Counseling for Chronic Health Conditions
No one knows better than you how much difficulty you’ve had living life with the challenges brought on by a chronic health condition. Sometimes it’s the way people look at you or the way things are set up in society that make it difficult for you to feel like you can engage with life like everyone else. Some days seem to go well, and other days seem to drag on relentlessly with no end to the discomfort or pain.
Sometimes you feel alone, misunderstood, hopeless, depressed or anxious. At other times, you may feel resentment and anger at the opportunities you feel are not available to you because of your condition. You just don’t feel like you can participate fully in the things you would like to do.
Perhaps you wonder if anyone will believe you because your illness is “invisible” and is often not taken as seriously as others with a visible health condition. Or, maybe no one knows you have a chronic health condition because you are too embarrassed or ashamed to even talk about it or seek out support. Sometimes, you find yourself unable to concentrate, focus, or remember things because you are so busy thinking about your illness and ways to navigate through life.
You are not alone
A 2017 RAND study found that 60% of Americans have a chronic illness. Forty-two percent have two or more chronic conditions. In 2010, 19% of Americans had a disability.
Therapy can help you deal with the numerous challenges of life with a disability or chronic illness
I will work collaboratively with you to identify your feelings and needs, process your experiences, help you advocate for yourself, and bridge disability-related relationship gaps. Having worked in medical settings over the course of my career, I have seen the joys, pains, anguish, hardships, triumphs, setbacks, and success that are often a part of the journey in navigating life with a chronic illness.
Sometimes, you can ride out the struggles yourself without much difficulty
Other times, you need the support of a trusted professional to help you navigate difficult passages on your journey
Sometimes, the challenges that come up affect your emotions, thoughts, and behaviors. At times, you find yourself retreating from life during an initial diagnosis, setback, or flare up. Other times, you just don’t feel lovable or worthy of being intimate with your partner, asking for what you want or need during intimacy, finding love again, or pursuing a love relationship.
Sometimes the discomfort, pain, or symptoms make it hard to face the world. You find yourself not wanting to get out of bed, leave the house, go to work, or pursue the activities you once enjoyed. You may be experiencing increasing preference for online connections to avoid face-to-face interactions and the stress of having to be around others.
Sometimes you blame yourself for your symptoms or condition, or you don’t think you deserve to have relief or enjoyment. Other times, it feels unfair and burdensome for you. When you think about what you want for yourself, you often put your dreams, wishes, needs and desires on hold because you’re not sure you want to face the possibility of rejection, failure or embarrassment.
Some of the effects of life with chronic illness or disability may include:
- Stress, anxiety, depression
- Discrimination
- Relationship challenges
- Medical stress
- Fear about the future
- Self-esteem issues
I work with women to address Physical and Emotional pain, Relationship and Quality of Life Issues related to:
- Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia
- Chronic Pain
- Endometriosis
- Fibroids
- Autoimmune conditions
- Heavy menstrual cycles that disrupt life
- PMDD
- STI recovery and support
- Chronic acne and scarring
- Intimacy struggles for those with medical or physical health conditions
Some of the ways therapy can help with chronic illness and disability include:
- Helping you understand the mind-body connection
- Supporting your desire to talk about your experiences with loved ones or a safe, trusted person
- Navigating relationship issues
- Promoting an attitude of acceptance and fulfillment
- Helping you identify and advocate for your needs
- Helping caregivers talk through the complex emotions and challenges that caregiving might bring up
- Addressing unhelpful emotional and behavioral symptoms that may be present
- Providing a safe space to receive validation and support
I operate from a shame-free and judgement-free place of compassion to let you have the space you need to freely discuss the ways your illness is affecting your life. Together, we can collaborate on goals to help you move through the rough patches.
If you are a women in Virginia or North Carolina who could benefit from therapeutic support for your chronic health condition, contact me today to begin our work together.