Chronic Illness & Chronic Pain

 Living with chronic illness or chronic pain can affect nearly every part of your life. There may be grief over what has changed, frustration with unpredictable symptoms, anxiety about your health, and exhaustion from trying to function when you don't feel well. And when an illness is invisible, there can be another layer: trying to explain what you're experiencing to people who can't see it.

You shouldn't have to convince your therapist that what you're experiencing is real.

I Understand Chronic Illness Personally

I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis in 2018 after two and a half years of medical gaslighting. Before my diagnosis, one doctor actually told me that what I was experiencing was “probably anxiety” and fibromyalgia.

I knew there was something else wrong.

Eventually, I found a doctor who believed me and ordered different testing, which ultimately led to my rheumatoid arthritis diagnosis.

So when I say I understand misdiagnosis, medical gaslighting, chronic pain, and chronic illness, I understand.

My Approach to Chronic Illness & Chronic Pain Therapy

My approach begins with empathy and compassion. I listen to your experiences and take them seriously. You don't have to spend therapy defending the reality of your symptoms or convincing me that your illness affects your life.

Chronic illness and pain can also become intertwined with trauma, particularly after frightening medical experiences, repeated procedures, delayed or missed diagnoses, or experiences of not being believed by healthcare providers. When appropriate, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy can be helpful in processing these experiences.

I may also incorporate Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), depending on what you need and what we're working toward.

But therapy doesn't always need to be about learning another coping skill.

Sometimes talking openly about what you've experienced—and finally feeling understood—is half the battle.

When Other People Can't See Your Illness

Invisible illnesses can be difficult enough to live with without also having to manage other people's reactions to them.

Family members, friends, coworkers, and even healthcare providers may struggle to understand an illness they can't see. You may have been questioned about how sick you really are, told you “look fine,” or felt pressure to function as though nothing has changed.

That can be lonely.

One of the most important parts of therapy is feeling heard, believed, and understood. That's what I want you to experience in our sessions, every single time.

Online Chronic Illness Therapy in Colorado & Illinois

I provide virtual therapy for adults living with chronic illness and chronic pain throughout Colorado and Illinois.

If you're looking for a therapist who understands that chronic illness affects far more than your physical health, I offer a complimentary 15-minute consultation so we can talk about what you're looking for and whether I may be a good fit.

Please reach out when you're ready to get started.