Eir Centre Mental Wellness Offerings with Walter Sienko

Research shows that men who access counselling and peer support often experience better quality of life, stronger emotional health, and improved coping throughout the cancer journey. At The Eir Centre, our counselling and support services are tailored to meet the unique needs of men with prostate cancer—providing tools, connection, and care at every step.

Meet Our Counsellor

Walter Sienko is a highly accomplished Psycho-spiritual Counselor and Meditation Instructor with a distinguished career spanning over three and a half decades. His extensive background is built upon a foundation of academic rigor and diverse experiential training, making him uniquely suited to support individuals navigating the profound challenges of cancer. Mr. Sienko holds a B.Sc. in Psychology from Brandon University and a Post-Degree Diploma in Counseling from George Brown College, providing a robust theoretical framework for his practice.

Mr. Sienko's approach is further enriched by significant spiritual and therapeutic training. He spent three years at the Transpersonal Therapy Center and has engaged in extensive studies with the Foundation of Shamanic Studies. His meditation practice is deeply informed by seven years of study under Zen Roshi Sunyana Graef. Furthermore, he has completed the "Foundations of Mindfulness" Program at the University of Toronto, thereby deepening his understanding and instructional capabilities in mindfulness practices. These skills are particularly beneficial for managing pain, anxiety, and the emotional distress often associated with cancer. Additionally, he is a trained Spiritual Director from Transformational Arts College and has participated in leadership trainings with the Mankind Project, underscoring his commitment to holistic development and community support.

Navigate Your Prostate Cancer Journey with Renewed Strength and Purpose

A prostate cancer diagnosis can feel overwhelming, impacting not just your physical health, but also your emotional well-being, sense of self, and spiritual outlook. You are not alone in facing these profound challenges.

Our comprehensive Seven Week Psycho-Spiritual Support Program offers a unique and compassionate space for men like you to:

Confront Fear & Grief: Process the initial shock, fear, and deep losses associated with diagnosis, finding healthy avenues for emotional expression.

Reclaim Your Identity: Navigate shifts in self-image and masculinity, including concerns about intimacy, and reconnect with your intrinsic worth.

Build Lasting Resilience: Develop powerful coping strategies to manage uncertainty, cultivate inner calm, and foster realistic hope for the future.

Deepen Connections: Strengthen bonds with loved ones and community, reducing isolation and finding solace in shared experiences.

Discover Profound Meaning: Explore life's deeper questions, integrate transformative insights, and cultivate a renewed sense of purpose and spiritual well-being.

Embrace Your "New Normal": Strategize for long-term self-care, manage lingering effects, and confidently integrate your cancer experience into a vibrant new chapter.

Shape Your Legacy: Reflect on your journey, share your wisdom, and explore opportunities for advocacy and continued personal growth.

This program provides a confidential, non-judgmental group environment where you can connect, share, and learn from others who truly understand. It's an investment in your holistic well-being, guiding you toward a life of greater peace, purpose, and profound resilience.

Don't just survive – thrive. Reclaim your strength, redefine your purpose, and embark on a journey of holistic healing.

Learn more and register today.

Dates:

Nov 12, 26

Dec 10,

Jan 14, 28

Feb 11, 25

Time: 7 pm — 8:30 pm

Fee: $40 per session

Men's Partner Support Group

This is an open, drop-in group, meaning men can attend as their schedules permit, without a long-term commitment. Each session will be facilitated by an experienced psycho-spiritual counselor.

A cancer diagnosis doesn't just impact the patient; it profoundly affects their loved ones, especially partners. Men, in particular, often feel immense pressure to be strong, stoic, and the primary caregiver, which can lead to isolating their own emotional and spiritual needs. This group recognizes these unique pressures and offers a confidential, non-judgmental environment where men can:

Share Experiences: Connect with others facing similar challenges, fostering a sense of shared understanding and reducing feelings of isolation.
Process Emotions: Safely express the wide range of emotions that arise—fear, anger, grief, helplessness, and even hope—without judgment.
Build Resilience: Learn coping strategies and draw strength from the collective wisdom and support of the group.
Explore Spiritual Dimensions: Delve into questions of meaning, purpose, faith, and inner strength as they navigate their partner's illness and their own journey.
Cultivate Empathy: Develop a deeper understanding of their own feelings and those of their partners, enhancing their ability to offer compassionate support at home.

Dates: Nov 19 Dec 3, 17, 31

Time: 7 pm — 8:30 pm

Fee: $40 per session

Book a Session

Psycho-Spiritual Counselling

A cancer diagnosis precipitates a myriad of profound emotional, psychological, and spiritual challenges, often disrupting an individual's fundamental worldview and sense of self. Comprehensive, holistic support is therefore deemed essential for individuals navigating this inherently complex and transformative journey.

This specialized Psycho-spiritual counseling service is meticulously designed to address critical patient needs through a multi-faceted approach, offering distinct benefits that complement conventional medical interventions:

Address Existential and Spiritual Distress: The service actively facilitates the meaning-making process, enabling individuals to transcend feelings of despair and discover renewed purpose. This involves supporting the reconstruction of belief systems that may have been challenged by illness, fostering a deeper understanding of suffering, and guiding individuals in navigating the confrontation with mortality. Through this process, acceptance and a profound sense of inner peace can emerge, even amidst adversity.

Cultivate Emotional and Psychological Well-being: By integrating spiritual insights, a significant reduction of distress is often observed, surpassing mere symptom management. The service actively aids in fostering positive emotions, such as gratitude and hope, and in building resilience against the inherent uncertainty of a cancer journey. Furthermore, it works assiduously to alleviate the profound isolation often experienced, fostering a deepened sense of connection to self, others, and a broader spiritual continuum.

Support Adaptation and Holistic Healing: This service strategically complements conventional medical treatments by intentionally integrating the spiritual dimension of human experience, thereby promoting a more complete and harmonious healing trajectory. This synergistic approach facilitates remarkable personal growth, including the clarification of core values and the cultivation of deeper wisdom. Ultimately, individuals are empowered to reclaim agency over their lives, allowing them to transcend the confines of a medical diagnosis and embrace a revitalized sense of purpose.

Dates: Nov 19 Dec 3, 17, 31

Duration: 50-min

Availability: 1:30 pm — 6:30 pm