Our Mission
To provide a guiding hand and compassionate heart to people with cancer and their loved ones through services that educate, support, and empower people through the cancer journey.
We support people in the Ojai Valley touched by cancer: individuals with new diagnoses, in treatment, and survivors.
We are a community of resources, caregivers, and non-medical services. We provide you the support you deserve.
OjaiCARES believes that an informed patient
is an empowered one.
With the help of our dedicated professional volunteers, OjaiCARES offers Oncology Massage, Reiki, Reflexology, ArōmaTouch, and Oncology Facial appointments, free of charge, to our clients during their cancer journeys as well as to cancer caregivers. Our compassionate skilled therapists are specially trained to understand and address the unique physical, psycho-social, and emotional needs of people in various stages of cancer, cancer treatment, and care-giving. Each session is individualized to provide comfort, nurture, and support.
Learn more about our therapists here.
Circle of Life – Living, Aging, and Dying
Oncology Massage
If you are living with cancer, your massage appointment will be with an oncology-trained massage therapist and will be modified … taking into account your unique health circumstances. Oncology massages are focused on comfort and nurturance, and therapists work safely within a framework of clinical considerations.
Caregiver Massage
If you are a cancer caregiver, we have certified massages therapists at OjaiCARES just for you. Cancer caregiving can be physically exhausting and emotionally draining as well as isolating. Massage helps to ease stress, provides connection and nurturing, brings comfort, and supports calm and sleep. Caregiver massage provides a respite from a typically demanding emotional experience.
Reiki is a stress reduction and relaxation technique. It has become a subject of curiosity for cancer patients everywhere. Studies and anecdotal evidence has shown that, in addition to promoting relaxation among patients, Reiki can also be used to encourage healing and provide other benefits. Some studies have explored the effect of Reiki on patients who are undergoing cancer treatment concurrently. These studies have found that, although Reiki is not a substitute for other cancer treatments, it may enhance these treatments and offer a number of benefits to patients as they deal with the symptoms and stresses of cancer.
Reflexology is a type of massage where pressure is applied to your feet and hands. When cancer patients face stress, fatigue, or nausea, they may turn to integrative therapies such as reflexology to help ease symptoms. Although each patient responds individually, reflexology can support relaxation and comfort during cancer treatment and offers an alternative to traditional massage.
Share Your Hearts and Stories with Others 
It can be difficult for caregivers to make time for themselves, or even to ask for help. Yet for someone to go the distance with a loved one requires allowing oneself to receive care, in addition to giving care. Isolation can increase distress, so our Caregiver Support Group is dedicated to providing a safe, nurturing environment where caregivers can receive understanding, compassion, and support to help maintain their own wellness. Through community, members discover and share inner and outer resources with one another, give one another emotional and practical support, and learn they are not alone. Here, we share challenges, triumphs, hopes, fears, joys, and strategies for maximizing well-being, comfort, and peace.
We realize it is sometimes difficult to take time for yourself and leave your loved one at home. Please join us via zoom. This Caregiver Group is now being offered virtually and open to the whole community.
The group meets on the 1st and 3rd Mondays each month.
10:00 AM Pacific Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/
Oncology Skincare is provided by Kelli Loughman, a trained and certified Oncology Esthetician from the Oncology Training International program. We offer skincare treatments that are personalized for client’s exact conditions, medications, and current treatments. Our esthetician takes all necessary precautions to ensure client’s safety during treatments.
ArōmaTouch Gentle Touch is a relaxing nurturing experience whereby the practitioner applies dōTERRA Pure Therapeutic Grade® essential oils along energy meridians and visceral contact points of the back, spine, and feet to help balance the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems of the body. ArōmaTouch sessions improve feelings of well-being by reducing physical and emotional stressors and by supporting healthy autonomic function. ArōmaTouch sessions are available for both cancer survivors and cancer caregivers.
Restorative Yoga
Many of us have worked with Ingrid Boulting during our cancer journey, appreciating her sensitivity and awareness of physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual needs. A Registered Yoga Teacher and lifelong student of Healing Arts, Ingrid creates a powerful space for OjaiCARES clients to be welcomed, nurtured, and to activate their innate healing capacities.
The following classes are donation-based for OjaiCARES clients (no one turned away).
Mondays – 6-7:30 PM Restorative Yoga
Wednesdays – 10-11:30 AM Restore & Renew Yoga classes held at Sacred Space
805.646.6761
307 Matilija Street, Suite H (upstairs, above Trend Consignment shop)
Counseling Sessions
We are excited to be in partnership with Rowan Lommel (Master’s Level Counselor in training) and Patricia Teague Anderson, LMFT Supervising Therapist. Rowan is offering confidential, free, and low-cost counseling to OjaiCARES clients and their caregivers/loved ones.
[email protected]
805-559-1979
RowanLommel.com
Grief Support Group
Grief is expressed in many ways. Share your heart with others.
This weekly drop-in group is an opportunity to support your unique grieving process in a confidential setting with a licensed therapist. The support group can be a source of hope and healing after loss.
Support for Family Caregivers
Meets 1st and 3rd Wednesdays at 10 am
Ojai United Methodist Church
120 Church Road
It can be difficult for caregivers to make time for themselves or even ask for help. Yet, for someone to go the distance with a loved one requires allowing oneself to receive care, in addition to giving care. Our Caregivers Support Group is dedicated to providing a safe nurturing environment where caregivers can receive understanding, compassion, and support to help maintain their own wellness. Here, we share challenges, triumphs, hopes, fears, joys, and strategies for maximizing well-being, comfort, and peace.
This group is open to the community. For more information, call 805-646-6433 or email: [email protected]
Breast Cancer Support Group
This facilitated peer group is an opportunity to feel connected with others sharing a similar experience. Gain information, advocacy skills, insights, and tools to navigate the outer and inner journey with greater ease, calm, and connection. Open to all anywhere on the continuum from newly diagnosed, in or having completed treatment, and/or living with breast cancer.
Call Susan Kapadia at 805-646-6433 for more information.
You are not alone.
805.646.6433
PO Box 730
Ojai, California 93024
ojaicares.org
[email protected]
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