About the Centre CARMEN

Our Mission

Since May 2004, caregivers, people diagnosed with cancer or persons living with a chronic illness are welcomed by a team of professionals and volunteers in a warm and therapeutic environment. Sick people and their families are accompanied in their process of wellbeing using approaches complementary to the health system such as art-therapy, psychotherapy, visual arts, massage therapy and nursing care.

The Centre is an unsubsidized registered charitable organization.

Our Goals

To accompany and support people in their wellbeing process
To alleviate social isolation
To encourage self expression of emotions related to health status
To reinforce personal and family resources

Our Values

Warm welcoming
Respecting client's rate of progress (or rate of recovery)
Professional and compassionate support
Team work

Meaning of «CARMEN»

CREATIVITY (C): Creativity helps making sense of a lived experience perceived as agreeable or painful. This is essential for the recovery of life force.

ACCOMPANIMENT (A): The daily support and the comfort of sick individuals as well as their family members may help diminishing social isolation.

RESOURCEFULNESS (R): The recognition and positive reinforcement of competencies and personal and family capacities that are challenged when experiencing a serious health problem. The sharing of experiences and access to resources may assist in improving well-being.

MAINTENANCE IN NATURAL ENVIRONMENT (MEN): The activities offered by the Centre CARMEN are complementary to those of the health system in order to help maintain a sick individual in his or her natural life environment. Participation in our activities can equally provide a short respite for their caregivers.