Chronic Pain or Illness

Issues resulting from medical conditions often include: grief and loss, family conflict, depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, loss of routine and/or job, trauma, loss of identify, and more. In my work with these populations, I processed their feelings regarding the changes, how to incorporate the changes, while working with them to prevent their entire lives from BEING these changes.

I've worked for 20 years in inpatient and outpatient settings with chronic and acute physical and mental illness. While empathy and support go a long way, learning effective coping strategies takes motivated clients even further down the road towards balance.

Drawing from CBT, DBT, psychodynamic, and narrative-therapy based approaches, my work surrounding chronic pain / illness aims to build personally-tailored grounding and coping skills in order to support individuals' unique daily needs and, perhaps more importantly, aspires to develop a broader sense of identity/self as a part of ongoing resilience and acceptance of various chronic conditions.

As a clinical health psychologist I have comfort level and knowledge with many different types of illness and how they connect to mental health. I can also assist with advocating for yourself in the medical system or support in navigating these systems.

Dr. Clendaniel is a pediatric psychology who specializes in the treatment of children, adolescents and young adults with anxiety and health-related adjustment issues. She has particular expertise in pain management and treatment of chronic headache and functional gastrointestinal illness.

This is a deep area of interest of mine that has emerged from my own experiences of chronic illness. I have come to understand my life in new terms and with new freshness, frustration, and love for this journey. I am immersed in personal study of holistic health and the use of food, plants and nature for healing. I also have the spiritual skills to support those going through the uncertainty and vulnerability of these intensely human experiences.

I have specialty training in supporting both pediatric and adult populations living with chronic pain or illness and caregivers. I have training in psychosocial oncology, organ transplant, cleft/craniofacial, rehab psychology, & HIV care among other specialties. I have worked at a number of academic medical hospitals including University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, and Children's Hospital Colorado.

I have helped hundreds of clients who are actively suffering from chronic pain, chronic illnesses, and debilitating disabilities. Coming-to-terms with your physical struggles, learning how to navigate life with them, and finding your personal strengths all are very useful ways to beat the depression and anxiety that these issues cause. Good therapy can help.

My background in working with adults with developmental disabilities, my education in ethics, and then my own experiences within the healthcare system shaped my enthusiasm for working with people who have chronic pain and illness. I bring an integrative approach and have found particular success with using EMDR and ego state work in supporting people with chronic health conditions including pain.

Adults struggling with chronic illness or chronic pain often feel alone, isolated, and misunderstood. They struggle to make sense of medical trauma and dismissive medical providers. We will use holistic and somatic approaches to manage the impacts of illness management.

As a therapist living with chronic illness myself, I know firsthand how chronic pain can impact mental health and daily functioning. I provide a uniquely empathetic space for those struggling to adjust to limitations, grieve losses, and build resilience amid chronic symptoms. My specialty is helping you rediscover and reconnect to your sense of wholeness beyond illness. I assist in finding small ways to care for your spirit so you can experience joy and meaning even on the hardest days.

I specialize in providing mind-body approaches to chronic pain / chronic illness treatment. I incorporate Mindfulness and Acceptance and Commitment therapies in the alleviation of chronic symptoms and the complex emotional, interpersonal and intrapersonal toll that will often accompany these conditions.

Pain impacts us emotionally, but I believe this is often overlooked in the medical system. With chronic pain, like migraines, the anger, frustration, hopelessness, despair, and sadness can be tough to walk alone. The suffering needs a place to be channeled outside of ourselves, in healthy and constructive ways. I find that creative methods can be helpful in exploring our relationship with our pain, bodies, and allow us to release these difficult emotions.

After years of working with clients who have health-related issues, I myself acquired chronic health conditions that impact my day-to-day life. I both personally and professionally understand what it is like to adjust to these life changes, learn your limitations, pace yourself, and try to raise a family while chronically ill. Preferred issues to address: Fibromyalgia, Food Allergies/Anaphylaxis, Headache, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, IBD (Crohn's/Colitis), ME/CFS, Migraine.

Receiving a diagnosis; adjusting to lifestyle and medication changes; coping with related changes in mood, emotions, and relationships; managing symptoms and stress.

I specialize in providing mind-body approaches to chronic pain / chronic illness treatment. I incorporate Mindfulness and Acceptance and Commitment therapies in the alleviation of chronic symptoms and the complex emotional, interpersonal and intrapersonal toll that will often accompany these conditions.

You may have just recently been diagnosed with a chronic illness, or you may have been coping with one for years. You are probably exhausted and frustrated with how long it took to get a diagnosis or to find the right treatment. You may feel alone in your experience and like no one understands what you are going through. Therapy can provide education about coping skills for dealing with these changes and emotions, as well as a place to discuss and get support for your experience.

Living with chronic illness or pain involves regular battles with health insurance companies, figuring out whether dishes or laundry are more crucial when you don’t have enough energy for both, and chronic fatigue no amount of coffee can fix. Here you can get the support you’ve been needing with a therapist who understands the challenges of living with chronic illness in a world that assumes every illness can be cured by a visit to the pharmacist, or through strategic application of turmeric.