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Exciting Updates Coming Soon!
Peer to Peer Connection
For those navigating the challenges of histiocytosis, our Peer-to-Peer Support Groups offer a safe, welcoming space to connect, feel seen, and share experiences with others who truly understand. Designed to provide comfort, community, and hope — especially for those who may feel isolated — these sessions allow participants to come together and support one another along their journeys.
Our peer support calls are facilitated by Doris François Dahdouh, MSW, LSW, INHC — a trained social worker and integrative health coach with over two decades of experience in social work, health education, and holistic coaching. Doris brings expertise in grief, emotional regulation, and chronic illness support, along with personal insight into caregiving and navigating complex healthcare systems. Her compassion and skill ensure a safe, informed, and supportive group environment.
Doris moderates these sessions on behalf of the Histiocytosis Association as a Peer Support Group Facilitator and adheres to the organization’s privacy policy. When registering, the Association will receive your name, email address, and a brief note about your connection to histiocytosis. Sessions take place on Zoom — no account is required to participate, but you must register in advance.
We encourage you to attend at least three sessions before deciding if you’d like to continue long-term, as each meeting offers a unique experience and new topics for discussion.
Grief Support Groups
For those with histio angels, histio grief groups hope to offer connection, support, and healing when managing the hurt of losing a loved one.
Our grief support calls are hosted by Renee Christensen, Ph.D., CEAP, HHP, PCC. Dr. Christensen has forty years’ experience in the areas of Coaching (life, death/dying, professional and teams) and Traumatic Stress Recovery. Holding multiple degrees including a Ph.D. in Industrial Management as well as Naturopathy, a Masters in Organizational Development and Naturopathy and a B.A. in Industrial Psychology. Additionally, Dr. Christensen is Board Certified as a Holistic Health Practitioner, in Critical Incident Stress Debriefings and PTSD recovery; as well as being certified as an Employee Assistance Professional and holds her Professional Coaching Certification while working towards her PCC. Dr. Christensen’s dissertations were studies of the long-term effects of reoccurring stress/traumatic events and the treatment without use of prescription medication. Having owned or managed businesses since 1982, she is considered a leading expert in the arenas of organizational development, critical incident stress debriefings, leadership, and grief and loss coaching. Dr. Christensen’s work experience includes over 2400 hours of coaching. She is part of the histio community, through her brother-in-law, who has histio.
Renee Christensen is moderating these calls on behalf of the Histiocytosis Association (HA) as a Grief Support Moderator and upholds the same privacy policy as the HA. Upon registration, Renee will receive your name, email, and some basic information about your relationship to histiocytosis. An initial one on one discovery call with Renee will be conducted to provide some information prior to you joining your first Grief Support Group. Renee will share your name, email, and the basic histiocytosis information you provided with the Histiocytosis Association team for reporting purposes.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION:
There will not be a medical professional assisting on any of the virtual peer to peer calls. Histiocytosis impacts every patient differently and medical advice cannot be offered in these sessions. We strongly encourage all ideas shared by your peers to be discussed with your physician and/or care team. The Histiocytosis Association designed these sessions to be open, safe, and respectful environments for all who participate. We encourage you to review our Virtual Event Participant Guidelines before joining a call. If you have any questions, contact us at info@histio.org.