You abruptly wake up. All you can think of is the diagnosis that the doctor gave you. You can’t believe that you have that illness that happens to others, those with a family history or that haven’t been taking care of themselves, those other people. But now, out of nowhere, you’ve become that sick person.
Somehow it feels like this is all your fault.
You are exhausted and ashamed. If you were just stronger, or smarter, or had a better diet, or exercised more than this wouldn’t have happened to you. You feel scared and alone. It is overwhelming and you feel like you’ve lost control. Much of what you were able to do a few short months ago, you can no longer do. You are no longer sure of who you are.
Nobody knows what to say or do to help
You wonder why this happened to you. You are tired of feeling fearful of the future and all of the uncertainty. You want your normal life back. Your family and friends care and are worried about you but don’t know exactly what to say that would really help.
You Need Someone Who Gets It
Very soon you realize you just want to cope with this better. You want to find someone who understands and with whom you can honestly share your thoughts and fears, someone who can give you hope and help you find relief from fear.
My Name is a Genevieve Brink-Capriola and I am a therapist for Chronic Illness
I want to join you in this difficult time. I want you to know that you are more than your medical diagnosis. We will work together to grieve the loss of your old self and your health, to find the strengths you already have deep inside of you and learn new skills that will help you to get through this.
I have knowledge that I have gained from years of working as a medical social worker with others diagnosed with challenging illnesses like multiple sclerosis, Lyme disease, and terminal cancer.
Counseling in Chico, California for Health Issues
My office is a calm, safe place where you can share whatever you’re feeling or thinking without fear of being judged. I will teach you coping skills that will help lessen the anxiety, fear, and sense that you are overwhelmed. We will use biofeedback to learn how to breathe in a way that calms your body and mind and work with guided imagery to use the power of your imagination to find strength and peace. We may use EMDR and Brainspotting to heal the roots of anxiety and negative beliefs about yourself and the world. There will be tears but also laughter at times.
Being diagnosed with a medical illness can feel like a crisis but it can also help you to discover strengths you were not aware that you possessed, and it can help you to sift out what is really important to you.
Call me. We can have a 15-minute consultation counseling in Chico, California and begin the journey to reclaim your calm and find your hidden strength.
