My Story
My cancer story started with a dream that I had breast cancer. When I woke up, I found the lump. Six weeks later, after putting my youngest on the bus for his first day of kindergarten, I went to my PCP to have her look at it. Four days later, I learned it was triple-negative breast cancer. I was terrified. Life as I knew it was totally turned upside down.
In reality, my cancer story really started when I was 19, the year that my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer for the first time. Both she and her sister ended up with breast cancer at the age of 43. 30+ years later my aunt is healthy and cancer-free. Seven years after my mom’s first diagnosis with cancer it returned, and she died within a year at the age of 51. I had the privilege of being one of her caregivers, of being by her side when she died. It was nothing that I was prepared to handle.
Creative Transformations
Ultimately, it was this experience of profound loss that spurred me to become an art therapist.
When I found out that I had cancer myself, I trusted that if I made it to the other side of treatment, this life experience was going to influence the work I did.
My Mission
Creative Transformations was born, with the intention to provide the information, tools, support, and guidance necessary to heal emotionally from cancer.
I knew I wanted to blend my personal and professional experiences. I trusted that this blend would make my offerings highly effective and relatable. I knew the following pillars had to frame the mission of my work.
- Cancer is not simply a medical problem and yet the emotional needs of cancer survivors are often overlooked, unaddressed, or neglected.
- The traditional approaches of only talk therapy are not enough to fully heal the body, mind, spirit and self.
- The healing from cancer is not a linear process. The techniques I developed needed to be teachable and accessible in every moment of need.
- In order for cancer survivors to move from surviving to thriving, meant that I could not take a singular approach. It had to be comprehensive.
Through Creative Transformations, I finally understood what I had been moving towards for my entire existence. I thank you for being here to witness my life purpose, to explore this deep labor of love that I hope will bring you towards the emotional wellness and healing you deserve.
Explore the pages, read about my offerings, and contact me if you’d like to talk about how we can work together.
Warmly,
Stephanie
Not until Stephanie McLeod-Estevez’ workshop on “SCANXIETY: Taming the Beast through Art” would I have ever realized Creativity– the spark of one kind or another that’s in everyone– could be as powerful in treating the mind, body & heart of those w/ cancer as medication, radiation, meditation, support groups, therapy & even faith in God. Through Creative Transformations, Stephanie showed how to process traumatic memories & ongoing fears we choose not to deal with by putting them on paper. To express what’s going on inside of me. What does the SCANxiety Beast look like? What kind of things does the monster say to me? What do I want to say back? Very empowering workshop, very cleansing & freeing. Thank you Stephanie!
Testimonial from Stage 4 Breast Cancer thriver
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