Chronic Illness Therapists

Living with a chronic illness affects more than just your physical health. Therapy can provide emotional support, help you cope with ongoing challenges, and improve your quality of life. Find therapists on First Session who understand the experience of chronic illness.

Chronic illness brings ongoing challenges that can affect every aspect of life—from managing symptoms and medical appointments to navigating relationships and work. The emotional impact of living with a long-term health condition is real, and therapy can help you process these experiences, build coping strategies, and find support.

On First Session, you can browse therapists who have experience working with clients navigating chronic illness. Watch their intro videos to learn about their approach, read about their background, and book a session when you're ready.

Andrew Fawcett

Registered Clinical Counsellor
Waitlist
Offers In-Person (Pender Island, BC)
Virtual Sessions in BC, MB, SK, YT, and NT.
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Andrew Fawcett

Andrew Fawcett

Registered Clinical Counsellor
he/him
$130/session
Befriending the Nervous System, Ecopsychotherapy, Attachment wounds, Brain injury, Complex Trauma (CPTSD), Couples Therapy, Familial and social relationships, Grief and Loss, Highly Sensitive Person, Intergenerational trauma, Mental Decolonization, Nature-Based Spirituality, Parenting, Rewilding & Reclaiming the Wild Feminine, Sex therapy, Understanding & Regulating Emotions, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Dreams, Imposter syndrome, Men's issues, Neurodiversity, Cultural Challenges, Chronic Illness
Befriending the Nervous System, Ecopsychotherapy, Attachment wounds, Brain injury, Complex Trauma (CPTSD), Couples Therapy, Familial and social relationships, Grief and Loss, Highly Sensitive Person, Intergenerational trauma, Mental Decolonization, Nature-Based Spirituality, Parenting, Rewilding & Reclaiming the Wild Feminine, Sex therapy, Understanding & Regulating Emotions, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Dreams, Imposter syndrome, Men's issues, Neurodiversity, Cultural Challenges, Chronic Illness

Tanya Deutsch

Registered Clinical Counsellor
Waitlist
Offers In-Person (Surrey, BC)
Virtual Sessions in BC.
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Tanya Deutsch

Tanya Deutsch

Registered Clinical Counsellor
$160/session
Understanding & Regulating Emotions, Trauma, Stress, Social anxiety, Career guidance, ADHD, Burnout, Caregivers, Chronic Illness, Depression, Anxiety, Familial and social relationships, Highly Sensitive Person, Grief and Loss, Shadow Work, Confidence, Self-esteem, Self-Development, Attachment wounds, Family issues, Imposter syndrome, Interpersonal dynamics, Life transitions, People pleasing, Perfectionism
Understanding & Regulating Emotions, Trauma, Stress, Social anxiety, Career guidance, ADHD, Burnout, Caregivers, Chronic Illness, Depression, Anxiety, Familial and social relationships, Highly Sensitive Person, Grief and Loss, Shadow Work, Confidence, Self-esteem, Self-Development, Attachment wounds, Family issues, Imposter syndrome, Interpersonal dynamics, Life transitions, People pleasing, Perfectionism

Dylan Fry

Registered Professional Counsellor - Provisional
Waitlist
Offers In-Person (Duncan, BC)
Virtual Sessions in all provinces and territories.
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Dylan Fry

Dylan Fry

Registered Professional Counsellor - Provisional
he/him
$120/session
Anxiety, Attachment, Attachment wounds, Attachment trauma, Blocks in Connecting with Self and Others, Break-up recovery, Building Meaningful Connections, Childhood trauma, Chronic Illness, Depression, Grief and Loss, Mind-body connection, Personal Growth, Relationships
Anxiety, Attachment, Attachment wounds, Attachment trauma, Blocks in Connecting with Self and Others, Break-up recovery, Building Meaningful Connections, Childhood trauma, Chronic Illness, Depression, Grief and Loss, Mind-body connection, Personal Growth, Relationships

Lauren Browman

Registered Psychotherapist
Waitlist
Offers In-Person (Toronto, ON)
Virtual Sessions in ON.
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Lauren Browman

Ryan Yellowlees

Registered Clinical Counsellor
Waitlist
Offers In-Person (Victoria, BC)
Virtual Sessions in BC and AB.
Waitlist
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Ryan Yellowlees

Ryan Yellowlees

Registered Clinical Counsellor
He/Him/His
$100/session
Disability, Chronic Illness, Caregivers, Chronic and acute illness, Adjusting to a diagnosis, Connecting with your Inherent Power, Empowerment, Motivation, Anger, Anxiety, Anxiety and Stress Management Skills, Stress, Men's issues, Masculinity, Depression, Depression coping skills, Conflict resolution, Relationships, People pleasing, Family Conflict, Familial and social relationships, Family issues, Effective communication, Physical Disability, Grief and Loss
Disability, Chronic Illness, Caregivers, Chronic and acute illness, Adjusting to a diagnosis, Connecting with your Inherent Power, Empowerment, Motivation, Anger, Anxiety, Anxiety and Stress Management Skills, Stress, Men's issues, Masculinity, Depression, Depression coping skills, Conflict resolution, Relationships, People pleasing, Family Conflict, Familial and social relationships, Family issues, Effective communication, Physical Disability, Grief and Loss

Jennifer Schofield

Registered Social Worker
Waitlist
Offers In-Person (London, ON)
Virtual Sessions in ON.
Waitlist
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Jennifer Schofield

Jennifer Schofield

Registered Social Worker
she/her
$150/session
Trauma, Anger, ADHD, Anxiety, Assertiveness, Childhood trauma, Building Meaningful Connections, Competitive anxiety, Complex Trauma (CPTSD), Creativity, Depression, Existential questions, Family issues, Fears and phobia, Chronic Illness, Highly Sensitive Person, Relationships, Life transitions, Low Self-Esteem and Self Worth, Grief and Loss, Identity and Self-Exploration
Trauma, Anger, ADHD, Anxiety, Assertiveness, Childhood trauma, Building Meaningful Connections, Competitive anxiety, Complex Trauma (CPTSD), Creativity, Depression, Existential questions, Family issues, Fears and phobia, Chronic Illness, Highly Sensitive Person, Relationships, Life transitions, Low Self-Esteem and Self Worth, Grief and Loss, Identity and Self-Exploration

Melissa Milligan

Canadian Certified Counsellor
Waitlist
Offers In-Person (Nipawin, SK)
Virtual Sessions in MB, AB, BC, and SK.
Waitlist
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Melissa Milligan

Melissa Milligan

Canadian Certified Counsellor
She/Her
$160/session
Anger, Attachment, Building Meaningful Connections, Abuse (Sexual/Physical/Verbal), Anxiety and Stress Management Skills, Behaviour, Burnout, Deep connections, Childhood trauma, Chronic Illness, Dating challenges, Boundaries and boundary setting, Depression, Intergenerational trauma, Low Self-Esteem and Self Worth, Navigating challenging relationships, Sexuality, Self-Development, Mindfulness
Anger, Attachment, Building Meaningful Connections, Abuse (Sexual/Physical/Verbal), Anxiety and Stress Management Skills, Behaviour, Burnout, Deep connections, Childhood trauma, Chronic Illness, Dating challenges, Boundaries and boundary setting, Depression, Intergenerational trauma, Low Self-Esteem and Self Worth, Navigating challenging relationships, Sexuality, Self-Development, Mindfulness

Joe Gentile

Registered Social Worker
Waitlist
Offers In-Person (Bolton, ON)
Virtual Sessions in ON.
Waitlist
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Joe Gentile

Joe Gentile

Registered Social Worker
$125/session
Problematic video gaming, Anxiety, Addiction, Anger Management, Attachment, Boundaries and boundary setting, Behavioural Issues, Burnout, Chronic Illness, Competitive anxiety, Couples, Depression, Eating disorders, Familial and social relationships, Imposter syndrome, Low Self-Esteem and Self Worth, Managing ADHD symptoms, Men's issues, Negative body image, OCD, School challenges, Sports Performance, Stress, Grief and Loss
Problematic video gaming, Anxiety, Addiction, Anger Management, Attachment, Boundaries and boundary setting, Behavioural Issues, Burnout, Chronic Illness, Competitive anxiety, Couples, Depression, Eating disorders, Familial and social relationships, Imposter syndrome, Low Self-Esteem and Self Worth, Managing ADHD symptoms, Men's issues, Negative body image, OCD, School challenges, Sports Performance, Stress, Grief and Loss

Lauren Gaudet

Registered Social Worker
Waitlist
Offers In-Person (Calgary, AB)
Virtual Sessions in AB and BC.
Waitlist
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Lauren Gaudet

Lauren Gaudet

Registered Social Worker
(They/She)
$150/session
Trauma processing, Anxiety, Burnout, Deep Brain Reorienting, Emotional regulation, LGBTQ2IA+, Nervous system regulation, Mind-body connection, Depression, Adjusting to a diagnosis, Chronic Illness, Self-Regulation, Workplace stress, Understanding & Regulating Emotions, Transitioning into Adulthood, Stress, Overwhelm, Brain injury, Trauma, Grief and Loss, Identity and Self-Exploration
Trauma processing, Anxiety, Burnout, Deep Brain Reorienting, Emotional regulation, LGBTQ2IA+, Nervous system regulation, Mind-body connection, Depression, Adjusting to a diagnosis, Chronic Illness, Self-Regulation, Workplace stress, Understanding & Regulating Emotions, Transitioning into Adulthood, Stress, Overwhelm, Brain injury, Trauma, Grief and Loss, Identity and Self-Exploration

Ahilia Singh Morales

Registered Social Worker
Waitlist
Offers In-Person (Toronto, ON)
Virtual Sessions in ON.
Waitlist
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Ahilia Singh Morales

Ahilia Singh Morales

Registered Social Worker
she/her
$225/session
BIPOC, Complex Trauma (CPTSD), Nervous system regulation, Abuse (Sexual/Physical/Verbal), Addiction, ADHD, Adjusting to a diagnosis, Anxiety, Attachment trauma, Childhood trauma, Burnout, Chronic Illness, Depression, Intergenerational trauma, Highly Sensitive Person, Maternal mental health, Pain management, PTSD, Trauma, Spirituality
BIPOC, Complex Trauma (CPTSD), Nervous system regulation, Abuse (Sexual/Physical/Verbal), Addiction, ADHD, Adjusting to a diagnosis, Anxiety, Attachment trauma, Childhood trauma, Burnout, Chronic Illness, Depression, Intergenerational trauma, Highly Sensitive Person, Maternal mental health, Pain management, PTSD, Trauma, Spirituality

Courtney Doherty

Registered Clinical Counsellor
Waitlist
Offers In-Person (Vancouver, BC)
Virtual Sessions in all provinces and territories.
Waitlist
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Courtney Doherty

Courtney Doherty

Registered Clinical Counsellor
She/Her
$175/session
Adjusting to a diagnosis, Aging, Anxiety, Anxiety and Stress Management Skills, Boundaries and boundary setting, Brain injury, Caregiver burnout, Caregivers, Chronic Illness, Chronic and acute illness, Understanding & Regulating Emotions, Trauma, Supervising qualifying therapists, Stress, Sleeping difficulties, Social anxiety, Self-esteem, PTSD, Pregnancy, Parkinson's disease, Depression, Family issues, Anger Management, Parenting, Grief and Loss
Adjusting to a diagnosis, Aging, Anxiety, Anxiety and Stress Management Skills, Boundaries and boundary setting, Brain injury, Caregiver burnout, Caregivers, Chronic Illness, Chronic and acute illness, Understanding & Regulating Emotions, Trauma, Supervising qualifying therapists, Stress, Sleeping difficulties, Social anxiety, Self-esteem, PTSD, Pregnancy, Parkinson's disease, Depression, Family issues, Anger Management, Parenting, Grief and Loss
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Therapy is hard work.

Finding the right therapist shouldn’t be. Over 10,000 Canadians found their new therapist with First Session.
What is therapy for chronic illness?

Therapy for chronic illness focuses on the emotional and psychological aspects of living with a long-term health condition. It can help you process feelings like grief, frustration, or anxiety related to your illness, develop coping strategies, and improve your overall wellbeing despite ongoing health challenges.

Who might benefit from therapy related to chronic illness?

Anyone living with a chronic health condition may benefit from therapy. This includes people adjusting to a new diagnosis, those managing the ongoing stress of a long-term illness, or anyone experiencing depression, anxiety, or grief related to their health situation.

What does therapy for chronic illness involve?

Therapy sessions provide a space to talk about your experiences, feelings, and challenges related to your illness. Your therapist can help you develop coping strategies, work through difficult emotions, improve communication with loved ones about your needs, and find ways to maintain quality of life.

Can therapy help with the physical symptoms of chronic illness?

While therapy doesn't treat physical symptoms directly, it can help you manage the stress, anxiety, and emotional burden that often accompany chronic illness. Some approaches also focus on the mind-body connection, which may help with pain management and overall wellbeing.

How do I find a therapist who understands chronic illness?

On First Session, you can browse therapists who have experience working with chronic illness and health-related concerns. Watch their intro videos to get a sense of their approach, and read their profiles to see if they feel like a good fit for your situation.

How do I book a session?

Browse therapists on First Session, watch their intro videos, and book directly through their profile. Online sessions can be especially convenient if mobility or energy is a concern. Choose what works best for you.