Joining a healing community for cancer: Who and why?

This paper provides a description and evaluation of selected aspects of The Wellness Community (TWC), a healing community for people with cancer in Santa Monica, California. Based upon participant observation, TWC's philosophy and program are described. The ways in which charismatic leadership is used to create a sense of ‘healing charisma’ is specified. Interviews were conducted at 3 points over a 10 month period with 65 individuals who initiated contact with TWC. Thirty-seven eventually became participants at TWC, while the 28 who did not were used as a comparison group. Participants were healthier, more oriented toward self-care and less satisfied with their existing social support networks. The findings indicate the role, and limitations, of healing communities for people with chronic physical illness.