Therapy for chronic pain and chronic illness
Living with chronic pain or a long-term illness means carrying two things at once: the symptoms, and the weight of a life that has changed because of them. Therapy gives you a place to work through the frustration, grief and exhaustion, and to build a life that still feels like yours.
You might be noticing
- Feeling dismissed or unheard by doctors while you search for answers
- Grieving the work, hobbies or plans your health has taken from you
- Exhaustion, irritability or low mood that comes with ongoing symptoms
- Guilt about canceling plans or worry about being a burden
- A boom-and-bust cycle: pushing hard on good days, then crashing
- Anxiety about flare-ups, appointments or what the future holds
How we help
Two struggles at once
Chronic conditions are not only medical problems. They can change your sense of self, your work and your future plans. Many people spend a long time searching for a diagnosis or relief, and feeling unheard along the way can leave you isolated and wary of the healthcare system. We take the invisible side of your experience seriously.
Grief and a changing sense of self
Illness often brings a real loss: of the version of you who could work long hours, say yes to every invitation or do the things you loved. Therapy helps you grieve that loss, sort out what matters most to you now, and find meaning and purpose within the limits your body sets.
Relationships and communication
Chronic illness affects the people around you too. It can be hard to explain limited energy to friends and family who haven't lived it. We help you find words for what you need, set boundaries without guilt, and build understanding with the people who support you.
How therapy helps
We don't treat the physical pain itself, and therapy works alongside your medical care, not instead of it. What we offer are evidence-based ways to change your relationship with pain and stress. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and mindfulness-based approaches help you notice symptoms without the extra layer of fear and struggle. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy helps with the thoughts and habits that make bad days worse. Together with practical pacing skills, these approaches can lower distress and help you feel more in control of your days.
A life worth living, alongside your symptoms
Our focus is on sustainability, not just getting through the day. With your clinician, you'll build a pace you can keep, a kinder way of talking to yourself, and a plan for the hard days.
A plan built around you
Every person is different and responds to different things. Your care can combine several evidence-based approaches, with or without medication. If questions come up about ADHD, autism or learning, psychological testing is available within the practice. And your plan can change as your needs do, including moving to another clinician on our team whose expertise fits better.
