Navigating Chronic and Terminal Illness

You’re in uncharted territory.

Your life has been taken over by emotions like anger, sadness, guilt, fear, or grief.

You’re starting to realize the heavy mental toll of juggling medical appointments, coming to grips with your physical limitations, and coping with a lack of social and familial support.

Everything is more difficult these days, and it’s harder when you’re doing it alone. Actually, it’s harder than hard. It’s downright overwhelming – at least, it was for me.

Believe me, I’m no stranger to chronic illness.

It’s a major reason why I opened my practice.

I wanted to create a space where folks struggling with chronic or terminal illnesses can face the difficult emotions and overwhelm head-on.

This is a warm, inviting space just for you. Essential oils like cinnamon or peppermint fill the air, and there’s soft piano music playing gently in the background. It’s all aimed at making you feel relaxed and at ease.

And if you can’t make it to the office (I know that traveling can be difficult or painful), we can work together through telehealth so you can attend from the comfort of your home.

Let’s talk about goals.

My goal is to make sure you always feel safe and welcome – to do anything… even if that’s just BREATHING.

Part of the healing process involves spending time with people in a supportive, judgment-free environment. When you’re here, you can just be you: no expectations.

I want your experience to be tailored to you and your story, so we’ll talk about what you want to get out of therapy. We’ll track progress toward your goals, but we’ll also work from the understanding that your goals may come and go… or change at a moment’s notice.

This will be a comfortable experience for you, with each session unfolding at your pace. And I’ll never force you to talk about anything you’re not ready or willing to touch on. We’ll go where you want to go… when you want to go there.

I’ll give you the individualized support you need.

Everyone grieves differently. How you cope with a life-altering medical diagnosis is going to be different from how your neighbor handles it. And that’s okay.

In therapy, I use several techniques to help you navigate those waves of grief and uncertainty that come with chronic or terminal illness:

Mindful Breathing

This is a technique/skill you can learn and do when you are by yourself (or with others). Mindful breathing helps you ground yourself during those “random” grief attacks when you experience intense moments of anxiety or sorrow.

Legacy Work

I can provide guidance and support when you are ready to walk down the road of writing letters to your loved ones so that they have something personal from you to hold on to. We can also discuss creative ways of letting your legacy live on.

The Power of Silence

Even five minutes in silence with a safe, supportive person can be therapeutic. It allows for thoughts and emotions to come to the surface organically. During these silent moments, you can uncover insights about yourself and your life that could have remained hidden in the everyday hustle and bustle of life.

Person-Centered Work

I incorporate various person-centered techniques that help you focus on what matters most to you in your journey. This approach will let you go at your own pace when it comes to exploring very complicated and painful emotions or concerns.

I’m here for you.

I know you’re on a complicated path, and it doesn’t always make sense.

Let me walk beside you so you don’t have to do it alone.

This next step can be the beginning of a new chapter in your life.

Call now, and we’ll get started with your free consultation: (503) 489-7798.