Chronic Illness Therapists in Niantic, CT

My name is Karen Hanscom PhD. I am a licensed PhD psychologist with more than 30 years of experience providing psychotherapy to individuals, couples, and groups. While experienced in a wide range of psychological problems, my areas of expertise include: Chronic Pain, Chronic Illness and Adjustment to New Medical Diagnoses, Trauma and PTSD, Adjustment to Life Events:- the birth of a child; the death of a loved one; a new job, Major Depression, Anxiety, Mindfulness Training, Stress Reduction and Self-Hypnosis, Interpersonal Relationships, Senior Issues and The Attainment of New Habits.

Helping clients facing grief or chronic illness is my passion. I work with clients experiencing many kinds of losses, including death of a parent, partner, or one's own health. For nearly a decade, I was a hospice grief counselor providing support to individuals and families. I help clients finding meaning after devastating challenges, while developing practical coping strategies. I am certified in Thanatology, the study of death, dying and bereavement, through the Association of Death Education and Counseling (ADEC).

How have you been doing? Are you feeling anxious, stressed, down, maybe disconnected? Do you have unresolved trauma? Anxiety and depression can be exhausting. PTSD can feel very heavy. Maybe you are having difficulty managing everyday tasks or haven't been able to heal past wounds. Seeking help takes courage and this is the first step towards feeling better. Making that first call can feel scary but I can assure you that you will feel relieved once you take that step. I'm here to help you find solutions to what's troubling you and to help you move forward to live a happier, healthy life. I look forward to that opportunity.

I am a licensed clinical social worker. I specialize in helping clients who are dealing with issues related to an oncology diagnosis, palliative care caregivers and or/chronic illness and grief and loss. I also have expertise in chemical dependence treatment and am a licensed alcohol and drug counselor.

Current Availability for Evening appointments: Life isn't always easy. Sometimes, even the strongest people amongst us need a little bit of help to work through some of life's more challenging problems. Everyone has battles to fight and hurdles to overcome at some point in their lives. Whether you struggle with anxiety, depression, relationship conflict, self-esteem issues, grief and loss, or any other issue you should know that there is hope for a better tomorrow.

My ideal client is someone who is currently lost or overwhelmed and wanting to come alive again after a major loss or transition. Or has been dealing with a physical illness, and now wants support in coming back into life in a new way. It can be easy to forget that we are not the lives we have created, we are so much more. Having help recognizing where you are going and why, and dealing with the problems that show up along the way can be necessary in looking at exactly what is happening, why they are happening, and what you want/need to change to make things so much easier to handle so you can bring in joy, peace, and your dreams.

People often struggle with issues during their lifetimes. Some are persistent, others are for a season. Sometimes we feel stuck, bored, or trapped in cycles of living and thinking. Sometimes life throws something unexpected at us, and we need a helper to find our way through. How we view the challenge, our thinking regarding it, and what we choose to believe about it impacts our ability to approach solutions, actions or resolutions. Mindful introspection, understanding what we tell ourselves, and believe about these issues can help to re-write our solutions to the challenges life can bring.

I am a clinical social worker in private practice since 1996. I have extensive experience working with adults, adolescents, couples, and families experiencing emotional distress. My specialties include depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, grief and loss, job/school stress, life transition, and relationship issues. My goal is to empower clients to enact change by developing insight and clarity as to the origins and contributors to their distress. I work with clients to identify fears, guilt, destructive patterns, and family influences that are affecting their ability to live a healthy, satisfying life. My style is highly interactive, supportive, caring, and direct.

Please go to my web site www.jillemilleatherapist.com for a more complete introduction. I am a welcoming therapist with over 25 years working with people suffering from anxiety, depression, stage of life issues, and addictions. I support both men and women as young as 18 through maturity. My goal with every individual is to listen carefully to your concerns and needs, to help you sort out your priorities and values and to support the development of your beliefs, attitudes and behaviors aligned with your most authentic self.

This year has changed our lives forever. While still providing traditional coaching and therapy, I am now implementing a new approach. I am excited to share this new approach with clients. This new approach has clearly made a difference for myself and others.

Women are feeling the pressure to be perfect & to do it all now more than ever. We are dropping out of the workforce or working at our careers then working "the double shift" at home. You tell yourself that you wont reach your goals. You predict what will happen and constantly ask “but what if...” You feel like something is broken or missing. You don't feel good enough. Despite your accomplishments, you feel like a failure. You put other peoples needs first. These thoughts have taken over and keep you up at night. I am here to help.

Welcome! We live in stressful times where we need support more than ever. Maybe your searching for guidance with a big decision or want help with a difficult relationship. Does your adolescent/teenager need help getting through life's transitions? If you are looking for new ways to grow and break free from stress in life, and could benefit from a non-judgmental place to work through life’s challenges; let me help you find understanding, healing, and peace. In my 14+ years of experience, I have found that "difficult roads often lead to beautiful places."

With over a decade of telethealth experience (long before COVID-19 led to an increase in telehealth), and with most of our practitioners having 1-2 decades or more of experience, our practice is ready to tackle some of the most complex challenges you can bring us. We're currently taking clients for diagnostic evaluations, couples, & group therapy.

You may be looking for help navigating the thoughts or feelings that are weighing on your mind. Beneath the surface, you may be feeling sad, anxious, or uncertain. You recognize that you may need support to address these challenges.

Do you suffer from depression, bipolar, anxiety, chronic stress, or other problem(s) that may be holding you back from reaching your potential? Do you wish you were more productive, healthier, and happier? Are there days when you just can't get out of bed or feel like the world is working against you - or perhaps you feel you are working against yourself? Do you often wish you could wake up and feel more positive about the day ahead instead of feeling anxious, insecure, frightened or hopeless? Do you need someone to hold you accountable, motivate you, and teach and offer you skills to overcome these struggles?

My practice is about solving problems, from relatively simple ones like smoking, weight control, or sleep issues, to deeper ones like fears and phobias, and, complex, chronic illnesses that almost invariably have multi-faceted emotional roots. Of course, chronic illnesses can rarely be dealt with as easily and quickly as, say, insomnia, smoking cessation, teeth grinding, or TMJ problems. Habits and simple fears and phobias mostly respond very well to the application of skilled Direct-Suggestion hypnosis. However, Healing Hypnosis, my specialty, is a more intensive and deeper process. That aims to get to the root of problems.

Providing creative counseling solutions within a safe, caring and non-judgmental therapeutic relationship! As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, I have been providing clients with opportunities of growth and change for the past 20 years by utilizing a variety of therapeutic treatment approaches to include: CBT, Trauma Treatment, EFT, ACT, Solution Focused Counseling, Couples Therapy, and Mind-Body Spirit.

Hello! I offer client focused, positive, holistic and relevant therapy. We will work together to focus on strengths and increase hope while creating solutions to life’s challenges. I am EMDR trained, utilize IFS model and trauma focused perspective to bring clarity and offer healing.