holistic therapy for chronic illness
written by Sarah Forde, MA, LPCC, CYT
At Integrate Holistic Psychotherapy, our wish is for you to connect deeply with yourself so that you can flourish and live in alignment with your truth.
Living with chronic illness & pain often means navigating a complex and challenging landscape, making it difficult to connect with yourself in a meaningful way.
Having my own embodied experience with chronic illness & pain, I know firsthand how noisy the path to oneself can feel.
Here’s what you might be going though:
You live with perpetual exhaustion: this isn’t just the fatigue from staying up too late. It’s intense, existential, painful exhaustion. Despite your best efforts to follow routines, treatments, and protocols, you often feel more drained and utterly depleted. It’s a vicious cycle of trying desperately to feel better, doing “all the right things,” only to find every task feels like climbing a mountain. All in the name of attempting to achieve a sense of being “okay” in a very able-bodied world.
You are engaging in a balancing act that doesn’t seem to work: you struggle to find harmony between relationships, work, life, treatments, sleep, self-care, and dare I say, fun. It can feel like an ongoing battle.
Your symptoms are driving your life: answering the dreaded question, “how are you doing?” feels too complex to answer. Your answer, and your ability to engage with your life, often hinges on the severity of your symptoms or the effectiveness of your current treatment plan.
You experience confusing, inconsistent reactions: you try to manage and avoid triggers, yet your body’s reactions can be totally unpredictable, leaving you feeling increasingly sensitive emotionally, physically, and energetically. The constant “trying to figure it out” is relentless.
You gear up for doctor’s appointments: medical appointments can feel daunting, often leaving you feeling unheard and overwhelmed, unable to express your needs or ask the “right” questions.
You feel socially frustrated: unable to plan for the future due to the unpredictability and volatility of your health, you frequently need to cancel or reschedule plans. You constantly feel frustrated or guilty trying to explain to friends and loved ones why you can’t make it, feeling that they just don’t get it.
You feel isolated and disconnected living with an invisible illness: “but you look fine!” is a phrase you wish never existed. The struggle to be seen for what you go through day in and day out is filled with loneliness and sadness.
You lost of a sense of what normal even is: it’s difficult to remember what it felt like to be ‘normal,’ and you grieve the person you used to be.
You know fear well: living with chronic illness & pain often brings a fear of the unknown, worrying about what each day will bring, how your symptoms will affect your life, and what the future holds.
That was quite a list. Let’s pause for a moment. Notice what comes up for you - how your body feels, what your thoughts are saying, how you’re holding your posture…
I invite you to take a deep breath, find your feet on the ground, look around your space for things that ease you, grab a comfy blanket, wrap your arms around yourself, and listen for that inner voice that knows it’s going to be okay.
When you are able to listen to that knowing inner voice, perhaps you hear her saying things like:
“I want to have a better relationship with my body and trust that it knows the way forward.”
“I want to learn what my body is trying to tell me and accept some of the pain and symptoms without being overwhelmed by activation and anxiety.”
“I want more balance in my life and to focus on things that bring me joy. I want to celebrate what I can do, not always focusing on what I can’t.”
“I want to connect deeply with others and feel free to be myself.”
“I want to learn who I am and love myself fully.”
“I don’t want to let fear stop me from living my life.”
Therapy can help you tune in to your inner voice, and navigate your unique and important experience as a person navigating chronic illness.
Integrate’s holistic approach to therapy for chronic illness will help you:
Understand your body: learn the language of your body, your nervous system, and your stress responses. By mapping your nervous system, you’ll understand what your beautiful body is trying to say so you can work with yourself.
Reconnect with yourself: rediscover & remember who you truly are. Find connection to yourself, what you value, and what feels important to you. We can work together to help you feel safe in your body so you can be present and embody your aliveness.
Cultivate curiosity & compassion: become curious and compassionate towards yourself and your experience. You have been through so much, my friend. Let’s make room for all parts of you and welcome them in. You are worthy of love, and it’s time to really feel that.
Accept & embrace: learn to accept – and if I may be so bold, embrace - the ebbs and flows of your symptoms. Your chronic illness might reveal profound insights and become your greatest teacher, helping you confront and transcend your fears.
Improve the quality of your life: develop practical strategies to manage symptoms and build a toolkit to draw from in moments of need. This is not about getting rid of or pushing away what is present, but rather about helping you feel safe to experience what is here.
Find JOY!: discover what lights you up, sparks playfulness, and brings a sense of ease and peace.
Set boundaries: learn what a YES feels like in your body, and what a NO feels like. Get to know your needs and express them confidently.
What will therapy sessions for chronic illness look like?
Our therapy sessions are a collaborative journey tailored to your unique needs. Here’s a glimpse of what to expect:
Somatic and transpersonal therapy: we’ll use techniques from somatic and transpersonal therapy to help you connect with your body and transcend limiting patterns.
Mindfulness & meditation: these practices will help you stay grounded, present, and aware of your inner experiences.
Visualization & creative expression: guided visualization and creative expression, such as art, music, movement, and writing, can facilitate rich grounds for self-exploration and healing.
Holistic integration: we will include mind, body, and spirit - ensuring that all aspects of your being are addressed and integrated.
Collaborative support: every session is a co-creation between the two of us to support your journey towards balance, resilience, and self-discovery.