Haven

Real Eyes Truth Inc. is the parent organization of Haven, a group that supports people with physical illness. They have 3 main holistic programs that run throughout the year in different seasons. Rowing to Recovery, Centering with Clay, and Haven for Healing Support Group. They have opened their programming to Real Eyes Truth participants, and anyone with a physical or mental health wellness journey is welcome to be a part of their programs.

Centering with Clay has 3 sessions throughout the year with 9 participants

Primary Purpose and Rationale for the Centering with Clay Program

Centering with Clay was created as a sanctuary for individuals facing significant medical and life challenges—a communal space where participants can engage in a mindful, hands-on activity that offers both creative freedom and emotional relief. The act of working with clay encourages presence and focus, creating a therapeutic experience that allows participants to momentarily step away from the weight of their diagnoses, treatments, and daily physical or mental burdens.

For those living with serious health conditions, life is often consumed by a relentless cycle of medical appointments, therapies, and the exhausting pursuit of wellness. In this reality, finding time and space to simply be—to reconnect with oneself and with others who understand—is rare and deeply needed. Centering with Clay provides that space. It fosters connection, creativity, and emotional expression in a way that is both healing and humanizing.

Participants often describe their time with clay as a “deep dive into the creative soul.” Clay, unlike the uncontrollable aspects of illness, is pliable—open to being shaped and formed into something meaningful. This process not only provides a sense of agency and accomplishment, but it also opens the door to heartfelt expressions of gratitude. Many participants share their creations as gifts to caregivers, loved ones, and healthcare professionals—small tokens of appreciation that embody their journey and the deep connections formed along the way. These handmade pieces become lasting symbols of presence, love, and legacy.

Through creativity and community, Centering with Clay supports healing, promotes mental wellness, and helps individuals reclaim moments of joy and meaning in the midst of challenging circumstances. It is art as therapy, connection as medicine, and presence as a path to resilience.

Testimonials for Centering with Clay

“Since participating in Centering With Clay, I have discovered a hidden creative streak. I became focused on molding clay into functional art instead of the burdens of living with advanced cancer. The sense of belonging, being a part of a larger community, takes me away from the isolation that often accompanies chronic illness. I feel accepted by my community of potters, whether I create beautiful or ugly pottery, and am doubly sated when I can then gift my successful pieces to someone who has cared for me. Participating in and being a part of this community is one of the activities that gives my life purpose. I am grateful for the opportunity to be a part of this community for the richness it has brought to my life.” SM

“It’s an honor to express my gratitude & appreciation for Haven’s Centering With Clay. Since my accident in 2018 I’ve faced many challenges both physically and mentally. The community of friends that encompass Haven have collectively supported each other’s creativity. We are inspired and inspire one another’s journey, always taking a moment to really look at the beauty created by one another that transcends into life. Moving forward for me, 3 hours on Thursday is absolutely where I desire to be. Peace….” MF

“Haven's Centering With Clay is a wonderful experience. For three hours each week we are able to clear our minds of all thoughts of our challenges with our health and life in general. It is a great stress reliever. Working with the Clay and creating beauty is empowering and affirming that we can learn new activities when there are many things we love that we can no longer participate in. I look forward to our pottery class each week and am thankful that Sarah at Meetinghouse Clay holds a spot for our group each week!” ML

“Going to meeting house clay for pottery classes has given me a chance to have a creative outlet to express myself. While I was there, I was able to put my stresses aside and focus on learning a new skill. I was also given an opportunity to meet and connect with other people that were also going through a difficult time. Overall, it was a wonderful experience, and I would highly recommend Centering with Clay to anyone that would like to gain a new skill and develop more peace of mind.” AL

“I love the feel of the clay between my hands. I love creating something from nothing and the fresh start with each new piece. I love that the clay requires my full attention and pulls me into center as I push it into center. I love that I am fully present while I am working with the clay and the rest of my mental chatter can wait. I love that the people in my class understand me, without having to explain. I love Centering with Clay at the Meetinghouse.” LJ

“Teaching the group of people in Centering with Clay has taught me so much about myself and how to be an inclusive and supportive teacher. I learn resilience, friendship, community, compassion, and humor from this group, and I am very grateful for the opportunity to work alongside the people of Centering with Clay! Our work together has made me a better teacher and a better person.” Shannon Gallagher, instructor.

Rowing to Recovery

Rowing to Recovery (R2R) is a physical support group for people facing serious health challenges like cancer, Parkinson’s, vision and hearing loss, traumatic brain injury, neurodivergent diagnosis, and etc. As a group, participants meet 2-3 times a week (weather dependent) to scull (using two oars) in singles and doubles and move boats and gear into and out of the water properly & safely, which would be impossible without the group effort due to individual conditions. R2R teaches proper body mechanics and posture to ensure participants gain balance, coordination, core strength, endurance, and self-confidence, equipping them to further deal with their respective diseases and their well-being.

The objective of R2R is to provide the opportunity to scull in a safe and inclusive environment with a mixture of experienced master, intermediate, and novice intergenerational rowers with myriad disabilities so that we can collaboratively help each other to succeed in rowing. The joy participants feel is infectious and is often accompanied by building self-confidence and determination to face the difficulties of living day to day with the manifestations of our disease processes and the effects and outcomes of the treatments.

Participants in R2R are part of their communities as patients, caregivers, neighbors, volunteers, boards, etc. — We set an example in our community of remarkable strength, forbearance, courage, and joy. We have taken one of the most difficult sports available and made it possible for people who have never participated in a group activity like this, who have feelings of self-doubt, that their bodies have failed them, despite having made healthy lifestyle choices. We help them develop a new perspective, focus, and a belief in themselves when they realize they can propel themselves across a body of water in a 27-foot shell with 9-foot-long oars. At the same time, the wind blows through their hair, the sun rises on their face, they hear the sounds of nature all around them, and they feel reborn. This sense of empowerment improves people's mental health, relieving stress and hopelessness, which research has shown has a direct effect on physical health. Rowers are taught to focus on being present, and mindfulness becomes a constant state.

R2R meshes master rowers sharing both their passion and experience whilst living through grief and health challenges, with new rowers having similar struggles of recovery from progressive, degenerative diseases and/or the aftermath of their treatments. Rowing utilizes approximately 86 percent of our muscles without taxing our joints. Participating in and learning the sport of rowing brings about improved balance, strength, coordination, willpower, and meditation - all of which lead to improved quality of life, better ability to deal with anticipated health setbacks, complications, and difficulties while rowing with like-minded people.

We will measure these impacts through surveys and qualitative data collected at the end of the season. In time, we would like to prove through research that rowing is an evidence-based practice for people improving their mental, physical, and spiritual health.

If you are interested in joining us, please send me an email, text, or call.

Sheila Mulcahy, Founder of Rowing to Recovery

Retired Oncology and Emergency, RN, BSN

email: she.mulcahy@gmail.com

mobile: 508-648-4409

Sheila lives with incurable and advanced cancer; like many of the participants in Rowing to Recovery, she represents the strength and ability that can come from living a purposeful life while living with a terminal illness. She models what the program embodies and encourages people to embrace life through mindfulness, meditation, and a holistic practice.

USRowing Certified Coaches: Brett Fournier, Alyse Demary

Indoor Rowing: Mondays and Wednesdays 8:30-9:30 am

1175 Old Stage Rd., Centerville (a private residence)

Outdoor Rowing: Lake Wequaquet, Centerville 7:30-9:00 am

Days to be determined

Haven: A cancer + support group

Where: Atria Woodbriar Place

389 Gifford St., Falmouth, MA

When: Friday mornings, 10:00-12:00

Haven is a peer-run holistic cancer support group that started back in the 1990s as a breast cancer support group. It expanded to include all types of cancer and caregivers around 2010, and most recently grew to accept participants with genetic and neurological complex diagnoses that present similar life challenges as all serious illnesses do.

Haven incorporates the healing modality of Reiki and meditation in their weekly sessions. We start the first hour with a chat circle where we share our stories, challenges, worries, and concerns, and participants in different parts of their healing journeys can share what has helped them with newly diagnosed participants. This is facilitated by a retired oncology-certified RN.

Haven’s second hour is where participants receive a 25-minute session of Reiki healing from volunteers from the community. We have 3-4 massage tables set up in a separate section where participants have the opportunity to give and/or receive Reiki healing.

Haven has a certified Reiki Death Doula and an assistant who can make home visits for engaged participants when the end of their life is near. Haven also has a grief counselor available for private sessions.

Haven accepts tax-deductible donations through their affiliation with Real Eyes Truth, Inc., and their webpage.

If you are interested in joining Haven, please contact

Sheila Mulcahy at 508-648-4409 or email: she.mulcahy@gmail.com