An informative talk with William Penzer, Ph.D

In 2005, Dr. William Penzer, a psychologist for more than 40 years, found himself falling on his emotional face when his 31 year old daughter was diagnosed with breast cancer. Despite having helped thousands of people navigate the choppy and challenging demands of life, he was drowning in a sea of his own emotions.

Like a traveler in a foreign land, which Penzer called Cancerville, this seasoned psychologist eventually discovered how to cope better when dealing with cancer. Penzer concluded that cancer is not only a dreaded diagnosis, but a place one enters as well with its own culture, customs, language, confusions.

Penzer's first book, How To Cope Better When Someone You Love Has Cancer: draws from and encourages a philosophy of realistic optimism. encourages riding thru Cancerville on a horse named Hope ·introduces the idea that we call friends and family “Heart and Soul Givers” instead of the more neutral “caregiver,” a word Penzer reserves for the medical team. doesn’t just encourage optimism but also provides concrete tools and exercises to contribute to being “DAM STRONG!” and positive in all ways.

“How to Cope Better When You Have Cancer”, with a foreword by Bernie Siegel, M.D.,  the second book helped  many cancer patients who read the first book found it helped them relate to their heart & soul caregivers

William Penzer. Ph.D.  Received his Ph.D. from New York University and has been a psychologist for 40+ years. He is the author of “Getting Back Up From an Emotional Down,” and You Have Choices: Overcoming Anxiety, Panic and Phobia.”  Penzer is currently the Director of the Humanistic Center for Counseling Services in Ft. Lauderdale, Boca Raton and Coral Springs FL.