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Chronic Illness & Disability

Living with a long-term health condition and/or disability can impact not only physical health, but also areas such as emotional well-being, work life, relationships and personal development. It can involve managing a condition, experiencing grief and loss, and making meaning of one’s experience, while navigating all that it means to be human. Often this includes changes in at least one or more areas of life, with the road ahead being a little (or very) uncertain.

Counseling sessions can include talking about living with a health condition(s), struggles, successes, work or relationship concerns, hopes, developing advocacy skills, and anything else relevant to you. I work with clients to reduce feelings of isolation, shame, and any other barriers to well-being. The definition of a life well-lived is different for every person; therapy can be a place to explore what each area means for you.

Rehabilitation Counseling

I am credentialed as a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC). Rehabilitation Counseling is a field centered on supporting individuals living with chronic illness and disability. It originated with the Soldiers Rehabilitation Act (1918), legislation passed to support veterans of WWI who were injured and needed support with rehabilitating. Services were later expanded to include vocational rehabilitation for civilians with the Smith Fess Act of 1920. The VA continues to provide rehabilitation counseling for veterans, and, in addition there are now services through each state and in the private sector.

Depending on the setting, services can include vocational rehabilitation or mental health counseling support with finding and maintaining meaningful work, skill development, improving quality of life, and adjusting to disability. In my practice, I offer mental health counseling supporting individuals with adjustment to chronic illness and disability. Depending on client interest, I can also provide support with exploring the role of work (paid, volunteer, other) in the process of healing.