Mental Health 2023 (Part 2): Love and Relationships – Navigating Life Tasks with Sickle Cell

Date: August 19, 2023

Category: Health & Wellness / Sickle Cell Disease / Mental Health

Participants:

• Moderator 
  • Dr. Carolyn Rowley, Executive Director, Cayenne Wellness Center
    
  • Dr. Felicia Hunt

• Guest Speakers
  • Dr. Terry Jackson
  • James Griffin
  •  Dima & Michael Hendricks

Description: This session is the second in a Cayenne Wellness Center mini seminar series on mental health, exploring Alfred Adler’s holistic view of life tasks. Focusing on love and relationships, panelists and guest couples candidly share their lived experiences navigating intimacy, identity, trust, and self-acceptance while living with Sickle Cell Disease. The discussion highlights both challenges and strengths in building relationships, the role of caregivers, and the importance of communication, therapy, and community support.

Key Learning Objectives:

• Understand Alfred Adler’s concept of life tasks, with emphasis on love and relationships, and how imbalance impacts mental health.
  
• Explore the unique challenges faced by individuals with Sickle Cell Disease in social and romantic relationships, including issues of disclosure, trust, and vulnerability.
  
• Gain insights from lived experiences on how couples navigate intimacy, crises, and caregiver dynamics in the context of SCD.
  
• Recognize the psychological impact of trauma, stigma, and self-perception on relationship health.
  
• Learn practical strategies for strengthening relationships: open communication, therapy, acceptance of support, and creating a safe, peaceful home environment.
  
• Encourage caregivers to understand, empathize, and commit fully to their role in supporting warriors.
  
• Inspire warriors to embrace self-worth, seek love without shame, and balance self-acceptance with relationship building.