Chronic Illness Counseling
Guidance for Life's Ongoing Journey
Chronic Illness Counseling
Guidance for Life's Ongoing Journey
Understanding the Need
Dealing with a chronic illness is not just a physical challenge; it is a profound emotional, psychological, and social one. It can impact every member of a family. Our specialized chronic illness counseling subspecialty is designed to provide compassionate and practical support to help you and your loved ones navigate the unique challenges that come with long-term health conditions.
We create a positive and safe experience for you to address the complexities of living with, or caring for someone with, a chronic illness.
Who Can Benefit?
Our services are tailored for:
Individuals newly diagnosed or managing a long-term condition.
Family members and caregivers supporting a loved one.
Couples navigating changes in their relationship due to illness.
Key Areas of Focus
Our skilled clinicians specialize in a variety of areas, providing comprehensive support:
Coping Skills & Adjustment: Developing strategies to manage the daily realities of your illness and adapt to new limitations.
Depression & Anxiety: Addressing the emotional weight, fear, and sadness that often accompany chronic conditions.
Grief and Loss: Processing the grief related to the loss of health, independence, future plans, or roles.
Caregiver Issues: Providing support for those in a caregiving role, addressing burnout, stress, and resentment.
Communication & Family Dynamics: Improving how family members talk about the illness and function as a supportive unit.
Symptom Management: Using psychological techniques to help manage pain, fatigue, and other physical symptoms.
Identity and Self-Esteem: Rebuilding a positive sense of self despite the changes brought by illness.
Medical Adherence: Working through psychological barriers to following treatment plans and medical advice.
Types of Therapy we utilize
We employ evidence-based, compassionate approaches, including:
Individual Therapy
One-on-one sessions for personal support and coping strategy development.
Family Therapy
Sessions focused on improving communication and mutual support within the family unit.
Online Counseling
HIPAA compliant video & phone-based platforms for therapy services, available for Texas residents.
Existential therapy
Existential therapy is a form of talk therapy that can be particularly powerful in the context of chronic illness because it directly addresses the profound, universal questions and challenges that illness often forces people to confront.
It works by focusing on the "ultimate concerns" or "givens" of human existence, which are often intensified when a person deals with a long-term health condition:
Death and Mortality: Chronic illness often heightens an awareness of the body's fragility and the finite nature of life. Therapy helps the individual confront and accept their mortality to encourage living more fully in the present.
Freedom and Responsibility: Illness can cause a loss of control and independence, leading to feelings of helplessness. Existential therapy encourages the client to identify the areas where they still have freedom to choose (e.g., attitude, priorities, values) and take responsibility for creating their future within the constraints of the illness.
Meaning and Meaninglessness: When old roles, activities, or life goals are lost due to illness, life can feel meaningless. The therapy helps the person discover or create new meaning and purpose in their changed life circumstances.
Isolation: The experience of chronic illness can be profoundly isolating. Therapy provides a non-judgmental space to explore this sense of aloneness, while also encouraging clients to strengthen authentic connections and recognize shared human experiences, even in suffering.
In essence, existential therapy for chronic illness is not just about coping; it is about helping the client move beyond the symptoms to find a renewed sense of self and an authentic life despite the physical challenges.