Chronic Pain or 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.

My primary focus is working with the too often over-looked Familial Caregivers of someone with a chronic illness. I have both professionsal and personal experience working with caregivers. I served as the Clinical Director of Supervision at the Parkinson's Association of San Diego, and I witnessed first hand the incredible stress, overwhelm, and exhaustion of the family caregivers who cared for my grandfather who had Parkinson's and my eldest sister who had aggressive ALS.

I am a Chronic Pain/Illness/Fatigue informed therapist. I personally have these conditions myself and understand firsthand the frustration of having to cancel/reschedule events and the accompanying feelings of shame. It’s so alienating everyday activities takes more energy for us than others, as described by the spoon theory, and we are disappointed with ourselves for not being able to complete something important to us, especially as pertains to our family. Coping strategies may earn spoons.

I am a Chronic Pain/Illness and Chronic Fatigue informed provider. I myself live with Chronic Fatigue/Pain/Illnesses and I understand firsthand the feelings of shame and frustration when we have to reschedule something or cancel. I know how hard it is when your friends and loved ones don’t seem to understand your daily limits especially if you are running out of spoons, (Spoon theory)How we have limited energy resources and we expend more energy on basic tasks than healthy people.

Living with chronic pain and or illness can create stress on all levels of our being. I am here to help you on all levels with pain, diagnosis, chronic pain, and illness. In addition to multiple supportive modalities, I am able to provide mind/body/emotion/spirit support via hypnotherapy and doula services when necessary

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.

I have worked in hospital settings, assisted livings, rehabilitation centers and nursing homes for nearly 25 years. I receive regular referrals from surgeons and other physicians as I specialize in helping people live with somatic challenges.

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.

Living with illness, disability, and/or chronic pain can leave you feeling isolated as you navigate changing relationships, medical care, stretched finances, grief for what's been lost, fear about the future, experiences of invisibility/hypervisibility, and anger about how you've been treated. I work from a Disability Justice model, grappling with the ways in which our world often fails to provide accommodation and access, and how our lives become shaped by that lack of care and recognition.

Living with chronic pain myself, I understand the drastic effects these conditions can have on a person’s life. Chronic pain can impact every aspect of your life. It can lead to emotional distress, isolation, and make it difficult to maintain daily activities and employment. My own experiences have fueled my empathy and dedication to helping others navigate these challenges with a deep understanding and effective strategies.

With a commitment to holistic healthcare, Jan recognizes the profound influence that mental well-being can have on overall health and approaches each person with respect and an open-mind. Jan believes in empowering her patients with comprehensive and tailored treatment plans, ensuring that their individual needs are always at the forefront of care.

Supporting individuals & families in all realms of Health, Healing & Life Transitions - coping with chronic illness; managing acute physical or mental illness; adjusting to chronic physical or mental health diagnosis; living better with chronic pain; healing after medical treatments; navigating uncertainty; managing cancer survivorship & chronic disease management; facing dying authentically.

I work with clients who are suffering from Psychogenic Pain, or more commonly known as TMS. Psychogenic pain goes hand-in-hand with mental health concerns. Research suggests between 30 to 50% of individuals with chronic pain also have anxiety or depression. Sleep disturbances, grief, and anger issues are also common among people with chronic pain. It can be frustrating to hear, "Nothing is wrong with you" by doctors, yet the physical symptoms still linger.

I provide Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Chronic Pain. This is an evidence-based therapy for chronic pain that encourages clients to adopt an active, problem-solving approach to the many challenges of chronic pain. Clients will engage in meaningful activities, learn to manage stress, tackle unhelpful thoughts, and become more engaged in life again.

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.

It is no secret that chronic pain or illness impacts not only all facets of our lives (work, relationships, etc.), but also all layers of the self (mind, body, spirit/soul). Then, healing should also be holistic and integrative. Through mind-body techniques like mindfulness, yoga, and somatic tracking we will work together on navigating the challenges of chronic pain/illness, while cultivating healing and building a meaningful life along the way.

Issues resulting from medical conditions often include: grief and loss, family conflict, depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, loss of routine and/or job, trauma, loss of identify, and more. In my work with these populations, I processed their feelings regarding the changes, how to incorporate the changes, while working with them to prevent their entire lives from BEING these changes.

With my own diagnosis of Type I Diabetes at an early age, I have learned coping strategies, skills, and developed my passion to help others similarly in coping with chronic illness. Working together we can regain our self-identity and coping with these big adjustments.

Living with chronic pain and or illness can create stress on all levels of our being. I am here to help you on all levels with pain, diagnosis, chronic pain, and illness. I am able to provide mind/body/emotion/spirit support via hypnotherapy and doula services when necessary