Therapy for Chronic Illness & Pain in Fort Collins, CO
Supporting you gently through health related stress and challenges.
SOUND FAMILIAR?
Whether you’re navigating a long-standing condition or facing new, unexplained pain or fatigue, physical discomfort almost always reaches beyond the body—
You might be experiencing…
Persistent frustration over how your pain or health condition impacts your relationships, work, and daily life
Feeling misunderstood or dismissed by friends, family, and healthcare providers, leading to doubt and loneliness
Anxiety and fear about the future and progression of your condition
Shifts in your identity as your body, energy, and abilities change
Moments of grief or sadness for the life you once knew or hoped for
Struggles to balance self-care with the demands of others
Overwhelm from managing treatments, appointments, and lifestyle adjustments
HOW THERAPY CAN HELP
Whether you’re here to process pain, reclaim your relationship with your body, or find relief in the day to day—this space is for you.
When you're navigating health-related stress, therapy can offer something many medical spaces don’t: a chance to slow down, be fully seen, and make sense of what you’re carrying—without needing to minimize it, justify it, or explain it away.
In our work together, we’ll follow your pace. There’s no pressure to “fix” yourself or push through the discomfort. Instead, we’ll begin with compassion—for your body, your history, and your very real exhaustion—and build from there
Over time, you may start to notice….
A quiet sense of relief that you don’t have to downplay your pain, fatigue, or emotions here
Less second-guessing yourself when speaking with doctors, partners, or family
A clearer understanding of how your body reacts to stress—and how to respond with care instead of frustration
Moments when your breath deepens, your shoulders drop, or your nervous system finally starts to settle
More permission to rest, say no, or ask for help—without guilt
Words for what you’ve been feeling but couldn’t explain: the grief, the anger, the loneliness
A growing sense of trust in yourself and your body, even in the midst of uncertainty
WHAT I CAN HELP WITH
I work with people navigating a wide range of health conditions—including:
Chronic fatigue or inflammation
Connective tissue disorders like hypermobile EDS (Ehler’s Danlos Syndrome)
Fibromyalgia
Headaches & Migraines
Gastrointestinal issues
Long COVID
Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS)
Autoimmune disorders, like rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, multiple sclerosis (MS), Crohn’s disease, Diabetes, and Hashimoto’s thyroiditis
Pain related to injury or illness
People navigating cancer or terminal illnesses
I also support people living with complex or hard-to-diagnose conditions who often feel dismissed or misunderstood in medical settings.
Types Of Support
There are many ways to process and heal from the challenges of living with chronic illness or pain. Below are two approaches that can be especially helpful, but we’ll explore them together and find what feels like the best fit for your body, mind, and goals.
Pain Reprocessing Therapy (PRT)
A gentle, evidence-based approach designed to help people understand and work with chronic pain. Unlike traditional methods that focus only on managing symptoms, PRT helps the nervous system “relearn” pain, shifting the brain’s sense of threat and supporting a healthier, more balanced relationship with your body and your pain over time.
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In sessions, we begin by tracking your body’s sensations and noticing where and how pain shows up. Together, we’ll turn toward the pain with curiosity, learning to differentiate between sensations that signal real danger—like injury or illness—and those generated by the nervous system.
This process helps reset your nervous system’s “danger alarm,” fostering safe sensations and supporting healing.
Over time, neuroplastic pain—pain driven by the nervous system rather than ongoing tissue damage—can diminish or even resolve, allowing you more freedom and comfort in daily life.
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PRT is a good fit for people experiencing chronic pain where the source of the pain has an element of neuroplasticity, often seen with many types of back pain, fibromyalgia, migraines, or joint pain. It’s particularly helpful for those who are open to exploring their pain mindfully and with curiosity, and for anyone interested in a therapy that combines body awareness, mindset shifts, and nervous system regulation. PRT may also be helpful for other sensations/symptoms in addition to pain.
Integrative, Trauma-Informed Care
A personalized approach that recognizes the mind and body are deeply connected. It honors your experiences, your nervous system’s responses, and the broader context of your life. Rather than focusing on a single method, this approach blends evidence-based therapies with strengths-based, holistic strategies to support lasting healing and resilience.
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In sessions, we may use structured approaches such as EMDR or Written Exposure Therapy to help process distressing experiences safely. EMDR uses guided eye movements to help your brain reprocess painful or traumatic memories, while Written Exposure Therapy allows reflection and integration of difficult experiences through structured writing. These methods can be particularly helpful when pain or illness has created patterns of fear, tension, or nervous system over-activation.
Alongside these approaches, we also integrate tools that align with your strengths, values, and goals. This may include mindfulness, somatic tracking, nervous system regulation, and strategies to navigate the impact of larger systems—like healthcare, work, or family—on your well-being. The focus is on creating a flexible, compassionate plan that supports both your emotional and physical experience of living with illness or pain.
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This integrative, trauma-informed approach is for anyone managing injury, illness, or pain who wants a therapy space that addresses both the emotional and physical aspects of their experience. It’s especially helpful for those who want to work with a therapist to process the stress or trauma associated with ongoing health challenges, while also honoring their values, leveraging their strengths, and finding practical strategies to improve daily life.
GET STARTED
Take the first step toward feeling more supported as you navigate chronic pain and illness.
FAQ
We know that starting therapy can feel like a big step, and it’s normal to have questions about how it all works. Here, you’ll find answers to some of the most common questions I hear from new clients.
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While therapy may not “fix” physical symptoms, it can shift the way you relate to pain and other challenges—reducing suffering, strengthening your sense of agency, and supporting your nervous system in finding more balance. Together, we’ll explore the emotional toll of pain, the stress of navigating healthcare systems, and the ways chronic illness can affect identity, relationships, and your sense of control.
And while I can’t promise physical relief, many people find that as they build new ways of coping and relating to their pain, moments of physical ease or relief sometimes naturally follow.
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No. You don’t need a specific diagnosis to benefit from this kind of support. If you're dealing with persistent symptoms or medical uncertainty that affects your daily life, therapy can be a place to process that experience and find new ways to care for yourself within it.
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That’s completely okay. Chronic illness and pain can make showing up feel daunting. Our work together can move at a pace that honors your energy. Sometimes therapy looks like processing deeply; other times it looks like having a safe place to rest, be heard, and receive gentle support.