Chronic Illness Therapists in Chicago, IL

It would be a privilege to work with you navigating through life's challenges and feelings of anxiety, sadness, and grief. My style is warm and supportive as I hope to help you feel less isolated and alone. I will help you discover alternative ways of thinking and offer a variety of coping skills. I will also incorporate humor. Together we will develop goals for growth and seek achievable solutions, alleviate distress, and improve your quality of life fostering a feeling of joy and happiness. I feel honored to be part of your journey.

Life is full of transitions and adjustments; in each of these, you deserve a safe and supportive space to talk about it in a relaxed, guided manner. I believe in the importance of language- how you talk to and about yourself and others- and in the power of stories that make life. I want to help you recognize which stories you wrote in alignment with your values, and which were imposed on you by society, culture, and the people close to you. In therapy, I utilize evidence-based techniques, while also recognizing that your mind is a vast universe to be approached from a philosophical and spiritual place.

Life can be incredibly difficult, and at times we may reach a point of feeling overwhelmed, exhausted, or frustrated with our situation. As a therapist, I strive to provide a safe and comfortable space in which you can explore the thoughts and feelings weighing you down without judgment. Seeing as you're the expert of your own life, I value each aspect of your identity — including ability, gender, sexuality, and race — as an important piece of your story. I won't ever ask you to change who you are, but instead, to live fully as the person you want to be.

Hi! I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, who has been providing therapy to individuals, couples, and families for 29 years. While I received my degrees many years ago and much has changed in my field, I have stayed current in my knowledge of Psychology. I provide therapy to people who are experiencing stress, change and discomfort in their current life. I work with diverse populations with a variety of needs. I visualize therapy as a partnership: you define your goals and we develop ways to help you experience the joy in life, that everyone deserves.

I take a compassionate, warm, and collaborative approach to connect with my clients and understand their goals for improving their quality of life. If you are feeling stressed and overwhelmed, I can help you to feel empowered to face challenges in your life. I work with clients who have issues related to depression, stress, and anxiety. I also have specialized training in treating insomnia, chronic pain, coping with chronic illness , and coping with the stress of caring for a loved one with chronic illness .

The therapeutic experience is as unique as one’s thumb print. I strive to help you achieve your goals in navigating life’s transitions and challenges by creating a safe place for you to process your feelings and concerns. It takes courage and strength to reach out and ask for help. I work collaboratively with each client to establish the best treatment plan based on their needs at the time we meet. I am supportive, non-judgmental and warm - with a calm style… and some humor.

Chronic medical conditions, chronic stress, and major life transitions can challenge not only an individual, but their partners and families as well. Any one of these can give rise to increased anxiety or depression, feeling unsure, and difficulty coping. Managing chronic illness , stress, and major life transitions can also impact our work, our relationships, and our interactions with our care teams. Feeling empowered and supported is critical for navigating life challenges.

Are you tired of spending all your time in therapy educating your therapist instead of working on what you need? Looking for a therapist who specializes in struggles with identity, sexual orientation, diverse sexual groups, such as kink/BDSM; relationship orientation such as polyamory, relationship anarchy, or swinging; anxiety, depression, HIV/AIDS, and other chronic illness ; secular or alternative faiths such as paganism; and are seeking patient-centered, compassionate, and affirming care?

Are you a chronically ill or disabled person who is feeling unheard or dismissed? Are you struggling with sexual concerns or navigating life as a Queer, polyam, or kinky person? I’ve had the privilege of supporting clients through various challenges, including chronic illness & pain, women/AFAB-specific reproductive health conditions, sexual health & functioning, LBTQIA2S+ issues, CNM & poly relationships, BDSM/kink relationships, general relationship issues, anxiety, depression, life transitions, and trauma. My lived experiences navigating chronic illness , ableism, and survivorship have instilled empathy, kindness, and compassion.

You already know the areas of your life that are holding you back, but you don't know where to start - which has led you here. Maybe anxiety is causing you to avoid the people, places, and activities you used to enjoy. Maybe work stress or chronic illness makes you disconnect from the things you value due to exhaustion and overwhelm. Maybe you and your romantic partner keep repeating the same fights over and over, no matter how hard you both try to change. You worry that things will never feel "normal" again. You'd like to be able to work through the anxiety and frustration these things cause, and start living your life again.

Each of us are navigating our own personal journeys, with challenges along the way. We make connections each day through our successes and struggles, where it is important to remember that we are not alone. You can overcome barriers, feel a true sense of belonging, relieve worry and stress, increase joy, and know yourself on a deeper level as you achieve more than you thought possible. I am passionate about helping you make lasting improvements using your unique talents to create the life that you desire as we uncover your personal definition of success.

Dr. Feuer is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist and the Director of Health Psychology at IPD/DMG. She completed the majority of her clinical training in medical hospitals and outpatient settings. She additionally works as an adjunct faculty member for the PsyD Clinical Psychology program at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. Dr. Feuer’s areas of expertise include adults (18+) living with chronic medical illnesses, and has particular experience with clients diagnosed with cancer, cardiovascular, and transplant-related diagnoses. She also has experience working with caregivers of individuals living with chronic illness .

Asking for help is one of the strongest things you can do, but it can also be one of the hardest because of past experience of not being heard, believed, or supported. Extreme stressors and traumatic events - including new or ongoing health conditions - affect every aspect of our lives and can make relationships - with family, friends, colleagues, and even healthcare providers - very challenging. The impact of these events can make us feel isolated, misunderstood, and unsupported (even by the well-intentioned). They can lead us to make choices we aren't proud of and limit our enjoyment of life in general.

I am here to work with you regarding the things in life where you feel "stuck." You may be stuck for a variety of reasons, including past or current trauma, chronic illness , relationship or work-related stressors, or caring for children or your aging parents. You might be in a heterosexual marriage and realize that you are LGBTQ, and you are scared, wondering how to move forward in a way that is sensitive to your family, and is true to your identity. I have both personal and professional experience with this issue, and I am happy to help you navigate through it.

I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with extensive clinical experience working with diverse populations struggling with chronic illness , anxiety, depression, substance abuse, and difficulty adjusting to a myriad of life stressors. I have offered trauma informed care and I am knowledgeable of somatic tools used to assist in coping and promote healing. I strive to offer a safe and collaborative therapeutic environment so you can create the change you are seeking.

Your heart drops into your stomach and you are at a loss for words. Maybe you feel numb. Maybe you can't stop crying. No matter what your reaction is, your life as you know it has changed in one instance. You've been diagnosed with a terminal or chronic illness . A flood of questions comes to your mind: is this the beginning of the end, how will this effect my career, how do I tell my family? I have dedicated my life to guiding people through the emotional difficulties related to managing conditions such as: mild cognitive impairment, dementia, TBI, stroke, cancer, transplant, and pregnancy/fertility concerns.

Are you often feeling down, anxious, sad, hopeless, or just stressed? Do you find yourself struggling with how to manage your stressors? I believe you can be in control of your life and manage any concerns life throws your way. I specialize in anxiety, depression, grief and loss, cultural and self-identity issues, life transitions, relationship obstacles, women’s issues, adjustment to chronic illness , and conflict resolution. I can create a safe, empathetic, therapeutic environment to foster hope and healing in your life.

Whether your challenges are about life transitions, grief/loss, trauma, anxiety/depression, or the stressors of everyday life, I will provide you with concrete tools to help you succeed. Besides life's complexities, dealing with a major life transition or illness presents unique challenges to coping with daily life. My work places your strengths and potential at the center of your healing process, rather than only focusing on problem areas. Just by visiting this site, you are already demonstrating your strength. If any parts of my profile have resonated with you, please contact me when you feel ready to invest in YOU!

I strive to use interventions that meet the specific needs of my clients in a safe, comfortable, and nonjudgmental way. I often use a cognitive-behavioral approach (CBT) in psychotherapy as I help my clients adjust and overcome maladaptive thinking patterns and behaviors. I also utilize dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) and other therapeutic modalities as a way of teaching clients important coping techniques to manage their stress and navigate their challenges. My goal is to help my clients learning healthy ways of living and a positive mindset to overcome challenges.