Chronic Illness Counseling in Portland, Oregon
I provide chronic illness counseling to those needing space to unpack how chronic illness is affecting their life.
You may be feeling angry with your own body, isolated from people your own age, and overwhelmed by the medical system. I understand, and I’m here to help.
I help people learn how to live emotionally rich lives even in the face of chronic illness. If you’re ready to relate to your body in a new way, schedule a complimentary consultation with me today.
My Approach to Chronic Illness Therapy
Being chronically ill is a full time job. You’re either being bombarded with suggestions you didn’t ask for, advocating for yourself in medical settings, or trying to find a medication that won’t give you worse side effects (if you even have access to medical care at all).
On top of that, people around you may expect you to be a warrior and to fight through the pain. Unfortunately, that doesn’t leave you with much time, if at all, to be honest about how you experience the world as a chronically ill person.
You need space to be honest about the anger you have toward your body. You need room to voice your frustration with how often you leave your doctor’s office feeling unheard. You need a break from being expected to be so strong all the time.
I can give you the chance to be real about how chronic illness has affected your life and relationships. I’ll help you recognize the sources of grief and sadness about ways you’ve had to modify certain plans for your life as well. From there, I’ll teach you how to relate to your body in a new way so that you aren’t stuck feeling angry toward your body 24/7.
Chronic Illness Therapy FAQs
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Chronic Illness Therapy provides you with an opportunity to be honest about how being chronically ill has changed your relationship to yourself, in addition to your relationship to other people. It also allows you to process feelings of anger, sadness, and grief you may have about your illness. You’ll also learn how to relate to your body in a new way that allows you to reconnect to certain aspects of yourself.
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Absolutely. It can take time to identify your emotions after receiving a diagnosis that is incurable and/or terminal. Therapy can provide a space for you to examine what your diagnosis means for you. It can also be a place where you process any feelings of numbness or confusion about how to continue participating in your life after learning about your diagnosis.
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Nope! Since I’m not a medical doctor, I can’t give you feedback about medical treatments. I can, however, talk with you about hopes, fears, and concerns you might have about making decisions related to your medical care. I can also help you identify which questions you may want to take to your doctor, or other members of your medical care team if you are working with one.
Hi! I’m Halle, your Chronic Illness Therapist.
Hi! I’m Halle, a queer, biracial, African-American therapist in Portland, OR. I’m also chronically ill, and I help other chronically ill people relate to their bodies in new ways. I know firsthand what it’s like to navigate the medical system, to feel unheard, and to feel isolated due to chronic illness. I’ve noticed it is all too common for chronically ill people to feel they don’t have a place where they can speak freely about the impacts of their illnesses on their lives and relationships. My hope for you is a life where you can begin to process the grief tied to your chronic illness, to build a community of people who share in your experience, and to feel truly heard.