Counseling for Coping with Chronic Illness
Living with a chronic illness can be challenging, not just physically but emotionally as well. Professional counseling can be a vital tool in supporting mental and emotional well-being while navigating the complexities of chronic illness.
Just as it’s important to find a physical healthcare professional who understands your specific illness and needs, it’s equally important to find a knowledgeable and experienced counselor to add to your team. Chronic illness and disease conditions often require long-term adjustments to daily life and can lead to stress, anxiety, depression, and feelings of isolation. An experienced counselor can help you to navigate these challenges and cope more effectively with your physical health concerns.
Sometimes clients are referred for counseling after a healthcare professional has labeled their symptoms as psychological or “all in their head.” While it’s true that physical symptoms can develop from stress, anxiety, or depression, I’ve found it’s rare that the symptoms are purely psychological, and my approach is usually to support my clients in finding a physician who can diagnose and treat their physical concerns while I work with them to address the stress related to living with illness.
Jen Johnson is a licensed counselor in North Carolina and a board certified coach specializing in health and wellness with 35+ years of experience in providing services to people with stress, chronic illness, and grief.
Contact Jen to schedule a free 15- minute call to see if you would work well together.
How Counseling Can Help You Cope with Chronic Illness
Chronic illness can affect not only your body but also your mind and emotions. It is common for individuals with long-term health conditions to experience emotional difficulties like depression, anxiety, stress, and even grief. Our counseling services offer a compassionate and supportive environment where you can explore these feelings and develop healthy coping strategies.
Chronic Illness Counseling Areas of Specialty
Jen specializes in providing counseling and psychological support to people dealing with a wide range of chronic illnesses. She works with people who have conditions that include:
- Cardiovascular Disorders- Heart Disease, Stroke, High Blood Pressure, SCAD
- Immunological Disorders – Autoimmune Disease, Allergies, Mast Cell Activation Syndrome, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome / ME, Long COVID, POTS, Immune Deficiency, ITP
- Neurodegenerative Disease – Parkinson’s Disease, ALS
- Cancer – Breast Cancer, Thyroid Cancer, Leukemia, Lymphoma, Multiple Myeloma
Benefits of Counseling for Chronic Illness
- Emotional Support: Provide a safe space to express feelings of frustration, sadness, or fear.
- Coping Mechanisms: Learn practical strategies to manage stress, anxiety, and depression related to chronic illness.
- Improved Quality of Life: Counseling can help you improve your overall sense of well-being and emotional resilience, making it easier to manage day-to-day life.
- Increased Self-Awareness: Understand your emotions better and develop strategies for a more empowered mindset.
Counseling for Living Well with Illness:
Counseling for coping with chronic illness can help you to:
- Reduce emotional distress related to misunderstood or invisible illness
- Activate your parasympathetic nervous system to support healing
- Rewire your brain for greater calm and inner peace
- Cultivate glimmers of joy again, even on difficult days
- Decrease anxiety related to uncertainty and fear
- Process feelings of loss and grief
- Mindfulness for stress reduction and stress management
- Practice self-compassion
- Manage fatigue
- Create self-care habits that support wellness
- Mindfulness for pain reduction and pain management
- Resilience skills to increase inner strengths and resources
- Cope with the emotional impact of progressive conditions
Stress Related Illnesses
It is estimated that as much as 90% of illness and disease is stress related. Stress has been shown to play a role in allergies, autoimmune disease, cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, gastrointestinal disorders, GERD, type 2 diabetes, obesity, metabolic syndrome, headaches, muscle pain, insomnia, and other illness.
The American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association (AARDA) estimates that there are more than 100 autoimmune diseases, and that 50 million (one in 5) Americans have one or more autoimmune diseases, 75% of whom are women.
Common Autoimmune Diseases Include:
Celiac disease Hashimoto’s disease Rheumatoid Arthritis
Lupus Multiple Sclerosis Cardiomyopathy
Sarcoidosis Ulcerative colitis Crohn’s disease
Myocarditis Pernicious Anemia Polymyositis
Uveitis Lyme disease Sjogren’s syndrome
How Jen Works
Jen Johnson’s approach to counseling is client-centered, meaning she tailors counseling services to meet your unique needs. She is here to guide you through the emotional aspects of living with a chronic illness. Jen’s compassionate approach offers nonjudgmental support for individuals with chronic health conditions, and she committed to walking with you on your journey to emotional and mental well-being.
Why Choose Jen as Your Counselor or Wellness Coach?
- Experience: Jen has extensive experience working with individuals living with chronic illness. She has knowledge and experience related to a number of specific types of illness, and if she is not familiar with your illness, she will learn about your illness to better understand your concerns.
- Personalized Approach: Jen understands that every person’s experience is different, and she works closely with you to develop a treatment plan that aligns with your needs.
- Confidential and Supportive Environment: Jen provides a space where you can share your concerns and challenges without judgment.
Testimonials:
- “I’ve learned how to make peace with the heart attack and am living in the moment without feeling so much fear. Jen taught me how to get my life back and so much more. I’m living my life fully for the first time in my life, because now I understand what it means to listen to my heart.” M.
- “Thank you for your kindness and support. It helped me to feel so much less alone in this journey.” S.
- “Working with Jen helped me to understand my MCAS diagnosis and manage my illness so that I don’t feel so overwhelmed by it. After working with Jen, I understand how to minimize the impact of triggers, put my illness in perspective, and get back to living my life.” L.
- “After working with Jen, cancer no longer defines who I am. I’ve learned that it’s possible to live well with cancer and enjoy living in the moment life again.” D.
Contact Jen:
If you are living with a chronic illness and need counseling support, Jen Johnson is here to help. Please contact Jen to schedule a free 15-minute consultation to see if you would work well together or to ask any questions about how she can assist you in managing the emotional aspects of your condition.
About Jen Johnson
Jen Johnson is a board certified health and wellness coach, licensed clinical mental health counselor, and certified rehabilitation counselor focusing on mindfulness, practical neuroplasticity, and therapeutic writing for wellbeing and resilience. She has offered counseling and coaching services for persons with stress, chronic illness, and grief for 35+ years.
Jen has a master’s degree in counseling and a master’s degree in rehabilitation counseling. She is a certified rehabilitation counselor (CRC), which focuses on the emotional, physical, social, and vocational rehabilitation needs of persons with illness and disability. Jen offers counseling to residents of North Carolina and coaching for clients living in other areas of the world.
Contact Jen to schedule a free 15- minute consultation to see if you would work well together.