Specialities

Receiving a diagnosis of a serious illness can be one of the most distressing times in your life. You and your support network are required to stop life as you know it, navigate complex medical systems, understand and integrate knowledge of the new diagnosis, make plans to accommodate treatment and tolerate multiple unknowns. This can lead to worries about your life, your loved ones and the future. Illumine Counseling therapists have extensive experience helping individuals during this phase of treatment. We work with you to develop skills for managing the stressors that accompany a new diagnosis.

Illness that requires long term medical attention or imposes ongoing limits to your daily life may be characterized as chronic. You may be experiencing difficulty coping with physical symptoms or side effects from treatment and frustration with the lifestyle adjustments required by your illness. Chronic illness also impacts how you see yourself and define your sense of purpose. These struggles happen at a time when many report feelings of anxiety, isolation, hopelessness and helplessness. Our therapists are skilled at supporting you through these issues and collaborating with you on a plan for navigating your unique journey with chronic illness.

There is often an expectation that once treatment is over, your life will go back to “normal.” However, the diagnosis and treatment process often shifts your perspective and changes how you think and feel about yourself, your body, relationships, career and the future. Rather than being excited that treatment is over, survivorship can feel like a minefield of unknowns and anxieties. We work with you to navigate this transition by finding ways to integrate your experience, decrease the understandable anxiety, and reconnect with what is meaningful in your life.

It is difficult to know where to begin when learning your condition is life-limiting. You may be struggling to cope with feelings of fear, anxiety, anger, guilt, regret, depression and isolation. As you contemplate mortality, you may search for meaning and try to make sense of what is happening to you. Uncertainty about how to communicate with your friends and family or help them in the time ahead is also common. We work with you to process your feelings and develop strategies for enhancing communication with your loved ones. Illumine Counseling therapists can also support your planning efforts and help you navigate the logistical concerns that may arise when living with a terminal illness.

Grieving the loss of someone or something important to you is an experience that can feel destabilizing. It is not uncommon to experience side effects that impact you physically, cognitively, relationally, spiritually and emotionally. While grieving is a normal part of life, your experience is unique to you and related to your relationships. We support you as you process your experience, work with you to integrate your loss, and help you find balance in your life.

The impact of illness is not limited to patients. Caregivers and families often cope with their own unique stressors and emotions. Identifying and communicating your feelings in an atmosphere free from judgment can help you to better support the people in your life who are ill. We collaborate with you on methods for addressing the interpersonal and logistical concerns that arise. At a time when you can feel depleted, isolated and despondent, this combination of services promotes an enhanced sense of well-being and connection.

Working with patients and caregivers through illness is one of the most rewarding professions. It connects you to the beauty of humanity and the amazing ability we have to heal through medicine and human connection. Empathizing with patients and caregivers, grieving the losses and feeling the pull to do more is part of the work. Consistent self-care is a beneficial strategy for mitigating vicarious traumatization, compassion fatigue and burnout. We offer you a dedicated therapeutic space and support your self-care efforts.

Later adulthood offers opportunities to engage in life with wisdom and maturity. Simultaneously, feelings of grief and loss are present as you navigate life experiences such as retirement, changes in physical functioning, the death of peers and planning for your future. Bias and judgment around aging (ageism) coupled with the constraints of older adult care may leave you and your loved ones feeling uncertain and disillusioned. Our therapists help you navigate this phase of life by providing support and guidance as you meet the challenges of aging while assisting you in creating a life of meaning and purpose.

Young adulthood is a period of significant transition on the path toward independence and greater self awareness. The process of learning who you are, what you want and how to obtain your dreams can feel exciting, overwhelming, anxiety producing and confusing at times. As you mature, you may also experience conflict and strain in your relationships with family, friends and romantic partners as roles and expectations shift. We help you identify and explore your beliefs and feelings, while supporting you to overcome barriers holding you back and navigate interpersonal issues that may arise.

Life and work are full of transitions. Some bring excitement and joy while others feel harder. The reality is that every transition holds opportunity and loss. Sadness about leaving what is known and comfortable is understandable. While entering into something new can bring up feelings of anxiety, self-doubt, exhaustion and “imposter syndrome” as you grow and develop in your new role. In collaboration with Illumine Counseling therapists, you will deepen your awareness of what you are feeling and identify strategies to make these transitions as smooth as possible.