Support Groups

Elsie Huefner, Ph.D. is a doctoral-level licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor specializing in trauma, anxiety, depression, and substance abuse. She earned her Doctorate from Capella University in 2022. Elsie was diagnosed with Chondrosarcoma on June 12, 2023, following a misdiagnosis of arthritis and bursitis. She underwent a wide resection of her left proximal femur with an allograft. The surgery was believed to have been successful with negative margins until her pathology returned with an aggressive grade 3 dedifferentiated chondrosarcoma, resulting in the need for chemotherapy. These treatments were aggressive and required inpatient admissions throughout her treatment cycles. Today, they appear to have been successful as she remains NED and is currently working through side effects from the treatments, including heart failure, kidney failure, and mobile disabilities. Elsie enjoys being a mother and wife. Her spirits are high, and she is eager to give back to other warriors.

Julia Parent, LCMHC graduated in 2017 with a master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from the University of Phoenix. She worked for the past 7 years in a dual-diagnosis and mental health treatment residential and outpatient facilities. She has been the clinical director of a mental health outpatient program at Moving Forward Counseling for this past year. In 2016 Julia was diagnosed with breast cancer, formally labeled: invasive ductal carcinoma with lobular features. She was in active treatment for 10 months undergoing three types of chemotherapy, a bilateral mastectomy and radiation. She continued active treatment through a drug trial for an additional 2 years, has undergone additional procedures and operations helping to prevent recurrence as well as currently on medications designed to help prevent recurrence. Her diagnosis was life-changing for both herself as well as her husband and three children.