Mental Health Support for Chronic Health Conditions

Living with a chronic health condition affects every aspect of your life—your daily routines, relationships, work, and emotional wellbeing. The psychological impact of managing ongoing health challenges is real and significant, yet it's often overlooked in medical care. You don't have to navigate the emotional journey of chronic illness alone.

Chronic health conditions we provide support for:

Autoimmune Conditions - Lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, inflammatory bowel disease, and other autoimmune disorders

Cardiovascular Disease - Heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke recovery, and cardiac rehabilitation

Diabetes - Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes management and related complications

Cancer - Support during treatment, survivorship, and end-of-life concerns

Neurological Conditions - Parkinson's disease, epilepsy, traumatic brain injury, and other neurological disorders

Chronic Pain Conditions - Fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, and persistent pain disorders

Respiratory Conditions - COPD, asthma, and other breathing-related health challenges

Digestive Disorders - IBS, Crohn's disease, celiac disease, and other gastrointestinal conditions

You might be experiencing:

• Grief over the loss of your previous health, abilities, or lifestyle
• Anxiety about symptom flares, medical appointments, or disease progression
• Depression related to lifestyle limitations or uncertain prognosis
• Anger or frustration about having to manage a chronic condition
• Guilt about the impact your condition has on family and friends
• Identity confusion when illness becomes a central part of your life
• Social isolation due to symptoms or activity limitations
• Fear about the future and what your condition might mean long-term

Our approach to chronic health condition support:

Managing a chronic health condition requires emotional resilience alongside medical treatment. Our therapeutic approach may include:

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) - Learning to manage worry, catastrophic thinking, and depression related to your health condition

Emotion Focused Therapy - Processing the complex emotions that come with chronic illness diagnosis and management

EMDR Therapy - Addressing medical trauma, difficult diagnosis experiences, or past medical procedures that continue to impact you

Grief Counselling - Working through losses related to your changed health status and abilities

Stress Management - Developing techniques to reduce stress that may worsen symptoms

Adjustment Support - Adapting to lifestyle changes and finding new ways to live meaningfully

Relationship Counselling - Improving communication with family about your health needs and limitations

Medical Trauma Processing - Addressing distressing medical experiences or PTSD related to medical procedures

What you can expect:

Counselling for chronic health conditions focuses on improving your quality of life and emotional resilience while living with ongoing health challenges. We understand that chronic illness is unpredictable, and we'll work flexibly around symptom flares, medical appointments, and energy limitations.

Many clients find that addressing the psychological aspects of chronic illness helps them feel more empowered in their health journey and improves their overall wellbeing, even when physical symptoms persist.

We work collaboratively with your medical team when appropriate and understand that managing chronic illness requires a comprehensive approach that includes both medical and psychological support.

Sessions are available in-person at our Calgary office or online throughout Alberta, Nunavut, and Quebec. Online sessions can be particularly helpful when symptoms make travel difficult or when you need consistent support between medical appointments.

Your emotional health matters just as much as your physical health. Let us help you develop the psychological tools and support you need to thrive while managing your chronic condition.