Mental Health Support for Chronic Illness & Disabilities
Note: We use the language of both “chronic illness” and “disability”, as well as person-first and identity-first language, in order to honour the diverse ways that people identify.
Therapy for Chronic Illness & Disability
Our physical health directly impacts every aspect of our lives and wellbeing, including mood, thoughts, abilities, and relationships. Whether you have been on this journey for a long time or are just beginning, there are times when this can feel truly overwhelming and leave us with more questions than answers. Will I ever get better? What if I can’t go back to work? How can I be happy when I’m in so much pain all the time? Who am I now that I can’t do what I used to do?
If you have ever found yourself spiraling like this, know that you aren’t alone. It can feel scary, confusing, and heavy when our lives begin to change in ways that we can’t predict and don’t want. But you don’t have to go through this alone. I know it might sound too difficult or too unrealistic right now, but there are ways to reconnect with yourself and create a new normal that is fulfilling and meaningful. Therapy can help you tackle these important questions, develop healthy coping skills, and be supported through every step of this difficult journey.
$160/60 Minutes
Who can therapy for chronic illness help?
Whether you’ve been newly diagnosed, have lived with your condition for a long time, or are still looking for answers, therapy can help with a wide variety of chronic illnesses and disabilities. These include:
endometriosis or adenomyosis
fibromyalgia
Long COVID or Post-COVID Conditions (PCC)
ME/CFS
POTS
EDS or hypermobility
MCAS
MS
Acquired or traumatic brain injury (ABI/TBI)
paralysis or loss of mobility
What can therapy help with?
Coping Strategies
Therapy can help you develop healthy coping strategies for a variety of symptoms and challenges related to chronic illness and disability, including:
Chronic pain and fatigue
Flare-ups and fluctuating health
Cognitive changes (e.g., memory, decision-making)
Emotion regulation
Medical trauma
Loneliness and isolation
Grief and identity
Anxiety and phobias
Medical Trauma
If you’ve been on a journey to get diagnosed and find a treatment plan, chances are you’ve experienced the gaps in our healthcare system. You’ve spent hours researching your symptoms, only to have doctors rush through an appointment without even listening to your answers or giving you the chance to ask questions. You’ve had to spend so much time advocating for the referrals and tests you know that you need. You’ve had medical professionals question you, argue with you, or gaslight you about your own experiences.
If this resonates with you, you aren’t alone. Unfortunately, many people with chronic illness or disabilities in Ontario have experienced medical trauma in addition to the challenges that come with chronic illness or disabilities. Medical trauma can make it harder for us to trust not just the healthcare system that we need, but ourselves. Medical trauma can make us start to invalidate our own experiences and have a harder time identifying and honouring our body’s needs.
Therapy can be a safe space to help you process these difficult experiences, reconnect with yourself, and prepare for engaging with the healthcare system.
Pro Bono Program
There are far too many barriers in our society for obtaining accessible, qualified healthcare if you have a chronic illness or disability. Your therapist shouldn’t be one of them — but all too often that’s what we’re hearing! That’s why we created our PRO BONO program, which offers 24 free individual therapy sessions from a qualified professional with lived experience as a chronic warrior.
*Enrollment is based on eligibility and program availability. Limited spots available. Please contact to learn more.
Book a FREE 15-Minute Discovery Call to Learn More!
Brianna is currently accepting new therapy and counselling clients for online therapy sessions.