Chronic Pain or Illness

From 1999-2018 I worked as a social worker in each segment of the health and mental health care system; hospitals, homecare, short term rehab, long term care, hospice, community mental health, inpatient psychiatric care, and other settings providing case management, counseling, therapy and other services to those in need. I also live with a number of chronic health conditions and am involved with the Ehlers Danlos society, Spinal Leak Foundation and Dysautonomia International.

We can work together collaboratively in softly challenging distorted unhelpful/exaggerated/unrealistic harsh judgements/thoughts/beliefs that appear during your pain. Just because we have a thought doesn't make it true. We can work together to accept uncomfortable emotions/pain rather than act harsh towards it. Our pain, although sometimes misguided, are trying to help us. Self compassion is powerful!

I work with people who are chronically ill or have pain and disability. I work from a grief model to help you grieve the "should be" in your life. I can understand that it is incredibly lonely and sad to have to grieve yourself. I am chronically ill myself and understand the ups and down's that you experience. I use EMDR to process the trauma of being chronically ill and navigate the medical and mental health system that is not set up to support success.

I provide compassionate support for managing & coping with health challenges, focusing on inflammatory bowel disease. With experience in addressing the emotional aspects of chronic conditions, I use evidence-based techniques to offer relief, enhance coping skills, and improve your overall quality of life. Whether you're facing chronic pain, autoimmune disorders, or other long-term health issues, I collaborate with you to develop strategies for symptom management & emotional resilience.

Managing chronic illness such as Lichen Sclerosus, as a woman comes with unique challenges, and I specialize in providing empathetic support. In our collaborative journey, we develop coping strategies and a personalized approach to enhance your overall well-being. With a focus on resilience, I guide you in navigating the complexities of living with chronic conditions. Together, we'll empower you to thrive and find joy despite the challenges that chronic illness may bring.

As an individual who lives with chronic pain and illness, I understand the struggle of finding people who "get it". There is a very specific type of experience that comes with chronic illness and the frustration of not having a compassionate space to land can be overwhleming.

I have nearly 15 years of experience helping individuals with chronic health issues learn more adaptive ways of relating to their thoughts and feelings about their symptoms and helping them to lead more enjoyable, fulfilling lives.

Are you living with a chronic illness or endless enduring pain? have you just received a new diagnosis for a illness you are trying to wrap your head aroud? I love to talk with folks about their feelings around illness.

I support clients in navigating the complexities of chronic pain or illness by addressing both emotional and practical aspects, including *the stress and uncertainty* of significant medical diagnoses. This includes those disproportionately affected by COVID-19. Drawing from my own experience with unexpected health challenges, I bring a personal understanding to our work. Together, we'll collaborate on ways to better your quality of life and cope with the ongoing impacts of chronic conditions.

I have helped hundreds of clients who are actively suffering from chronic pain, chronic illnesses, and debilitating disabilities. Coming-to-terms with your physical struggles, learning how to navigate life with them, and finding your personal strengths all are very useful ways to beat the depression and anxiety that these issues cause. Good therapy can help.

Chronic illness, fatigue, and/or pain can be incredibly overwhelming, and isolating. Do you find yourself stressing over self-care, feeling unsupported by loved ones, struggling to balance work, rest, relationships and your passions? Do you feel fragmented from your sense of self and the things that bring you joy? You are not alone! Through mindfulness techniques, nervous system support, and expressive art practices I hope to support you in experiencing more ease, joy, and wellbeing in your life

After years of working with clients who have health-related issues, I myself acquired chronic health conditions that impact my day-to-day life. I both personally and professionally understand what it is like to adjust to these life changes, learn your limitations, pace yourself, and try to raise a family while chronically ill. Preferred issues to address: Fibromyalgia, Food Allergies/Anaphylaxis, Headache, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, IBD (Crohn's/Colitis), ME/CFS, Migraine.

Adults struggling with chronic illness or chronic pain often feel alone, isolated, and misunderstood. They struggle to make sense of medical trauma and dismissive medical providers. We will use holistic and somatic approaches to manage the impacts of illness management.

Psychotherapy with clinical hypnosis has been shown to be effective for treating chronic pain to decrease the intensity of pain and how it may interfere with your life. My VA Hospital research Treating Chronic Low Back Pain with Hypnosis or Biofeedback is published. Clinical hypnosis has also been shown to be very effective for treating Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and hotflashes.

Experienced in helping clients manage and cope with chronic pain and illness

I use EMDR & ACT to work with chronic illness and/or pain.

Many of my clients are dealing with chronic illnesses, including lime disease, chronic fatigue, and HPA axis dysregulation. It is important to me to support these clients on their journey of acceptance and healing. The issue of chronic illness is personal to me as well as professional. My mother has survived (and thrived), with courage and grace, a chronic illness throughout her life.

I worked with children diagnosed with special needs for many years, in many settings. In addition, I interned at Winship Cancer Institute and worked for CHOA in their inherited bleeding disorders unit. I have a unique understanding how illness affects clients across the lifespan.