Therapy for Chronic Illness in Durham, NC + Virtually
Living With Chronic Illness Doesn’t Mean Living Without Support…
Living with a chronic illness can feel exhausting, isolating, anxiety-provoking, and deeply unsettling, especially when your body no longer feels predictable or safe and there’s no clear solution in sight. The life you thought you’d be living suddenly feels out of reach, and it’s concerning when doctors don’t have all the answers. Over time, the constant navigation of symptoms, appointments, and shifting limitations can wear down your sense of stability, identity, and connection to both yourself and the people around you.
You worry about what’s happening in your body, how long this will last, or what comes next.
The grief of losing the life you once had, or imagined for yourself, can be heartbreaking.
Your tolerance for planning, working, and managing everyday stress may feel thinner than ever.
The demands of productivity culture are no longer sustainable, leaving you drained and burnt out.
The shame of not being able to keep up with the life you once lived is overwhelming.
And relationships feel strained when even the people who love you most don’t fully understand what you’re carrying.
The emotional weight of chronic illness is real and deserves care. You don’t have to hold it all by yourself. Together, we can create space for your grief, your questions, your fears, and your hope, and help you move through life with more steadiness, clarity, and compassion.
How Therapy Helps…
Therapy can offer a steady, supportive space to make sense of what you’re going through; a place where you don’t have to minimize your symptoms, justify your feelings, or pretend you’re “fine.” Together, we can explore the emotional impact of your illness, tend to the grief and uncertainty it brings, and strengthen the skills that help you cope day-to-day and take care of your mind and body. Therapy can help you rebuild a sense of identity that honors who you are now.
At Connected Living Psychotherapy, I blend AEDP, ACT, and Psychodynamic Therapy to support deep, lasting healing. Our work together will be collaborative and tailored to you. This means we will…..
Transform shame, guilt and self-blame into self-understanding and self-compassion.
Learn new ways to navigate health anxiety.
Listen and honor your body’s needs and limitations.
Practice boundary setting skills in relationships with others.
Learn strategies for navigating burnout and daily stress.
Explore and process emotions like grief and anger at your own pace, prioritizing emotional safety and self-compassion.
Reconnect with joy, confidence, and the parts of you that chronic illness has overshadowed.
Therapy is not about changing or “fixing” who you are or how you feel, it’s about learning how to live with it differently, so it no longer runs the show. As you begin to feel deeply seen, supported, and safe, opportunity is created for powerful emotional, relational and individual change. These approaches help you feel less overwhelmed and more aligned and grounded, even in the midst of chronic illness.
Take the First Step Toward Meaningful Support
You don’t have to navigate life with chronic illness alone.
I offer therapy for chronic illness in Durham, NC and across North Carolina via teletherapy.
Schedule a free consultation to see how therapy can support you in creating the life you want.
Rates + Insurance
Session Rates
15-20 minute phone consultation - Free
Relational
55 minute session - $175
Individual
55 minute session - $160
45 minute session - $125
30 minute session - $85
Insurance - Out of Network
Connected Living Psychotherapy, PLLC is considered out-of-network with all insurance companies, however, we are able to provide you with a “superbill” to submit to your insurance company to use for your out of network benefits. Depending on your individual insurance plan, you may be reimbursed by your insurance company a certain percentage for each session once you meet your out-of-network deductible. You can check your out-of-network deductible by calling your insurance company.
Good Faith Estimate
In accordance with the “No Surprises Act,” you will receive a “Good Faith Estimate” before your first session to better understand estimated cost of services.
Here’s what to expect…
STEP ONE
15-20 minute Consultation
Schedule a free, no pressure consultation call to see if we are a good fit and get answers to all your questions.
STEP TWO
Initial Intake Session
In your initial intake session, we will go over your mental health history, what brings you to therapy now, and begin the goal setting and treatment planning process.
STEP THREE
Recurring 55 minute sessions
Recurring sessions are typically 55 minutes and occur weekly or bi-weekly. Together, we will look at therapeutic needs and goals to determine what will work best for you.
FAQ’s - Therapy for Chronic Illness
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While therapy can’t take away physical symptoms, it can help you manage your relationship with them. Many people experience anxiety, grief, frustration, or isolation alongside chronic illness. Therapy provides support in processing these emotions, building self-compassion, setting boundaries, and finding ways to live a meaningful life within your current capacity. Our work together is collaborative and paced with your energy and capacity in mind. Some sessions may focus on processing grief, anxiety or frustration, while others may center on practical support like navigating relationships, advocating for yourself in medical settings, or managing the emotional toll of symptoms.
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I work with individuals navigating a wide range of chronic health conditions, including autoimmune disorders, chronic pain, fatigue-related conditions, and complex or hard-to-diagnose symptoms. You don’t need a clear diagnosis to benefit from therapy. Many people come in feeling dismissed, confused, or overwhelmed by ongoing symptoms and therapy offers a space to fully process your experience without judgment.
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My approach is trauma-informed, relational, and integrative. I draw from modalities like AEDP, ACT, and psychodynamic therapy to support both emotional processing and practical coping.
This means we’re not only addressing symptoms like anxiety or depression, but also exploring how chronic illness has impacted your sense of self, your relationships, and your nervous system. Together, we work toward greater self-compassion, flexibility, and connection.
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Yes. Chronic illness and mental health are deeply connected. Ongoing symptoms, uncertainty, and life changes can contribute to anxiety, depression, and stress. Therapy helps you process these experiences and develop tools to feel more grounded, supported, and emotionally resilient.
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Absolutely. One of the hardest parts of chronic illness is feeling misunderstood or alone. Therapy provides a space where your experience is taken seriously, where you don’t have to explain or justify what you’re going through. Feeling seen and understood can be a powerful part of healing. Anna has both lived and professional experience navigating the impact of life with chronic illness.
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Yes. Living with chronic illness often involves grieving the life you expected to have: your energy, independence, or sense of normalcy. These feelings are valid. Therapy offers space to process that grief while also helping you reconnect with meaning, joy, and a sense of self within your current reality.