Therapy for Therapy for Those Living with a Chronic Illness
Living with a Chronic Condition Is Its Own Kind of Work
A chronic illness diagnosis changes more than your physical health. It can reshape your identity, your relationships, your sense of control, and your plans for the future. Many people living with chronic conditions manage not only physical symptoms but also grief, anxiety, fatigue, and the ongoing demands of a healthcare system that can feel impersonal or overwhelming.
Therapy offers a structured, evidence-based space to process these challenges and build sustainable ways of coping — not to "fix" the illness, but to support the whole person living with it.
Who This Is For
This service is designed for adults managing:
Autoimmune conditions (e.g., lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis)
Chronic pain conditions (e.g., fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, migraine)
Cardiovascular, metabolic, or endocrine conditions (e.g., diabetes, heart disease)
Neurological conditions
Cancer diagnoses, treatment, and survivorship
Long-term or unexplained symptoms still under diagnostic evaluation
Caregivers and family members of individuals with chronic illness
Common Concerns We Address
Emotional impact of diagnosis and disease progression Grief, shock, anger, or numbness following a new or worsening diagnosis.
Anxiety and health-related worry Fear of flare-ups, medical appointments, test results, or disease progression.
Depression and low mood Persistent sadness, loss of interest, or hopelessness connected to illness or its limitations.
Identity and role changes Adjusting to changes in work capacity, independence, physical ability, or family role.
Chronic pain and symptom management Psychological strategies that complement medical treatment for pain and fatigue.
Medical trauma and healthcare-related stress Difficult past experiences with providers, procedures, hospitalizations, or diagnostic delays.
Relationship and family strain Communication difficulties, caregiver burden, and shifts in intimacy or dependency.
Grief and loss Mourning the loss of a former lifestyle, future plans, or sense of physical reliability.
Sleep, energy, and pacing Behavioral strategies to manage fatigue and reduce boom-bust activity cycles.
Therapeutic Approach
Treatment is individualized and drawn from approaches with established research support for chronic illness populations, including:
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) — for managing anxiety, depression, and unhelpful thought patterns related to illness
Somatic Experiencing — for processing medical trauma and releasing stress held in the body
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) — for symptom awareness and stress regulation
Grief-focused therapy — for processing loss associated with diagnosis and disease progression
Health psychology consultation — coordinated, as needed, with your medical care team
Sessions are collaborative. Your provider will work with you to identify realistic, meaningful goals — whether that means reducing anxiety before appointments, improving communication with family, adjusting to a new normal, or simply having consistent support through an unpredictable process.
What to Expect
Initial Consultation A comprehensive intake to understand your medical history, current concerns, and treatment goals.
Individualized Treatment Plan A plan developed collaboratively, informed by your diagnosis, symptom pattern, and personal priorities.
Ongoing Sessions Typically weekly or biweekly, delivered in person or via secure telehealth.
Coordination of Care With your consent, we can communicate with your physicians, specialists, or care team to support integrated treatment.