My Journey
As the expression goes, "Life doesn't always go as planned," defines how our life can evolve. Stressful and a bit of a rat race, my life was in constant motion full of both excitement and challenge. It is during our most challenging times when we can see opportunity, growth, and personal fulfillment. My road took a sharp turn becoming a single mom with a 4 year old and 1 year old, all while having a busy nursing career. This is when I started helping my mom with her new yoga practice and began taking her classes. Suddenly, I became a student eager to practice, as the effects greatly eased the stress in my life. Trying other similar practices offered various opportunities in my life, but the real change for me happened when I started consistently practicing meditation every day. I started teaching graduate nursing students the principles of health and healing, and shared the science of practicing 15-20 minutes of meditation per day. This brief duration of meditation really causes physiological changes, affecting every biological system, causing a Relaxation Response (Dr. Herbert Benson), the opposite to the stress response we all know too well. Mindfulness practices, as well as other modalities of self-care, are really the building blocks to achieving health, fulfillment, and satisfaction in your life. As my graduate students would say, "why aren't these principles taught in mainstream healthcare?" My response was "I don't know, as my belief is that self-care is the answer to preventing DIS-EASE and preventing the healthcare crisis dilemma!" HOWEVER, self-care is coming to our world and communities, one individual at a time.
I can now see how my life has evolved with new pathways and roadways of appreciation, exploration, strength, optimism, creation, and social connection — all enhanced with self-compassion. The key to my life and my road map is my connection and understanding of love.
— Cathy
CATHERINE CALDER CALISI
MS, APRN-BC, GNP-BC
Catherine holds a Master of Science degree in Gerontology from the University of Massachusetts in Lowell, MA with a certification to practice as a nurse practitioner and currently is in private practice, Wellness Connections. She holds certification to practice as a health and wellness coach through the National Society of Health Coaches. She is a Reiki II practitioner providing Reiki treatments to her clients and patients.
Catherine has been a leader in developing Mind/Body initiatives at Massachusetts General Hospital and at other organizations. Her passion is in teaching nurses the importance and beneficial outcomes of caring for oneself through her burnout prevention philosophy and motto of Nurture the Nurse. She holds a position as Adjunct Faculty at the Institute of Health Professions at Massachusetts General Hospital where she teaches in the Mind, Body, Spirit Certification Program. She is a co-leader of the American Holistic Nursing Association: Boston Chapter.
Catherine has worked in various settings in the healthcare arena for more than 30 years, including hospital, clinic, nursing home, home care and education settings. She has observed the drastic changes which have ensued in healthcare for those who care for patients and the patients. She has been involved with the mission of the National Academy of Medicine and provided testimony on the importance of self-care in healthcare for the rampant problem of nursing and physician burnout as well as the declining health of our nation.