Chronic Illness / Chronic Fatigue / ME /Fibromyalgia Counselling

Therapy for Chronic Illness, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS/ME), and Fibromyalgia

Supportive, evidence-based therapy near Mission, Chilliwack, Abbotsford, and online across British Columbia

Living with a chronic illness can profoundly impact every aspect of life — physically, emotionally, and socially. Whether you’re coping with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME), Fibromyalgia, Long COVID, or another long-term condition, therapy can be a space to feel seen, heard, and supported — especially when your pain or fatigue is invisible to others. I offer space to for support, healing, and reconnection with what matters most to you.

In my practice, I support individuals living with chronic illness using a compassionate, trauma-informed approach that honors the reality of your experience. It is important to me that you are comfortable and supported the best way possible. If you need to be laying down while we meet (online or in person), or if you need to meet by phone, I totally understand and want you to feel as comfortable and well as you can while in session.

Processing the Grief of Chronic Illness

One of the most tender and vital parts of this work is making space for grief —not just grief for what you’re feeling now, but grief for everything that’s changed: the loss of energy, the freedom to move, the career path you had, the social life you enjoyed, or the sense of identity you once held.

This grief is valid, real, and deeply human. It is important to mourn these losses, without rushing or minimizing. Processing grief in a supported environment allows for integration and healing, helping you to honor what was, while slowly redefining what is possible in the present and future, even when your body and your life look different than they used to.

How I Support Clients Living with Chronic Illness

💛 A Compassion-Based Approach

Chronic illness often comes with a harsh inner critic — that voice that says you're not doing enough, not strong enough, not who you "should" be. Using compassion-focused therapy, we’ll practice cultivating compassion, patience, and kindness in the face of pain, limitation, and uncertainty

🌿 Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

ACT helps you move toward acceptance of your current reality while taking committed steps toward what still matters to you. We work with the idea that while we may not be able to eliminate symptoms, we can change our relationship to suffering, and build a life anchored in your values, meaning, and purpose.

🧘 Somatic Therapy & Mind-Body Integration

Living with chronic illness can create a deep disconnection from the body — through pain, trauma, fear, or exhaustion. Somatic therapy offers gentle ways to reconnect with your body in a safe, grounded way. This might include breathwork, mindfulness, or simply learning to notice and respond to your body’s needs without judgment. Over time, these practices can help restore a sense of trust and safety within.

Improving Quality of Life in Chronic Illness with Counselling

While chronic illness imposes real limitations, it’s still possible to cultivate a life of meaning, connection, and peace. Therapy can help you:

  • Develop emotional resilience

  • Navigate medical systems and advocate for yourself

  • Set gentle boundaries and manage energy

  • Discover new ways to engage in relationships and creativity

  • Feel more at home in your body and mind

  • Process grief, identity shifts, and emotional pain

  • Explore the mental health impact of chronic illness

  • Develop sustainable pacing and boundaries

  • Reconnect with your body through somatic practices

  • Strengthen emotional resilience

  • Rebuild a sense of meaning and self-worth

  • Improve overall quality of life

    Together, we explore practical strategies, emotional support, and meaningful choices that help you live a life with depth, purpose, and connection — even in the midst of ongoing challenges. This may involve pacing, boundaries, self-advocacy, and rediscovering joy in small, nourishing moments.

You are a whole person — deserving of compassion, support, and a life that feels meaningful to you.

If you're living with chronic illness and looking for a counsellor who truly understands the complexities of chronic illness, I’m here to help you navigate the emotional journey of chronic illness with care, expertise, and understanding. .

I work with women living with:

  • Chronic Fatigue Syndrome / Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME)

  • Fibromyalgia

  • Long COVID and other post-viral or autoimmune conditions

  • Complex chronic illnesses and chronic pain

  • Co-occurring anxiety, depression, and trauma related to illness

Chronic Illness Counselling near Mission, Chilliwack, Abbotsford & Online Throughout BC