You’ve tried therapy. Seen multiple specialists. Now what?
I work with people who’ve tried therapy and seen multiple specialists, yet still haven’t found the support they need in their health journey.
Maybe you’ve had to explain what it’s like to have a chronic illness to your therapist, flinched when a specialist or well-meaning friend asked “have you tried yoga?”, and felt the exhaustion of seeking support from people who haven’t lived it.
I’ve been there too.
You’ve worked so hard to help yourself already. What’s different about my approach is that we honor your reality. We never try to fix you or change you, because you’re not broken.
Most therapists haven’t been trained to support chronic illness.
I know because I was in a PhD-level therapist training program!
While some therapists are incredibly skilled or have personal experience themselves, many people with chronic conditions haven’t received the support they need from therapy, and some have even felt harmed.
I was the same way.
Therapy tends to be deficit-focused, aiming to reduce and get rid of symptoms, something that doesn’t always match the experience of chronic illness.
Coaching with me takes an acceptance and strength-based approach where all parts of you are welcomed. Absolutely no gaslighting or attempts to reframe your symptoms will occur.
Maybe this sounds like you…
🔔 You judge yourself for every symptom, flare, and pain
🔔 Work is a constant struggle between taking care of yourself and achieving
🔔 You think, “some days are fine!” to convince yourself you shouldn’t ask for help
🔔 You’re always chasing a “perfect” treatment plan to fix you
🔔 You can’t remember the last time your body felt like a joyful or safe place to be
🔔 You take on other people’s emotions related to your illness
After working with me you’ll:
🌱 Stop gaslighting yourself and trust that your symptoms are real, no matter what others say
🌱 Feel less powerless to the rollercoaster of your symptoms
🌱 Have the confidence to advocate for yourself at work, school, and medical appointments without emotional overwhelm
🌱 Experience fewer anxiety and fear spirals during high-symptom flares
🌱 Learn to read your body’s language, knowing when symptoms require immediate attention and when they don’t
🌱 Meet yourself and your life with acceptance and kindness, instead of wasting precious brain space and energy on wishing life was different
Have you been craving guidance to navigate the overwhelm of balancing daily life, medical care, and joy with a chronic condition?
And are you ready to feel less isolated, more self-trust, and more in tune with your body?
Start with a Clarity Session
A Clarity Session is one focused 60-minute coaching session with me designed to cut through the overwhelm.
Together, we’ll create your personalized Clarity Compass, a map to help you move forward toward a more joyful and balanced life.
This session is ideal if you’re craving clarity today, or you’re curious whether longer-term coaching is a good fit for you.
$275
Or jump in with a
Coaching Mentorship
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🌱 Foundations Mentorship – $650*
Dip your toes in. Focused support on one or two key areas.
An approachable coaching experience to help you understand your needs more deeply, soften self-criticism, quiet overthinking, and begin accepting your body.
What’s included:
🌱 Three 1:1 60-minute mentoring sessions
🌱 Personalized Foundational Goals Roadmap tailored to your unique journey
🌱 Between-session email support for ongoing guidance and connection
*or 2 payments of $350
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🌻 Flourish Mentorship – $950*
A deep dive to sustain lasting change.
A transformational mentorship container for if you’re ready to shed perfectionism, stop gaslighting yourself, and accept your life, illness included.
What’s included:
🌻 Five 1:1 60-minute mentoring sessions
🌻 Personalized Flourish Transformation Plan crafted to guide your continued growth and provide personalized resources
🌻 Between-session email AND audio support to match your style and keep you moving forward
*or 3 payments of $333
FAQs
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This is such an important question! Therapy primarily focuses on diagnosing and treating mental illness, aiming to reduce symptoms and support your mental health. If your main goal is managing a mental illness like depression, I highly recommend finding a therapist who incorporates somatic practices, which can be especially helpful if you’ve experienced chronic pain, illness, or trauma.
Coaching, on the other hand, offers a broader, collaborative relationship where I support you in achieving personal and life goals that you may be having trouble reaching due to illness or pain. These goals are more holistic, centered on building acceptance, joy, body connection, and processing grief. Coaching isn’t about digging into past experiences; it’s about creating a toolkit and mindset to help you flourish in the present and future.
An added benefit is that I bring my own lived experience with multiple chronic illnesses, so I understand firsthand what you’re going through and can share insights when it’s helpful. Coaching is a great option if you’ve tried therapy but are ready for a fresh approach.
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I want to start by saying that therapy was instrumental for me in treating my PTSD, and I fully believe in its value. That said, from my own experience and that of many clients, traditional therapy often falls short when it comes to the unique emotional demands of chronic illness.
One reason is that therapy tends to be deficit-focused, aiming to reduce or eliminate symptoms. But many people with chronic illness need an acceptance- and strength-based approach to feel truly safe and supported. They’ve often been gaslit or told there’s something “wrong” with them far too often.
Additionally, most therapists aren’t trained to work with chronic, ongoing stressors like illness. I know this firsthand—I was in a therapist training program! Therapy’s focus on change and symptom alleviation can clash with the reality of living with a condition that doesn’t simply go away, which can create frustration or even harm.
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Coaching with me is a great fit for individuals who are ready to reconnect with their bodies (though they may feel a bit scared!), build self-trust, and commit to a joyful life, even with illness and pain. If you’re goal-focused, you’ll likely benefit from this work.
On the other hand, if you’re mainly looking for a space to vent, or currently have pressing mental health needs that require clinical treatment, coaching might not be the right fit, at least not yet. It’s okay to come back when you have more space for this kind of work!
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Goals are personalized but here are some examples:
Find harmony between your body and mind
Accept and love your full self
Access daily joy, even in tough times
Build self-trust and self-compassion skillsets
Make treatment decisions based on your intuition
Strengthen self-advocacy proficiency
Learn how to grieve effectively
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Well, that’s a personal calculus! But if you’re ready to invest in yourself, if you’ve tried therapy, meditation, and too many specialists, and you have a gut feeling that working with an expert who truly gets it can help you build the skills you need—then yes, coaching is worth it.
It’s a big upfront investment, but coaching with me is an investment in the rest of your life. Coaching can set you up to make the most of your time and energy for the long run, which can be especially important with an energy-limiting illness or dynamic disability.
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I don’t take insurance because coaching is not treatment for a mental or physical illness. Instead, we focus on building a life that feels more easeful, joyful, and accepting of yourself.
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Happy to answer questions! You can email drtaliaphd@gmail.com or DM me on Instagram @drtaliaphd.