Dr. Lisa Lawless, the celebrated psychologist and founder of Holistic Wisdom, has spent her career guiding others through life’s darkest tunnels. Now, she’s navigating one of her own. After a recent diagnosis of endometrial cancer, Dr. Lawless is turning her personal battle into a profound public conversation about life, death, and what it truly means to be present.
Instead of retreating, the longtime advocate for mental and sexual wellness is doing what she does best: sharing her truth. In a deeply personal essay on her website, titled, “What Facing Cancer and the Reminder of Death Brought Up for Me,” she peels back the curtain on her experience, transforming fear into a powerful message of hope and honesty.
From Healer to Patient
For those familiar with her work, Dr. Lawless is a beacon of clarity and compassion. But in her recent writing, she speaks not just as a psychologist, but as a patient confronting her own mortality. It’s a raw, unfiltered look at the emotional whirlwind that follows such a life-altering diagnosis.
“When I found out I had endometrial cancer, I didn’t expect the first thing to come up would be this deep need to talk about death. Not in a heavy or hopeless way, but in an honest and human one.”
She explains that this journey has reinforced one of her core beliefs: transparency is transformative. By speaking openly about her fears and hopes, she aims to dismantle the stigma and isolation that often surround serious illness.
“As a psychologist and now a cancer patient, I’ve seen how powerful it can be to name what we’re going through,” she shared. “And what I’ve learned is that when we stop pretending, we start living more fully.”
A Community Rallies in Support
As Dr. Lawless prepares for major surgery and subsequent treatment, the community she has nurtured for years is now rallying around her. Friends have launched a GoFundMe campaign to help offset the immense costs of medical care and to allow her to focus entirely on healing. The fundraiser, titled “Help Dr. Lisa Lawless Through Cancer Treatment,” has seen an outpouring of support, with colleagues and admirers sharing messages of love and contributing to her recovery fund.
This wave of support highlights Dr. Lawless’s significant impact on the wellness and adult industries, where she is respected for her empathetic and non-judgmental approach. The response demonstrates a powerful trend of communities coming together to support their own, especially independent creators and practitioners facing life’s unexpected hurdles.
A Message for Everyone
While the essay is born from her own struggle, Dr. Lawless makes it clear that her message is universal. She’s writing for anyone who has ever felt lost, scared, or alone in their fight, whatever that fight may be. It’s an invitation to confront the uncomfortable, embrace the present, and connect on a more human level.
As she moves forward, her focus remains on sharing her journey with the world, offering a real-time lesson in resilience, vulnerability, and the enduring power of love.
“This piece is from my heart,” Lawless concluded. “It’s for anyone who’s fighting, anyone who’s wondering what comes next, and anyone who just needs to feel a little less alone.”
To read her full post, you can visit HolisticWisdom.com, and supporters can find her fundraiser on GoFundMe.
* Thumbnail from avn.com