Here is a detailed overview of the topics that are covered in each session:

Session 1: Women and Heart Disease

Participants tackle the most common myths and misperceptions of heart disease and gender differences, plus discuss treatments, symptoms and diagnosis of heart disease.

Session 2: Road to Recovery

Participants write their heart disease story and share their personal journey with each other. Participants will also learn about the emotional and physical road to recovery.

Session 3: Your Emotions and Heart Disease

Participants explore the most common emotions of surviving a heart incident, including sadness, anger and frustration, in addition to learning the most effective ways of coping with change.

Session 4: Managing Emotions

Building on session 3, participants gain specific tools to best manage their emotions, including relaxation techniques, positive thinking and effective communication strategies. 

Session 5: Manage your Heart Disease Risk

Participants receive their personalized Risk Factor Profile, and a road map to identify the health strategies that will have the most positive impact on their health. Participants will engage in discussion on key tips to improve their risk factors.

Session 6: Activate Yourself for Health

Participants learn about how to remain motivated, tackling issues such as confidence, activation, and decisional balance. Participants also learn about goal setting and creating an action plan to manage their risk factors and maintain a heart-healthy lifestyle.

Session 7: Problem Solving Skills

Participants will discuss the barriers they encounter to making healthy changes and learn to problem-solve challenges and triggers in their everyday lives.

Session 8: The Slippery Slope of Lifestyle Change

Participants learn to recognize slips from their health goals and how to build effective strategies to prevent or recover from relapses, including dealing with negative self-talk.

Session 9: Becoming an Empowered Patient

Participants learn how to navigate the community resources available to them and work with their health care team to better manage their condition and risk factors.

Session 10: The Journey goes on…

Participants look back over the 9 sessions and tie together the most important skills and tools to move confidently into the future.