Chronic Pain and Chronic Illness/Disability
Have you been diagnosed with chronic pain, chronic illness, or a disability?
Does it feel like taking care of your chronic illness has become your full-time job?
Are you feeling overwhelmed, stressed, anxious, or tired because of your chronic illness?
Does it feel like everyone is checking on your physical health but not your mental health?
WHAT IS CHRONIC PAIN?
Chronic pain is defined as pain that lasts longer than 3 months and is not curable by medication or medical treatment. Chronic pain can be caused by a variety of different illnesses and appears differently for each person suffering from it. It can show up as nerve pain, joint pain, bone pain, digestive issues, migraines, and more. Enduring this pain every day can understandably take a toll on your mental health which in turn can amplify your physical pain creating a vicious cycle of physical and mental pain.
Common mental health struggles for those with chronic pain or chronic illness/disability:
- Isolating from friends and family
- Feeling misunderstood or judged
- Feeling exhausted physically and mentally
- Feeling anxious
- Feeling depressed
- Battling medical trauma
- Grieving who they used to be
Acute pain/injury is pain that has not quite lasted longer than 3 months but we understand that this kind of pain can also be hard to deal with emotionally. The sudden loss of ability or onset of physical pain can be disorienting and upsetting. Therapy can help you too! We’ll provide a welcoming environment and teach you tools to help you through this difficult time.
Whether your chronic illness/disability or chronic pain (or acute pain/injury) is visible or invisible we see you and we are here for you!
Types of Chronic Illnesses
At Works Counseling Center we work with all types of people with all types of disabilities including but not limited to:
- Amputations
- Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
- Cancer
- Cerebral Palsy (CP)
- Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS)
- Diabetes
- Ehlers Danlos Syndrome (EDS)/Joint-Hypermobility Syndrome
- Endometriosis
- Fibromyalgia
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBS)
- Migraine
- Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
- Muscular Dystrophy
- Osteogenesis Imperfecta (OI)
- Parkinson’s Disease
- POTS (Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome)
- Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)
- Scoliosis
- Spina Bifida
- Spinal Cord Injuries
Disabilities
Whether you have a visible disability that is apparent to others or an invisible disability that may not be immediately noticeable, our dedicated team of therapists is here to support you on your journey toward well-being and personal growth.
Understanding Visible and Invisible Disabilities:
Visible Disabilities
Visible disabilities refer to physical or cognitive impairments that are apparent to others. Examples include mobility limitations, amputations, visual or hearing impairments, and chronic health conditions that visibly affect a person’s daily life.
Invisible Disabilities
Invisible disabilities, on the other hand, are not immediately apparent to others, making them less visible in social interactions. These disabilities encompass a wide range of conditions, such as chronic pain, mental health disorders, learning disabilities, autoimmune diseases, and neurological disorders.
Approach:
Our therapists use a holistic approach to your treatment. Using a combination of a Person-Centered approach and evidenced-based practices such as ACT, CBT, Mindfulness, and Clinical Hypnosis to help you live life to the fullest despite your chronic pain or disability.
Remember, here at Works Counseling Center, we celebrate diversity, prioritize inclusivity, and believe in the strength and resilience of individuals with disabilities. Together, we can work towards your well-being and personal growth.
About the treatments:
- Person-Centered Approach– will help your therapist learn your whole story and not just a piece of it
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)– to help foster a sense of acceptance of the present moment
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)– to change unhelpful thinking and behavior patterns
- Mindfulness– to decrease worry, create a sense of calm, and help you stay present
- Clinical Hypnosis– creates a deep relaxation where you can escape your pain, where your mind will be more open to healthy suggestions given by your therapist to aid in the reduction of pain and worry.