The Whitby TTNO Branch has developed a community partnership with the Huntington Society of Canada Durham Region Group through presentations at their support group and offering TT sessions at the Durham Region Walk to Cure Huntington Disease.  Huntington Disease (HD) is a genetic neurological disorder which affects an individual’s emotional, cognitive and physical status.  Currently this progressive disease is incurable.  

On April 25, 2016 the Whitby Branch was invited to present Therapeutic Touch to the Huntington Society of Canada - Family Services Resource Centre Directors' meeting. There were 16 social workers in attendance from BC (1), AB (2), SK (1), MB (1), ON (6), NB (1), NS/PEI (1) and NL (1).  Also attending were the Family Services Coordinator from the National Office and the National Director of Family Service and Community Development.  Three practitioners (Lynn Vukosavljevic, Holly Nicol and Bunny Clark) attended to present TT, provide a demonstration of a session and offer mini TT sessions to interested individuals. All the provincial networks that have their own pamphlets generously sent copies for the presentation so the social workers received the applicable pamphlet, the TTNC pamphlet and the TTNO handouts.  

They are a very compassionate group of people and our presentation was well received.  There was lively discussion with many challenging questions being answered. Therapeutic Touch was brand new to a few people. Some had a hard time understanding how TT works, but have received benefits from other energy therapies and so are open to TT.   A few mentioned that they will investigate Level 1 classes.   One member felt that this information on TT will be helpful in the future to support clients.  They appreciated the opportunity to receive TT and half of the participants chose to receive a Therapeutic Touch session.

It's wonderful to spread the value of Therapeutic Touch, especially to a group that works with individuals and families coping with such a complex disease.