Compassionate support in navigating chronic health conditions and medical trauma

Chronic illness or medical trauma can leave you feeling like you're living in a body that no longer feels like your own. Navigating daily life with persistent pain, fatigue, or health challenges can be exhausting—not just physically but emotionally, too. Medical systems often fail to provide compassionate care, leaving many feeling dismissed, disempowered, or retraumatized.

 

You might be grappling with questions like:

• How do I cope with the grief of missing what my body used to be able to do?

• How do I manage the constant stress of navigating appointments, treatments, or uncertainty?

• Do my doctors even believe me?

• How can I feel safe and at home in a body that feels unpredictable or out of my control?

 

At Brown Dog Therapy and Wellness, I offer adults in Virginia and Maryland a compassionate, trauma-informed space to process these feelings via online therapy. You don’t have to face this alone. Together, we can work toward healing and finding new ways to care for yourself.

 

What does medical trauma look like?

 

Medical trauma and the emotional toll of chronic illness might show up as:

• Avoidance of medical care or appointments due to fear or distrust.

• Feeling dismissed, gaslit, or unseen by healthcare providers.

• Anxiety, hypervigilance, or panic around symptoms, diagnoses, or procedures.

• Grief over losing the sense of control or ability your body once provided.

• Difficulty managing relationships that feel strained by the weight of your condition.​

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Some groups experience medical trauma differently due to systemic inequities. Women of color, for instance, may experience medical racism in the form of being dismissed or not believed about their pain or symptoms, while trans and nonbinary folks might face discrimination or be denied life-saving treatment when providers or healthcare policies weaponize their existence. These experiences can amplify the fear, distrust, and isolation of navigating health challenges. It’s important to name these injustices and create a space where you feel seen, safe, and supported.

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What is Body Grief?

 

Body grief is the deep sense of loss, frustration, or sadness that arises when your body no longer meets the expectations you had for it, or that society has placed on it. This grief can feel especially isolating in a society that often measures worth through productivity, appearance, or physical ability.

 

For individuals living in larger bodies, this grief may be compounded by the trauma of experiencing fatphobia in medical settings. Many people in larger bodies report feeling dismissed, shamed, or blamed for their health concerns—regardless of the issue. This can create a profound sense of mistrust and fear when seeking medical care, and may even delay treatment for serious conditions. A quick reminder: your body was never the problem.

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Body grief might feel like:

• Mourning the loss of activities, hobbies, or goals tied to your health, that are now further out of reach.

• Feeling betrayed by or disconnected from your body.

• Struggling with self-compassion when your body doesn’t align with societal ideals or your own expectations.

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Acknowledging and working through body grief—and the harm of systemic weight stigma, medical racism, and transphobia in healthcare settings—can be a powerful part of healing. In therapy, we create space to honor this loss while finding ways to reconnect with your body, even if it feels unfamiliar or unpredictable.

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Common challenges for individuals with chronic health conditions:

• Balancing rest with feelings of guilt about "not doing enough."

• Coping with feelings of isolation when others don’t understand your experience.

• Managing fear, shame, or hopelessness around symptoms or diagnoses.

• Navigating the emotional toll of advocating for yourself in healthcare systems.

 

How Brown Dog Therapy and Wellness approaches chronic health conditions and medical trauma:

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My approach is grounded in compassion, cultural humility, and a recognition of how systemic factors influence your health journey. Together, we will:

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Explore the emotional impact of your experience. Chronic illness and medical trauma often affect more than just the body—they can impact your self-esteem, relationships, and sense of safety. Using Narrative Therapy, we can unpack unhelpful stories and beliefs about your body and your worth.

Address trauma stored in the body. Through EMDR and somatic approaches, we’ll gently work to process painful medical experiences or ongoing fears. Nervous system regulation tools can also help rebuild a sense of safety and trust in your body.

Work through body grief. We’ll create space to grieve the changes your body has experienced while also fostering self-compassion and acceptance. Together, we’ll explore what it means to care for yourself in ways that honor your current needs and limitations.

Cultivate tools for resilience and self-advocacy. Using CBT and ACT, we’ll focus on building skills to navigate the emotional, physical, and relational challenges of chronic illness. This includes finding meaning, joy, and balance in a life that feels aligned with your values.

 

How I can help:

 

Living with a chronic health condition or medical trauma doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice joy, connection, or self-worth. My approach is collaborative, anti-oppressive, and rooted in the belief that your body is deserving of care, no matter its condition. Together, we’ll create a space to process your experiences, navigate the challenges of living with your condition, and reconnect with yourself.

 

Take the first step.

 

You deserve care and support as you navigate the complexities of the medical system. If you’re ready to begin, I’d be honored to support you on this journey. Schedule a free consultation today.