By Tess Moran
Mindi Lobuzzetta had an unconventional childhood during the first decade of her life, at times living with her mom on the west coast and her dad in Jamestown, New York. By the time she was 12, the fiercely independent Mindi told her parents she needed more stability in her life, and went to live with her father. She now believes those unsettled early years profoundly affected her subsequent career choices and life experiences.
Initially, while attending school to become a dental assistant, Mindi realized that the mental health challenges her mother faced and that affected her own upbringing, drew her to the field of Psychology. At age 29, she began pursuing a degree in Psychology. Then, right before graduation, she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. “I was 32 years old, told I needed a hysterectomy and would never be able to have children, and overcome with sadness. When you’re young, you always think having kids is in your future, until it’s not,” said Mindi. It was this bout with depression that emboldened Mindi in her empathy for those experiencing mental health issues.
While still recovering from ovarian cancer, Mindi received more devastating news. “It was Thanksgiving eve, and I was all set to go out for a big night when my friend persuaded me to see a doctor for my persistent cough. At the insistence of my doctor, I went to the ER that night, where my blood work confirmed the worst. I had leukemia and was immediately transferred to Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center. Rather than celebrating Thanksgiving Day by enjoying turkey with friends, I was getting pumped full of chemotherapy.”
Mindi responded well to her leukemia treatment, which lasted for six months. However, unable to pursue her initial plan to attend graduate school in social work, she enrolled in a clinical mental health program at Medaille College. “I had an intense interest in people’s traumas. I learned about EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing), a form of psychotherapy based on the idea that negative thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are the result of unprocessed memories. EMDR is often used to treat post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and learning about it made me realize that our bodies and not just our minds are affected by trauma. It made me wonder if my own trauma had something to do with my getting cancer,” said Mindi.
In 2017, Mindi fulfilled her desire to become a mother by adopting two baby brothers Anthony and Carter, with help from the foster care system. She says, “The process took a long time, but I am so happy to be a mother! I can’t imagine my life without these boys!”
It’s been 10 years since Mindi was diagnosed with cancer, and she now has her own practice in which she utilizes EMDR therapy with her patients. “Just watching for things like eye twitches and body movements allows patients to recall deep traumas they experienced. I’ve learned that it is often the body that helps tell a person’s whole story. I’ve learned that if our bodies don’t process our traumas, they hold on to them and they can manifest as an illness. It is why I believe that trauma is at the root of many diseases.”
Mindi has now been cancer free for ten years, but knows the risks of playing the odds. She was in the one percentile of people in her age group for developing the type of cancer she had, and has some advice for people who are still COVID vaccine hesitant, saying, “You may not contract the virus, but you might just be the person who does and also passes it on. Now, with the more transmittable Delta variant, don’t take the risk. Get vaccinated. Also, practice ongoing safety practices by washing your hands, physical distancing in large groups, and wearing a mask while indoors with people who may not be vaccinated. And if you are feeling ill, stay home so you don’t infect others.”
When asked what advice she would give to those experiencing mental or physical ill health challenges, she says, “Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Having someone to talk to, and cry with judgment-free, makes all the difference. Surround yourself with people who nourish and feed your soul and do things for you that create peace and contentment.”
Learn more about Mindi at www.samadhitherapyassociates.com, located at 1416 Sweet Home Road, Suite 1, Amherst, NY 14228. You can reach her at Mindilobuzzettalmhc@mllmhc.com.
Tess Moran is a photographer and writer for Buffalo Healthy Living.
