Therapy For Chronic Illness
Therapy For Chronic Illness In Maryland Navigating Chronic Illness and Mental Health
Alicia Dorn, MS, LCPC Is a Therapist For People Living With Chronic Illness In Maryland.
She is accepting new patients, please inquire today
Thanks for taking a few minutes to learn more about therapy for chronic illness. If you’re stressed, you’re in the right place. I am someone who understands at a deeply personal level what it’s like to live with chronic illness. You can read more of my story here, but I want you to know if you are seeking therapy to specifically deal with your newly diagnosed (or long-standing) chronic illness, I can help you.
Please call me at 443-977-4885 or email me at amdorn@aliciadorncounseling.com to either talk more about the process or to explore working together.
Find Your Way After a Chronic Illness Diagnosis
The doctor gave you some pretty big news… you’ve been diagnosed with a chronic illness. All of the tests and screenings confirmed what you already knew-something is wrong. Still, you are trying to figure out what this means for you moving forward. Is your life over?
I’m here to help you figure that out.
How Can Counseling For Chronic Illness Help Me?
Let’s be real about it, this news will change your life forever. However, counseling can help you come to terms with the big news you just received and use it to your benefit.
Therapy can help you to manage the big emotions that come with a new diagnosis so that they do not increase your physical symptoms or cause a flare. You’ll learn the relationship between your physical and mental health, so you can support yourself mentally even when your body is not feeling its best.
Counseling equips you with practical strategies to function every day as a student, professional, spouse, parent, family member, or friend. You will be able to transition into your new norm with confidence in yourself, a plan and key supports to call on when unsure of the next steps.
Therapy shows you how to organize your life so that the unexpected challenges with your illness can become more predictable and manageable.
My Diagnosis Is New & Makes Me Very Anxious, Is That Normal?
Your feelings and experiences after diagnosis are real and completely normal. There are many unknowns right now, and you’re having to make immediate changes that aren’t comfortable. Doctors are making recommendations left and right, and yet your life still goes on.
That’s a lot to take in!
The physical and lifestyle changes that occur with a chronic illness may be followed by a wave of emotions, including shock, sadness, anger, and even relief.
You may find yourself grieving who you were before the diagnosis. Each day may look different from the last-going from feeling energetic and happy to feeling ill, in pain, and needing assistance.
Your mind may start racing by asking questions about death after being newly diagnosed, and that can bring on feelings of doom and worry.
How Can Talking With You Help Me Feel More In Control Of My Life?
Talking about your experiences can help you manage the emotions that come with it, which is a key to managing your physical health. No, it’s not a cure, but you’ll feel greater relief knowing how to adjust your life in ways that are within your control.
We put it all on the table to help you make sense of your situation from a practical perspective. This can help you feel more equipped to move forward with your life because you’ll have a plan.
Plus, you can feel safe talking with me, a clinically trained professional who has lived with a chronic illness myself. I’ve been there, and I respect your need to have the person helping you see the real YOU – not just symptoms on a piece of paper.
What If The Sick Person Is My Spouse Or Child, Can You Still Help Me?
Therapy services are offered to help caregivers of chronically ill loved ones. Check out more information on my Caring for Chronically Ill Loved One page.
How Long Does Counseling Last?
Counseling lasts as long as you need the support and agree to treatment. Whether you’re in counseling for 6 months, a year, or longer, we will discuss your progress and next steps in every session.
What If The Si ck Person Is My Spouse Or Child, Can You Still Help Me?
Therapy services are offered to help caregivers of chronically ill loved ones. Check out moreinformation on my Caring for Chronically Ill Loved One page.
How Long Does Counseling Last?
Counseling lasts as long as you need the support and agree to treatment. Whether you’re in counseling for 6 months, a year or longer, we will discuss your progress and next steps in every session.
Getting Started
Schedule a free 15-minute consultation to meet with me
We can discuss your goals in the meeting and make a decision about when to begin counseling if the fit feels right. Once we have a plan, I’ll schedule your intake evaluation and you will receive a link to open your private therapy portal.
All paperwork and counseling sessions are completed on the portal. All material shared with me either in writing or in person is confidential.
To get started, please call me at 443-977-4885 or email me at amdorn@aliciadorncounseling.com to either talk more about the process or to explore working together.