When I was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer in 2018, I was quickly pulled into what can only be described as a dismantling of my life, my relationships, and myself as I knew them. The extreme vulnerability that treatment induces led to revelations about my early experiences, my relationship patterns and my own self-concept. In the years since then, while building a new life that’s centered on inner peace and authentic connection, I’ve found myself focusing my work on the ties between body and mind - the ways that our bodies force us to pay attention to ourselves when we’ve been conditioned to focus on others, and the self-discovery that can unfold when we start listening.
The Catalyst collective was formed with the intention of connecting breast cancer patients and survivors with mental health practitioners who understand the ins and outs of treatment, whether through lived or professional experience, and who will also honor the singularity of every individual’s unique path. My hope is to build a community that supports patients and survivors as they navigate the emotional journey that cancer takes us on - the anxiety, the impact on our sense of identity, and the opportunity to make meaning of it all.
– Rachel Reid, LCSW
