats.

“This program is worthy of recognition for several reasons,” said Mitchell Young, the magazine’s publisher.  One is that it addresses the needs of those who might not find support elsewhere.  “For them and their families, serious illness presents an even larger problem.  For that reason, it is important that a program like Looking Forward continues to receive support from Saint Raphael ‘s and the community at large,” explained Young.

Another reason is that, “In evaluating programs for community service, this effort stands out because of its durability,” added Young.

Download the Looking Forward brochure