Living with a chronic illness goes beyond the physical symptoms. It can reshape how you feel about yourself, relate to others, and navigate the world. At Holistic Psychotherapy NYC, we understand that healing is relational. You don’t have to navigate the emotional weight of illness alone. Together, through somatic and relational therapy, we help you reconnect with your body and your story — with compassion, not judgment.
The Emotional and Psychological Toll of Chronic Illness
Chronic illness can be isolating. Whether you’re managing daily fatigue, navigating the healthcare system, or dealing with the unpredictability of symptoms, the experience is often overwhelming. Psychotherapy can help you feel less alone and more supported.
How Therapy Can Help
Here are 10 ways therapy can support those managing chronic illness:
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Provides emotional space for grief, anger, and fear
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Teaches stress reduction and nervous system regulation
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Helps rebuild identity after a major diagnosis or life change
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Offers tools to cope with chronic pain
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Builds resilience in facing daily uncertainty
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Addresses anxiety and depression linked to illness
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Heals medical trauma from past procedures or treatment
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Improves communication with doctors, caregivers, and loved ones
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Supports boundary setting in personal and professional relationships
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Helps reconnect to hope, creativity, and meaning
What Is Holistic Therapy for Chronic Illness?
At Holistic Psychotherapy NYC, we use an integrated mind-body approach that includes:
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Somatic therapy: helping you tune into your body’s wisdom and release stored stress or trauma.
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Relational therapy: exploring how illness affects your relationships, identity, and sense of self—with compassion and without judgment.
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Psychodynamic and mindfulness-based tools: uncovering emotional patterns and building emotional flexibility and awareness.
Healing doesn’t mean “fixing” your body—it means finding ways to live more fully in it.
Meet Our Therapists Who Specialize in Chronic Illness
Our therapist Courtlyn Shimada and Luisa Zepeda create a deeply compassionate, collaborative space for clients navigating the emotional toll of chronic illness. They draw from somatic, psychodynamic, and relational approaches to support clients in reconnecting with their bodies and inner strength.
They are attuned with how chronic illness intersects with identity, grief, and the need to feel understood and empowered in the face of medical uncertainty.
Therapy Should Be Accessible
We are now in-network with Aetna and continue to offer a sliding scale for all other insurances, because your healing should not be limited by financial barriers. Learn more about that here.
If you’re living with chronic illness and looking for support that sees all of you—body, mind, and spirit—our team is here to help.
Learn more about working with Courtlyn Shimada or Luisa Zepeda today.
