Chronic Illness Therapists in Philadelphia, PA

Chronic illness, chronic pain, depression, or anxiety. Each of these have their own way of zapping our energy and enjoyment in life. These culprits tell us lies about ourselves and keep us from living our greatest potential. Maybe you've been faced with unforeseen circumstances, this is not the life you envisioned, and you're left wondering where to begin. It's hard to tell if or when you're making progress because life just doesn't look the same as it used to and you're left comparing yourself to others.

With a commitment to open communication, therapy becomes a transformative journey that will help you reclaim control, peace, and happiness in your life. Embrace the potential for profound change and discover the strength within you. I empower clients to overcome challenges like panic attacks, generalized anxiety, depression, and other psychological stressors. Through personalized strategies, we will uncover the root causes of anxiety, eliminate self-destructive behaviours, and find comfort and clarity in your circumstances.

I specialize in treating chronic pain and chronic illness. When working with clients with chronic pain and/or chronic illness, I focus on the concept of functional restoration. This means helping clients get back to doing the things that are most important to them and spending time with their loved ones. I use techniques that include activity pacing, relaxation exercises, hypnosis for pain control, and values clarification to help clients create a new and fulfilling life for themselves, even in the midst of pain and illness. I work collaboratively with clients to develop healthier coping strategies, and provide candid feedback.

My goal is to help you get un-stuck. I work with people in their 20s-40s dealing with things like anxiety, trauma, chronic illness, life transitions, and grief. The stress response helps keep us alive, but when we get stuck there we start to feel disconnected from ourselves and the world around us. Not only do I want to help you explore thoughts, gain insight, and empower you to feel confident in your decisions, I want to help your body finally feel safe and grounded. I want to help you find the coping skills to get out of a state of hyperarousal and back into a place of safety and connection.

Therapy with me is an active, engaging process. My practice is grounded in evidence-based approaches and tailored to meet the unique needs of each client. In therapy, I create a space characterized by authenticity, humor, and acceptance. I believe that being direct and genuine helps in building a therapeutic relationship where real change can occur. My approach integrates strategies from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Mindful Self-Compassion, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). I also often incorporate hypnosis in my sessions, which has proven effective in both acute symptom management and deeper therapeutic processes.

Let’s normalize beauty in disability and elicit self-love in adversity! I specialize in relationships, individual counseling, LGBTQ+, and coping with chronic illness. Self-reflection is a powerful tool for seeing the world through different eyes to reorient the self. I help you identify what you need and where you feel a sense of belonging so you can best feel connected to yourself and others. I strive for my couples to feel at peace and deeply connected while exploring sex and trauma.

I am a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and I work with clients with eating disorders, chronic illness, anxiety, trauma, ADHD, women's issues and life transitions. Many times, we may not be aware of how certain situations have impacted us. We may even feel that we have dealt with things cognitively; however, our actions and emotions may not align. I work from a trauma-focused lens which means that I believe that we have all had our fair share of difficulties that are impacting our present-day thoughts, emotions and behaviors. I work with clients to address past, present and future struggles to have a more adaptive perspective.

As you begin your journey to self healing I would like to be an empowering support person for you. I believe we all have personal strengths and the resilience to overcome life’s challenges. My goal is to create a safe space where you feel comfortable sharing and working through issues and concerns that you are facing. I believe in listening to one’s story and validating feelings. I have several years experience working in grief and loss and chronic illness. Past losses if not dealt with will present itself throughout life when other losses occur.

If you're struggling to maintain your basic needs because you're in survival mode, I see you. It can feel impossible to navigate chronic burnout, especially when the path may be blocked by barriers related to chronic illness/pain, executive functioning and sensory needs, and/or unprocessed trauma. These barriers can often be accompanied by shame and guilt, which can make it difficult to connect with others around you. While it may feel overwhelming to find a path to healing, I am here to be a supportive and nonjudgmental co-navigator.

I am a clinical psychologist who is passionate about my work in supporting youth, young adults and their families to address life’s challenges. Over the past 16 years, I have worked with diverse patients who are coping with anxiety, depression, adjustment to chronic illness-particularly chronic pain conditions, challenges related to gender and sexual identity, as well as difficulties faced with peer and family relationships.

I am highly skilled at helping clients with depression, anxiety, relationships, chronic illness, life transitions, and work/life balance. What brings individuals and couples to therapy is complicated and personal. I will meet you where you are, working with whatever you bring through the door and support you to become expert in shaping your own life.

My goal is to help people find answers for questions they may have about themselves. This includes individuals exploring the diagnoses of Autism and ADHD in adulthood. I also work with individuals pursuing bariatric surgery, completing their evaluation and providing recommendations for their care. Regarding therapy, I provide ongoing therapy to individuals who are struggling with anxiety, chronic illness, or general life-related stress. My approach is to work collaboratively with you - you are the expert on yourself, I just bring the tools to the room!

Therapy can help you unlock doors to healing and allow you to tell your story in a way that promotes self-acceptance, growth and confidence. Whether you are dealing with chronic illness, overwhelm, addictions, or a lack of purpose in your career or personal identity and relationships, I am here to help you navigate life's current challenges and beyond. With a background in college counseling and esports coaching, I bring a specialized and motivational perspective into the room, while still meeting you where you are. Facing major life transitions? Therapy can be a safe space to explore options and create a plan to move forward.

It’s like you’ve become a master at putting on a face, so that no one sees the true pain you feel. Maybe it’s a daily struggle to make sense of everything you’re feeling. Even on your best days, it can feel like your body is fighting against you, leaving you drained and defeated. You wish you could relax or slow down, but how? What you’ve been through has left deep scars on your personal life and relationships. It’s affecting your ability to trust others and feel safe. You may find yourself avoiding family and anything that triggers memories of the past, making it difficult to connect with others on a deep or meaningful level.

I am a warm, affirming, non-judgmental psychotherapist with over 20 years of experience, and I work with an interactive, humanistic, strengths-based, trauma-informed, HAES-aligned, and transparent, narrative approach. I believe that people have the innate capacity to heal and change. We will work together to develop a deeper understanding of your life goals and perspectives, so that we can custom-tailor techniques to make life most meaningful for you. We will work together toward resolving life challenges by identifying your personal strengths, coping strategies, and by helping you to see things in your life from a different lens.

Do you ever find yourself overwhelmed by multiple worries and anxious thoughts? Perhaps you even think, “If only I can have one day of happiness and peace?”It may be that the demands of caregiving are causing you to neglect your own health and well being.” The good news is that you do not have to struggle in isolation. I would love to partner with you and together build skills to weather life’s storms.

Finding a therapist (for the first time ever or just the first time in awhile) can be overwhelming; I can make it easier for you. If you are grieving a loss, managing a chronic illness, or having trouble adjusting to changes in your life, I can help. You are the expert in your own life; I want to empower you to tell your story without fear of judgment. My role in our work together is to listen to your struggles, remind you of your strengths, and find a way to honor your losses.

I work with couples and adults. People I have had the pleasure to work with are often in a transitional period of their life and feel stuck working through it on their own. You may fit criteria for the following issues: depression, anxiety, bipolar, chronic illness, sexual dysfunctions (including painful sex, low desire, erectile disorder, achieving orgasm too quickly, or not at all, STI diagnoses, sexual identity and/or orientation exploration, difficulty communicating with partners, partners who have mental health disorders, self-esteem, and body image challenges. I am a good fit for folks who are open to doing exercises at home.

If you find yourself repeating old patterns in relationships, suffering from past trauma, or navigating the world as a queer, trans, or otherwise marginalized person, the right trauma and sex therapist could be the missing member of your support team. I specialize in working with clients who are processing trauma, exploring gender and sexuality, living with chronic pain and chronic illness, and more. As a queer and nonbinary person, I understand the importance of shared identity with a therapist, and work to foster a safe space for LGBTQIA+, kinky, and non-monogamous folks to bring their full selves into the therapy room.