Therapy for Chronic Illness in Richmond, VA
and virtually across Virginia and 41 states
Living with a chronic illness can feel exhausting—physically, emotionally, and mentally. The day-to-day challenges often extend far beyond medical symptoms, and you can feel burnt out from managing your health problems. We help people navigate the unique challenges of chronic illness with specialized therapeutic techniques.
Therapy offers a safe space to process the ups and downs of chronic illness and find ways to stay connected to what makes life meaningful.
FOCUS AREAS
Autoimmune disorders
Type 1 diabetes
Rheumatoid arthritis
Lupus
Crohn’s disease
Celiac
Connective tissue disorders
Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome
Hypermobility spectrum disorder
Epilepsy
Chronic headaches
How does mental health treatment help my chronic illness?
Therapy in 5 phases
01 Phase 1
Emotional processing.
First, we identify the core emotional challenges that your illness has caused. Common themes are grief over the life you thought you would have, anger at your body or illness, and fear over what the future holds.
02 Phase 2
Re-wiring the fight or flight response
Then, we can begin work on orienting your body toward safety. Chronic illness can lead you to be consistently in a state of stress, or “fight or flight” and lead to burnout. Through physiological relaxation, mindfulness training geared toward your illness and body, we can help interrupt the stress-symptom-fear cycle
03 Phase 3
Cultivating the right mindset
In this stage we work on addressing any personal beliefs holding you back, negative messages you have received or told yourself due to illness, and creating a new narrative for who you are. This new mindset will be one of strength and resilience, not one of ‘brokenness.’ Together, we can re-write your story.
04 Phase 4
Developing effective communication skills
Communication is vital in chronic illness. In sessions, we will work on the communication strategies you use with your care team, friends, and family. We will focus on learning to stop apologizing for or feeling bad about having an illness you had no control over developing and voicing your needs in an effective way that gets you the support you need.
05 Phase 5
Creating the next chapter
Finally, we work on identifying your true values and dreaming up the life you want to live. Then, we work on taking direct steps toward that dream and putting into action the life you truly want, all with your illness in tow.
Now offering Chronic Illness Therapy Intensives for high-achieving, perfectionistic women living with chronic illness
A therapy intensive designed specifically for women with chronic illness who are ready to stop putting themselves last and start prioritizing their own physical and emotional health.
If you’re a woman who seems to have it all together but can’t get a handle on your own health/chronic illness, this intensive is for you.
We see you.
You put in countless hours at work or home to make sure everyone has what they need. You are the ‘go-to’ person to put out fires or keep the office, family, or friend circle running. But, at the end of the day, your stress feels higher than ever and your symptoms are getting worse. You don’t seem to have anything left in the tank for yourself. And you’re stuck feeling burnt out, knowing you need to find a way to change the cycle. Your body is sending you clear messages that things aren’t working - maybe with symptom flares, or with general malaise, fatigue, or sleep disturbance.
You need things to change.
With this 5-session therapy intensive, we spend two full hours together learning to reconnect with yourself, and for once, prioritize your own physical and emotional health.
Unlike traditional weekly sessions, therapy intensives involve extended time—to create space for deeper healing and meaningful progress. This approach allows you to slow down, reflect, and process what your illness experience has brought up, all while going through science-backed interventions to help you manage your day-to-day better.
Each therapy intensive is personalized to your needs and may include:
Emotional processing and grief related to your experience with chronic illness
Mind-body therapy techniques to help your nervous system reset, relax, and get out of “fight or flight” mode
Cognitive strategies to challenge the mindsets that keep you feeling stuck and create a new story for yourself
Behavioral strategies to help you break the cycle of overdoing it and then “crashing”, prioritize your balance and energy, and reduce flare ups
Guided reflection to rebuild a sense of identity, purpose, self-compassion, and “what comes next?”
Whether you’re adjusting to a new diagnosis, burnt out from managing a life-long illness, or just feeling stuck in your healing process, a therapy intensive can help you move forward with clarity, acceptance, and renewed energy.
This service is provided by a health psychologist with expertise in chronic illness, behavioral health, and adjustment to medical conditions. Therapy intensives can stand alone or complement ongoing therapy or medical care.
Frequently Asked Questions About Therapy for Chronic Illness
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Therapy for chronic illness focuses on helping you cope with the emotional, mental, and lifestyle challenges that come with living with long-term health conditions. It can help you manage anxiety, depression, medical trauma, fatigue, and changes in identity or daily functioning.
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Yes — it’s designed for people whose emotional well-being is closely tied to their physical health. Health psychologists and therapists trained in behavioral medicine understand the complex relationship between body and mind and can tailor sessions to your unique medical and emotional needs.
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Yes. We provide telehealth therapy for clients across Virginia and in most PSYPACT-participating states. Online sessions can be especially helpful if symptoms or mobility challenges make travel difficult.
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We work with adults managing a wide range of conditions, including autoimmune diseases (such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and multiple sclerosis), diabetes, gastrointestinal conditions, chronic migraines, long COVID, chronic fatigue, and other complex or invisible illnesses. We also support people adjusting to new diagnoses or navigating multiple health challenges.
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The Chronic Illness Therapy Intensive is a short-term, focused program designed for individuals seeking more rapid progress or deeper support. It typically includes five sessions, two hours each, scheduled over several weeks. This format allows for extended time to process experiences, build skills, and develop a personalized care plan tailored to your health needs.
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This therapy intensive was designed specifically for women who tend to put their own emotional and physical health on the backburner and are ready to change that narrative.
Intensives are especially helpful for people who find traditional weekly therapy too slow or who need flexible scheduling around treatment or symptom fluctuations.
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Yes. We offer the intensive virtually for clients across Virginia and other PSYPACT states, allowing you to access care from home — an important option if travel, fatigue, or pain make in-person therapy challenging.
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We are an out-of-network provider and do not bill insurance directly. This allows us to protect your privacy, avoid diagnostic labeling, and tailor treatment to your specific needs rather than to insurance limitations. Many clients appreciate the flexibility this provides — such as longer sessions, individualized pacing, and care that focuses on your goals, not a checklist. We can provide a superbill if you’d like to seek reimbursement from your insurance company.
