Therapy for Chronic Illness
in Falls Church, VA
Virtual therapy available in Virginia and Washington, DC
Living with chronic illness can change the way you experience your body, your identity, and your day-to-day life. Over time, through diagnosis, treatment, or ongoing symptoms, you may find yourself feeling disconnected, uncertain, or not quite like yourself. Even things that once felt familiar can begin to feel harder to access or understand.
Therapy for chronic illness can help you slow down enough to make sense of what’s happening, grieve what’s changed, reconnect with yourself in a way that honors where you are right now, and move forward with greater clarity and support.
Therapy for chronic illness may be helpful for you if…
You’re adjusting to a new diagnosis, and your relationship with your body and
your life is starting to feel complicated, frustrating, or unfamiliar.
You feel disconnected from your body or unsure how to trust it. This all feels overwhelming and isolating, and those around you don’t get it.
Your sense of identity, independence, and plans for the future have shifted, and you’re not quite sure who you are now.
Illness has affected your relationships, intimacy, or sense of connection to others, and you’re grieving the loss of how things used to be.
You’re navigating the emotional and physical impacts of diagnosis, treatment, and uncertainty while also finding a new rhythm or way of living, and it’s been hard to settle into.
What chronic illness therapy looks like with me in Falls Church, VA
What we'll focus onLiving with a chronic illness often affects much more than your physical health. Together, we'll explore the ways illness has changed your everyday life and the parts of yourself that may feel different now.
This may include:
adjusting to a new diagnosis, life after treatment, or living with lifelong illness
changes in identity or sense of self
navigating uncertainty about the future
communicating your needs with family, friends, or healthcare providers
changes in work, parenting, dating, or relationships
the impact of illness on intimacy and sexuality
balancing what your body needs with the life you want to live
Feeling like everyone else has moved on from your illness while you're still living with its impact
One of the things many people tell me is, "I don't feel like myself anymore."
In session, we make space for all of the changes that illness can bring, not just the physical ones. We may explore how your body has changed, how your priorities or relationships have shifted, the grief that comes with losing parts of the life you expected, or the uncertainty of living with something that feels unpredictable. Rather than asking you to simply "adjust," we work together to understand your experience and what life looks like from here.
Making sense of what’s changed
Rebuilding trust in yourselfAs we begin making sense of your experience, we also begin identifying what helps you feel more grounded, connected, and supported.
Depending on your goals, this may include:
rebuilding trust in your body
reconnecting with your sense of identity
navigating grief and loss
strengthening relationships and communication
finding new ways to experience intimacy and connection
creating a life that feels meaningful alongside illness
Bringing therapy into everyday lifeAt times, I may suggest reflections, conversations, or small practices to continue between sessions. These aren't meant to add more to your plate. They're opportunities to help you apply what we're exploring in therapy to your everyday life in ways that feel realistic, supportive, and manageable.
Meet your chronic illness therapist in Falls Church, VA
Virtual therapy available throughout Virginia and Washington, DC
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Hi, I’m Lauren. I’m a licensed clinical social worker and have spent my entire career supporting individuals and couples navigating illness and treatment. Over the years, I’ve found myself especially drawn to the intersections of illness, sexuality, and intimate relationships. Sex and intimacy are deeply personal and often overlooked in healthcare, leaving many people feeling lost, confused, or alone in what they’re experiencing.
One of the things I hear most often from clients is that they feel disconnected after a diagnosis. This disconnection can show up in a lot of different places – your relationship with your body, your sense of self, physical abilities, sex and intimacy, communication, work, or your relationships with others. Illness can completely shift how you move through the world and how you see yourself in it.
In our first session(s), I take the time to get to know you as a whole person (or couple), not just the concern(s) that bring you to therapy. I find that getting to know you, your strengths, your support systems, relationships, and what matters most to you allows us to build a stronger rapport and tailor our work to your unique needs and values.
Therapy with me is often a mix of reflection, deep emotional processing, and practical change. We may explore how illness has changed the way you experience your body, desire, sexuality, relationships, or sense of self. We may also spend time exploring patterns that keep showing up in your life, work on communication and intimacy, and find ways to reconnect to yourself and others. I typically recommend starting with weekly sessions to give us time to get to know each other, build trust, and create momentum around your goals.
I take a collaborative approach and see therapy as a partnership. Together, we’ll decide on therapy goals, priorities, and home practices. If anything we discuss doesn’t make sense to you or work for your life, I want to know so that we can discuss it in more depth. I find therapy works best when there is honesty, authenticity, and a unique plan tailored to you and your life.
I’m excited to work alongside you and support you in reaching your goals. If you have any questions about therapy or whether we might be a good fit, please reach out. I’d be happy to connect with you.
Take a look at my
FAQs
Curious to learn more?
I've gathered answers to many of the questions I hear most often including information about fees, services, what sessions are like, and getting started on my FAQ page.
You don’t have to navigate this alone
Book a free consultation with me
Living with illness often comes with uncertainty. A free 15-minute consultation gives us time to talk about what you're experiencing, answer your questions, and see whether therapy together feels like the right next step.
Your first appointment
If it feels like a good fit, at the end of our consultation, we'll talk through scheduling and find a time that works for you. I'll handle the details so getting started feels as simple as possible.
