Therapy for Chronic Illness & Autoimmune Disease in California
Mental Health Support for Long-Term Health Conditions & Medical Trauma
Living with chronic illness or autoimmune disease means living in a body that requires ongoing attention, adaptation, and care. These conditions often affect not only physical health, but also emotional well-being, relationships, identity, and one’s sense of the future. Many people find themselves carrying grief, anxiety, anger, or exhaustion alongside the demands of long-term treatment and uncertainty.
I provide therapy for adults living with chronic illness and autoimmune disease, offering a space to process the psychological and emotional impact of long-term health conditions in a way that is grounded, respectful, and non-minimizing.
Chronic illness and autoimmune disease often involve ongoing unpredictability about symptoms, progression, or stability; changes in physical capacity and daily functioning; long-term medical treatment, monitoring, or disability management; anxiety related to bodily unpredictability or flare-ups; depression, grief, and shifts in identity or life roles; and strain on relationships, work, and future planning. Therapy offers support for navigating these realities.
Conditions & Diagnoses I Work With
I work with clients living with a wide range of chronic illnesses and autoimmune conditions, including:
Multiple sclerosis (MS)
Diffuse scleroderma (systemic sclerosis)
Lupus
Rheumatoid arthritis
Ulcerative colitis & Crohn’s disease
Psoriatic arthritis and other inflammatory autoimmune disorders
Other long-term medical conditions that affect daily life and identity
Medical Trauma
Living with chronic illness or autoimmune disease often involves repeated interactions with medical systems that can feel stressful, frightening, or disempowering. Over time, this can lead to heightened vigilance to bodily sensations, difficulty trusting your body or medical providers, anxiety around appointments, procedures, or test results, and experiences of emotional numbness, anger, or shutdown. My work is trauma-informed and attentive to how ongoing illness and medical experiences shape the nervous system and sense of safety.
My Approach
My approach is relational, trauma-informed, and collaborative. We will work with the reality of living in a body that may be unpredictable, limited, or demanding of ongoing care. Therapy may include processing grief, fear, anger, or existential distress that often accompany chronic illness; working with illness-related anxiety; rebuilding trust in your body over time; supporting thoughtful decision-making around care, boundaries, and energy; and making meaning while living with long-term health conditions.
Who This Work Is For
I often work with clients who:
Live with chronic illness, autoimmune disease, or both
Are newly diagnosed or have been managing symptoms for years
Are experiencing changes in functioning or capacity
Feel emotionally overwhelmed by the long-term nature of illness
Have experienced medical trauma or chronic stress
Want therapy that fully acknowledges the realities of living with illness
This is not therapy that asks you to stay positive or minimize what you’re living with. It is a space to slow down, speak honestly, and be supported as you walk through life with chronic illness and autoimmune disease.
If you are living with chronic illness or autoimmune disease and are seeking thoughtful, grounded mental health support, I invite you to reach out.
Questions About Therapy for Chronic Illness & Autoimmune Disease
Can therapy help if I have a chronic illness or autoimmune condition?
Therapy cannot cure chronic illness or autoimmune disease, but it can offer meaningful support for the emotional, relational, and nervous system impacts of living with ongoing health conditions. Many clients find therapy helpful for processing grief, managing anxiety, dealing with the medical system, and developing a more compassionate relationship with their body.
Are you saying my illness is caused by stress or trauma?
No. Chronic illness and autoimmune disease are complex medical conditions with biological, genetic, and environmental factors. My approach does not frame illness as being “caused” by emotions or mindset. Instead, we explore how chronic stress, trauma, and repeated medical experiences can affect the nervous system and emotional well-being, alongside—not instead of—medical care.
Do you work with medical trauma?
Yes. Repeated medical procedures, dismissive encounters, frightening diagnoses, or ongoing monitoring can be traumatic. My work is trauma-informed and attentive to how medical experiences shape the nervous system, sense of safety, and relationship to the body.
Is therapy still helpful if my illness is stable or well-managed?
Yes. Even when symptoms are stable, chronic illness often leaves lasting emotional and nervous system effects. Therapy can support identity changes, anxiety about flare-ups, relationship strain, and the cumulative impact of long-term adaptation.
How do I know if this is a good fit for me?
If you are living with chronic illness or autoimmune disease and want therapy that respects your body, honors emotional complexity, and does not pressure you to “overcome” your condition, this work may be a good fit. You’re welcome to reach out to ask questions or schedule a consultation.