Living with a chronic illness or disability can be challenging, both physically and emotionally. It can be difficult to cope with the changes in your life, the uncertainty of the future and the stigma that can often be associated with these conditions.
I have lived experience of both chronic illness and disability. While we may possibly have some things in common, I understand that your own experience is unique and I can offer a supportive space for you to explore that.
Here are some of the ways that counselling can help you to cope with chronic illness and disability:
Spoon Theory, coined by Christine Miserandino and describing her personal story and analogy of what it is like to live with chronic illness and disability, is an excellent way to understand and explain chronic fatigue.
Unified Cutlery Theory is a combination of Spoon Theory, Fork Theory by Jenrose (@jenrose) and Knife Theory by Terry Masson (@Tilaurin), metaphors used to help disabled people explain fatigue and stressors to themselves and abled people.
Chronic Illness Inclusion is a Disabled People’s Organisation on a mission to change policies and perceptions around energy limiting conditions (ELCs) and chronic pain.
Organisation working with Disabled People’s Organisations and Government across the UK to influence regional and national change for better rights, benefits, quality of life and economic opportunities for Disabled people.
A disability equality charity in England and Wales providing practical information and emotional support when it's most needed, and campaigning to create a fairer society.
A blog by Josie George,
an author and an artist living in the urban West Midlands and, thanks to an atypical body, rarely going anywhere at all. This blog is a personal chronicle of that not going far: windows into her small life, into her thoughts, her stumbles. It’s about joy, pain, stillness, creativity and truth-telling, going slowly, making good with what you have.
Marian Keyes
