Chronic Illness
Improving Overall Health & Wellness through Psychology
Are you stressed from trying to manage a health condition like an autoimmune disorder, cancer or a chronic illness? Have you had trauma related to the process of diagnosis or from the treatment itself? Have you had difficulty sleeping, eating or moving around physically and feel like you’ve tried everything without any improvement? If you answered “yes” to any of the questions above, you may benefit from working with me!
My specialty happens at the intersection between your physical and mental health. What do I mean by this? Essentially, I’m saying that your physical health and mental health impact one another! Studies have found that when one aspect of a person's well-being is affected, it often impacts the others as well. For example, if someone experiences high stress and anxiety, they might start eating poorly, leading to weight fluctuations and other health issues. Similarly, living with chronic pain or a long-term illness can gradually lead to feelings of depression.
I use cognitive, behavioral, and biopsychosocial therapies to help you cope better with the stress of a physical illness, change the way you think about your physical health and/or achieve positive behavior change.
Counseling for Chronic Medical Conditions
Dealing with a chronic illness or medical condition can be incredibly stressful, and if you're reading this, you're likely already familiar with that stress. Whether you've lived with chronic pain for years and noticed its effect on your mood, or you've gone through cancer treatments like radiation or chemo and felt your body drained from the fight, or you're managing diabetes—no matter the specific illness or physical challenge, I understand how stressful it can be! You may have even felt resentment, anger, frustration, or hopelessness when thinking about your health.
Did you know that when someone experiences both depression and chronic pain, treating depression can actually help alleviate the pain too? This happens because our stress response system is complex. The connection between our body and mind can be hard to fully understand, but it's real. You might already be hoping that counseling could help you cope with the emotional weight of physical pain and illness. The good news is that more and more research shows that counseling can teach you how to calm your body, regulate your emotional responses, and even motivate yourself to adopt behaviors that help manage your condition.
Improve Your Health through Behavior Change
Your doctor has recommended that you make some changes to improve your health, but you're finding it hard to follow through on those suggestions. You want to be healthier, but when it’s time to make those healthy choices, exercise, or do what the doctor has asked, it just feels difficult to stay on track.
The good news is, I can help you boost your motivation, create a plan to change your behavior, and support you in staying committed to it! I know that making lasting changes is tough, and I truly understand how challenging it can be. But I’m here to help you through it.
Some common health behaviors clients choose to work with me include:
- Changing eating habits
- Sleeping Problems
- Following an exercise routine more consistently
- Managing Stress
Counseling for Insomnia and Sleep Problems: Using CBT and EMDR Therapies
Are you exhausted from lack of sleep? Maybe you find yourself lying awake for hours at night, tossing and turning, or waking up multiple times throughout the night. You might even experience nightmares. Whatever the case, you're not getting enough rest to feel rejuvenated. You've likely tried medications (both over-the-counter and prescription), essential oils, and countless other tips from well-meaning friends, yet insomnia still holds you back.
The good news is counseling can be a highly effective solution for insomnia. I offer CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) for insomnia, which is different from the usual "sleep hygiene" advice you might have tried. While sleep hygiene can help, CBT goes deeper. During therapy, you may keep a sleep log, examine your thoughts and beliefs about sleep, and learn behavioral techniques that can help you get the rest you need. Additionally, EMDR therapy will help you get to the root of the issue with the hope of resolving the issue with sleep for the long term versus just a quick fix strategy.
How EMDR Helps with Chronic Pain and illness
Chronic pain often has a negative impact on mental health, potentially leading to conditions like depression or anxiety, which can, in turn, worsen the pain. Initially, an injury may cause pain, but sometimes the pain continues even after the injury heals physically. This is common with conditions like neck/back pain, fibromyalgia, cancer pain, reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and migraines. Studies show that individuals with a history of traumatic experiences are more likely to develop chronic pain, and this trauma can also include childhood emotional neglect. People with trauma tend to experience higher levels of pain from injuries, and their pain is often harder to treat.
Trauma is stored in the brain, particularly in areas related to emotions, such as the hippocampus, amygdala, and anterior cingulate cortex, which are also involved in processing pain. The brain is divided into two hemispheres, connected by the corpus callosum, and research indicates that individuals with PTSD or chronic pain show reduced activity on the left side of the brain and increased activity on the right side. The left hemisphere handles focused attention, while the right manages open attention. For example, the left side of the brain focuses on the specific injury and pain, while the right side sees the broader picture—acknowledging that while pain was experienced, healing has occurred.
Normally, new experiences are processed by the right brain, analyzed by the left brain, and then returned to the right. However, in cases of high anxiety during a traumatic event, this process can be disrupted. As a result, the pain "gets stuck" in the brain, especially in the left side, leading to the experience of chronic pain even after the injury has healed.
The good news is that the brain is adaptable, a phenomenon known as neuroplasticity. This means that the brain's response to pain can change with new experiences, including therapy for trauma. Another positive development is the use of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), which simulates the REM sleep process (where information is processed) by moving the eyes side to side. This stimulates both sides of the brain, helping to release the "stuck" trauma and pain. EMDR is a well-researched method for treating trauma and can reduce the intensity and sensitivity of chronic pain linked to trauma or neglect stored in the brain.
References:
Gerhardt A, Leisner S, Hartmann M, Janke S, Seidler GH, Eich W, Tesarz J. (2016) Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing vs. Treatment-as-Usual for Non-Specific Chronic Back Pain Patients with Psychological Trauma: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Study. Front Psychiatry. 2016 Dec 20;7:201. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2016.00201. eCollection 2016.
Grant M. (2014) Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing treatment of chronic pain. OA Musculoskeletal Medicine Aug. 17(2), 17.
Konuk, E., Zat, Z., & Kavakçı, Ö. (2018). Fibromyalgia syndrome treatment with EMDR therapy. Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing EMDR therapy scripted protocols and summary sheets treating eating disorders, chronic pain and maladaptive self-care behaviors.
Marcus, Steven (2008) An abortive treatment for migraine headaches. Journal of EMDR Practice & Research. 2(1) 15-25.
Mazzola, Alexandra, Calcagno, Marea, Lujon, Goicochea, et al., (2009) EMDR in the treatment of Chronic Pain. (2009) Journal of EMDR Practice and Research. 3(2) 66-79.
Wertheim, B., Aarts, E. E., de Roos, C., & van Rood, Y. R. (2023). The effect of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) on abdominal pain in patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS): a study protocol for a randomized controlled trial (EMDR4IBS). Trials, 24(1), 785.
Are You Ready to Work with Kathleen?
Take a moment to reflect: “What will happen if I continue down the same path I’ve been on?” Essentially, what’s the outcome if you don’t reach out to me? Only you can truly answer that. But you’re aware of where you currently stand with your physical, mental, and emotional health. And if you’re reading this, I have a feeling that part of you is ready to take the step toward change.
I’m here to help you make that change. I specialize in helping people create a balance between physical and mental health. When you work with me, you’ll experience an overall improvement in your well-being. Through counseling, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of how your mental and physical health are connected, and you’ll approach your health from a more holistic perspective. You’ll feel better both physically and mentally, and you’ll learn how to manage chronic conditions and make lasting, positive changes in your behavior.
Other Counseling Services Kathleen Provides
I am happy to offer in-person and online individual therapy services for adults. I have practiced in the mental health field for 25+ years and have developed an expertise and passion for working with clients. I specialize in providing counseling for anxiety, chronic illness, chronic pain, depression, stress management, trauma and PTSD and more. I also provide support for busy professionals. I use CBT therapy, DBT therapy and EMDR therapy with great success. If you don’t see the issue you are looking for listed, please contact me to ask if I can help you with your unique situation. I look forward to helping you live your best life possible!