07/28/2026
One of the hardest things to talk about in therapy is grieving the person you were before illness or disability changed your life. It's a loss that is often invisible to others, yet deeply felt.
As a therapist, I'm not immune to that grief myself (I miss her everyday) and I think it's important for people to know they're not sitting across from someone who has never experienced loss or uncertainty when it comes to chronic illness.
I often use the this metaphor: I imagine that we're each climbing our own mountain. Our mountains are different, each with their own steep cliffs, rough terrain, and unexpected obstacles. I can't climb your mountain for you and I would never pretend to know exactly what it's feels like to stand where you are. But from my own mountain, I can sometimes see parts of your path that are harder for you to see while you're in the middle of it. Together, we can pause, notice where you've already climbed, acknowledge the strength it has taken to get here, and explore which path is most likely to move you toward the life you want, even when the climb remains difficult.
