counselling for chronic pain/illness
Living with pain and/or illness has a broad impact on our mental health, relationships, careers, and overall sense of autonomy. Isolation, anxiety, and depression are common occurrences with individuals living with ongoing health complications.
Chronic pain and illness can be invisible to those around us. Individuals often feel exhausted with the level of self advocacy required to have their basic medical needs met. Anxiety around day-to-day functioning can reach a profound level, draining us of our resources and sense of resiliency. The ability to engage in self-care such as sleeping, eating, or exercising is often interrupted, making it harder to cope over the long term.
Having lived experience related to chronic pain, Laurel values taking a holistic approach to working with individuals living with chronic pain and/or illness. Clients are provided with tools and strategies to reduce physical pain and stress/anxiety, emotional processing, models for communication around having needs met, contact with communities for support, and resources for family and/or care givers.