Therapy for Chronic Pain, Illness & Medical Trauma

Specialized support for medical trauma recovery, navigating life with chronic pain, adjusting to disability identity, and survivors of iatrogenic harm in Tacoma, the surrounding Puget Sound Corridor, and across Washington State.

Finding Relief, Resilience, and Meaning When Your Body is Hurting

Living with chronic pain or a long-term illness is rarely just about physical symptoms. It is an emotional journey that can feel profoundly isolating. You may be navigating the grief of losing your previous level of health, the constant anxiety of unpredictable flare-ups, or the exhaustion of fighting to function in a world built for people who don't have to think twice about their bodies.

It is common to feel frustrated when medical tests come back "normal" despite feeling terrible, or to struggle with the identity shift that comes from becoming a patient in your own life. You deserve a space where your pain is taken seriously, and where we can work together to reduce the suffering that often accompanies the pain itself.

Who This Work Is For

This specialized support is ideal for individuals who are:

  • Overwhelmed by the constant presence of pain, fatigue, or brain fog.

  • Experiencing high anxiety regarding their health prognosis or medical appointments.

  • Struggling with body image changes due to illness, surgery, or treatment side effects.

  • Feeling isolated because friends and family "don't get it" or minimize their experience.

  • Needing support in navigating complex healthcare systems or communicating needs effectively to providers.

OFFERINGS

Specialized Support for Body Grief, Chronic Illness, & Medical Trauma

Jupiter Pines Counseling integrates evidence-based approaches and clinical expertise with a nuanced understanding. Your trauma is real, complex, and your story deserves to be heard. To honor this, we offer these specialized services:


Scope of Practice & Licensing

To ensure ethical practice and compliance with state regulations, our services are clearly defined as:

  • Clinical Counseling (Licensed Mental Health Counseling); Exclusively for residents of Washington State; Includes symptom assessment, diagnosis, treatment planning, and clinical intervention for mental health conditions; We do not provide clinical diagnoses or treatment to clients outside WA State.

  • Coaching, Consultations, Support Groups & Workshops; Open to residents of Washington State and beyond (including US states and international clients); Focuses on education, developmental guidance, skill-building, and wellness strategies; Note: These services are non-clinical and do not include diagnosis or treatment of mental health disorders.

How We Work With Clients

An integrative approach that blends empathy with evidence-based protocols tailored for those managing body grief and medical challenges.

Clinical Mental Health Counseling or Coaching cannot always cure physical conditions. However, these sessions can be highly effective at changing how you experience pain or illness. The quality of your life can improve, even with persistent symptoms, when we address the emotional and psychological impact of your chronic conditions.

Jupiter Pines Counseling co-creates a treatment plan for your mental health to honor your specific symptoms, goals, and lived experience. These are just a few of the therapeutic approaches and modalities that provide our clients with a robust toolkit for mental health.


Evidence-Based Care

While every client’s health journey is unique, here are a few key studies and guidelines that inform how we tailor our interventions to support clients’ experiencing chronic pain and illness to fit their specific needs and goals.

About The Clinician & Coach

I know how difficult it is to find someone who truly understands what it’s like to live with body grief or a chronic illness, or in a drawn-out pursuit of a diagnosis for some mysterious condition.

It is a tragedy that so many people are gaslit by the medical system, unheard by their providers and mental health clinicians. The frustration of communicating something so subjective as physical pain and symptoms to someone holding a clipboard or an iPad? This leaves physical *and* emotional pain.

My approach is rooted in empathy and evidence. My practice is grounded in the belief that your emotional distress is a perfectly valid response to a difficult situation, not a character flaw or "weakness."

I bring more than specialized clinical mental health modalities to your sessions; I’m a Certified Trauma Support Specialist (CTSS) and Trauma & Resilience Life Coach (TRLC). Whether you are dealing with medical PTSD from past procedures, the grief of chronic illness, or the burnout of being your own full-time caregiver, I offer a non-judgmental space where we can move at your pace.

My Commitment to You:

  • Validation: Even if medical tests don't show it, and everything else is ambiguously vague, your pain, emotions, and lived experiences are *real.*

  • Collaboration: We will build a treatment plan that fits your energy levels and medical reality.

  • Expertise: I stay current with the latest research on psychological interventions for chronic conditions to ensure you receive the most effective care possible.

  • Zero AI: Your sessions and progress notes will remain free from artificial intelligence and algorithmic interference. More about our privacy & digital security policies.

Privacy & Discretion:
A Sanctuary for Your Health Story

If fear of disclosure presents a barrier to your mental health & quality of life...

Your story belongs entirely to you. Jupiter Pines Counseling aims to provide a safe space for your healing, free from judgment or unintended exposure.

For those navigating chronic illness or medical trauma, privacy is about more than compliance. It’s is about your dignity, control, and autonomy.

  • Separate Medical Records: As a private-pay practice, your therapy records are legally distinct from your medical files. We will never share session details with insurance companies, doctors, or caregivers without your explicit written permission; you remain the sole gatekeeper of your story.

  • Insurance Flexibility: For those concerned about sensitive diagnoses appearing on insurance claims, we offer private-pay options and out-of-network superbills. This can allow for reimbursement while keeping specific clinical details off your permanent medical record.

  • Secure Digital Space: Our telehealth platform is fully encrypted, and we will work with you to ensure a private, interruption-free, Zero AI environment for every session.

You deserve a safe space where your pain is taken seriously, and your emotional well-being is prioritized alongside your physical health. Let's work together to build resilience, reduce suffering, and help you reclaim parts of your life that matter most to you.

Ready to Take Your Next Step in Healing?

For clinical mental health counseling, we serve clients in Tacoma, Bellevue, Gig Harbor, Bellingham, Olympia, and throughout Washington State (virtual options available). All consultations are confidential.