Counselling for Chronic Illness
& Autoimmune Disorders

What is chronic illness?

Chronic illness has no cure and impacts a person for at least one year (often many, many more). Autoimmune disease occurs when an individual’s immune system malfunctions and beings to attack the body’s own healthy cells. Not only do these conditions come with impactful physical symptoms which are often hard for other's to empathize with, there are also emotional, financial and social impacts that make chronic illness and autoimmune disorders hard to cope with. 

 

While there are genetic vulnerabilities to these diseases, this narrow view on chronic disease and autoimmune disorders often means that individuals feel powerless when they receive a diagnosis. However, your emotions, daily habits and other environmental factors are impactful in either improving or worsening your symptoms. You can feel empowered to understand what impacts your symptoms, make changes and feel better.
 

What can counselling help with?

 

Autoimmune disorders:

• Multiple sclerosis (MS)

• Rheumatoid arthritis 

• Celiac disease

• Thyroid issues (like hypothyroid, Hashimoto’s disease, hyperthyroid, Graves’ disease)

• Endometriosis 

• Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS)

• Irritable bowel disease (Chron’s disease and ulcerative colitis)

• Psoriasis 

• And many, many more

 

Chronic Conditions:

• Diabetes    

• Chronic pain

• Burnout, stress and chronic fatigue

• Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)

• Reproductive health issues (menopause, premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and infertility) 

 

How can counselling help?

 

Chronic conditions can be difficult to cope with. The physical symptoms can be debilitating and impact on your quality of life greatly. This often means there are strong emotions that accompany these conditions like grief, anxiety and/or depression. Counselling offers a space to have your struggle validated and to feel seen. Or perhaps you need support in being your own best advocate as you navigate the medical system, counselling can help with this too. 

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A history of trauma may precede many of these conditions. Counselling can help to make sense of traumatic events and limit their impact on your mental and physical health.

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Stress can also be impactful in our experience of chronic conditions and often works to worsen symptoms. This may look like environmental stressors like infections or lifestyle factors like diet and home or work environments. Stress can also be internal and can impact how we cope with life’s pressures like work and family demands. Counselling can help you to explore both these areas, lessen your load and improve your resilience in the face of stress.

To my work with individuals with chronic conditions, I bring my lived experience of navigating my own condition. I have come to feel empowered; I hope to help you along this journey. I welcome the chance to connect to see how we might work together.

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Resources 

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• Books by Gabor Mate: When the Body Says No & The Myth of Normal

• Global Autoimmune Institute: Free Resources including a peer support group