Chronic Pain or Illness

Numerous non-medical interventions for chronic pain and illness exist and new research enhances our treatment techniques. Pain researchers such as Dr. Daniel Clauw continue to advance our understanding. Psychodynamic and mindfulness techniques are helpful in coping with these issues. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy is also considered an effective treatment for chronic pain and illness.

Did you know that research shows therapy for chronic pain is as effective as painkillers? You can have much more influence over your pain than you'd imagine and you can get back to living a full life. Like pain medications, therapy works on the physical body but it also addresses two areas that medications don't. Whether you are dealing with chronic pain or chronic illness, you and I will work together to find solutions so you can focus on living a vibrant, satisfying life.

Living with illness, disability, and/or chronic pain can leave you feeling isolated as you navigate changing relationships, medical care, stretched finances, grief for what's been lost, fear about the future, experiences of invisibility/hypervisibility, and anger about how you've been treated. I work from a Disability Justice model, grappling with the ways in which our world often fails to provide accommodation and access, and how our lives become shaped by that lack of care and recognition.

Living with illness, disability, and/or chronic pain can leave you feeling isolated as you navigate changing relationships, medical care, stretched finances, grief for what's been lost, fear about the future, experiences of invisibility/hypervisibility, and anger about how you've been treated. I work from a Disability Justice model, grappling with the ways in which our world often fails to provide accommodation and access, and how our lives become shaped by that lack of care and recognition.

As a clinical health psychologist I have comfort level and knowledge with many different types of illness and how they connect to mental health. I can also assist with advocating for yourself in the medical system or support in navigating these systems.

I provide Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Chronic Pain. This is an evidence-based therapy for chronic pain that encourages clients to adopt an active, problem-solving approach to the many challenges of chronic pain. Clients will engage in meaningful activities, learn to manage stress, tackle unhelpful thoughts, and become more engaged in life again.

My primary training and practice sites have been in pain clinics, HIV clinics, liver clinics, and primary care clinics. Across those experiences I have developed expertise in treating individuals struggling with a body that is not cooperating. I employ evidence-based treatments like ACT and CBT, but also work hard to address ableism, illness stigma, medical trauma, and other experiences that intersect with one's experience of pain and illness.

You may have just recently been diagnosed with a chronic illness, or you may have been coping with one for years. You are probably exhausted and frustrated with how long it took to get a diagnosis or to find the right treatment. You may feel alone in your experience and like no one understands what you are going through. Therapy can provide education about coping skills for dealing with these changes and emotions, as well as a place to discuss and get support for your experience.

I have lived experience with chronic pain/illness and disability.

I have helped hundreds of clients who are actively suffering from chronic pain, chronic illnesses, and debilitating disabilities. Coming-to-terms with your physical struggles, learning how to navigate life with them, and finding your personal strengths all are very useful ways to beat the depression and anxiety that these issues cause. Good therapy can help.

Pain impacts us emotionally, but I believe this is often overlooked in the medical system. With chronic pain, like migraines, the anger, frustration, hopelessness, despair, and sadness can be tough to walk alone. The suffering needs a place to be channeled outside of ourselves, in healthy and constructive ways. I find that creative methods can be helpful in exploring our relationship with our pain, bodies, and allow us to release these difficult emotions.

I work with individuals who have chronic illnesses, particularly those with inflammatory bowel disease (ulcerative colitis and crohn's disease). Managing flare-ups with active symptoms can take a toll on your emotional and mental health, as well as your physical well-being. Together, we can develop skills to handle emotional distress, manage stress, rediscover activities that bring fulfillment, and explore how to implement lifestyle changes to improve your overall well-being.

Discover everyday practices to help you thrive. Learn how to increase your self-awareness and design the best quality of life for yourself.

Numerous non-medical interventions for chronic pain and illness exist and new research enhances our treatment techniques. Pain researchers such as Dr. Daniel Clauw continue to advance our understanding. Psychodynamic and mindfulness techniques are helpful in coping with these issues. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy is also considered an effective treatment for chronic pain and illness.

I take a holistic approach to therapy, exploring with you how your mind, body, spirit and environment are all interconnected. Often we experience pain and illness more intensely when our mental health is misaligned and vice versa.

Living with illness, disability, and/or chronic pain can leave you feeling isolated as you navigate changing relationships, medical care, stretched finances, grief for what's been lost, fear about the future, experiences of invisibility/hypervisibility, and anger about how you've been treated. I work from a Disability Justice model, grappling with the ways in which our world often fails to provide accommodation and access, and how our lives become shaped by that lack of care and recognition.

Disability changes your life. Many people live with chronic illnesses, and yet so much is unknown about our health. Just like supportive and affirming medical care, disability-affirming therapy can be hard to find. In therapy, we can attend to grief, identity loss, and shifts in worldview as well as more practical ups and downs of navigating life with chronic illness. It is important to me to bring a disability justice approach into therapy.

Hi, I’m Dr. Catalina. I believe our sexual wellbeing is central to overall health. As a clinical health psychologist for the past 20 years, I’ve worked with individuals affected by the big guns – cancer, death and dying. Through this work, I witnessed that True Authentic Connection is what makes life worth living. Health impacts how we see ourselves and how we connect with others. I address sexual and relationship concerns for individuals and couples impacted by chronic illness

I am trained as a CRC (clinical rehabilitation counselor), which means specializing in disabilities. Having a disability can be confusing and a non-linear process from feeling grief/loss to acceptance and coping. I particularly enjoy working with people with "invisible disabilities" such as chronic illnesses and believe my holistic mindfulness-based body-centered approach is particularly helpful for integrating a mind-body connection.