Therapy
Chronic Illness & Medical Challenges
Living with a chronic illness often means navigating a world that doesn’t fully see or understand what you’re going through.
You may look fine on the outside, but inside you’re dealing with persistent pain, fatigue, fear, or frustration. Medical appointments, test results, and treatment plans can begin to dominate your life—leaving little space for rest, reflection, or joy.
Over time, even the strongest people can start to feel overwhelmed, isolated, or emotionally worn down.
Someone living with chronic illness might find themselves asking:
“How do I keep going when I’m always exhausted?”
“Will I ever feel normal again?”
“Why doesn’t anyone understand how hard this is?”
“Am I just supposed to live like this forever?”
“What’s left of me beyond this diagnosis?”
The emotional impact of chronic illness can show up in many ways, including:
Anxiety about your health or the future
Depression or grief related to your diagnosis
Changes in identity or self-worth
Strained relationships or feeling like a burden
Difficulty balancing medical care with everyday life
Frustration with the limits your body now imposes
Feeling misunderstood or dismissed by others
Your experience is real—and it deserves care.
Therapy can provide a space where your whole experience is welcomed—not just the physical symptoms, but the emotional toll as well.
Using compassionate, strength-based approaches and evidence-based strategies, we’ll work together to help you navigate the emotional weight of illness, reclaim your sense of agency, and reconnect with parts of yourself that feel buried beneath the diagnosis.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed by chronic illness, you don’t have to face it alone.
Reach out today and take the first step toward support, clarity, and healing.
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Licensed Providers
Hannah K. Howell, PhD, JD, MSCP
[CA PSY17487 / WA PY 61076404]
[PSYPact/APIT 20176]
Alison Bateman, PhD, C-DBT
[CA PSY19916]
Paula Wilbourne, PhD
[HI PSY-1029]
We provide personalized therapy, advanced professional training, and expert consultation, leveraging decades of clinical expertise and research to address complex mental health challenges.
Licensed Provider
Hannah K. Howell, PhD, JD, MSCP [CA PSY17487 / WA PY 61076404] [PSYPact/APIT 20176]
Alison Bateman, PhD [CA PSY19916]
Paula Wilbourne, PhD [HI PSY-1029]
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