You’re sitting in the doctor’s office…
The specialist has just given you a serious illness diagnosis.
“It’s chronic? Doesn’t that mean incurable? I’ll have it forever? And you want me to take what kind of medication?”
You’ve seen countless commercials on television for drugs with terrifying side effects.
“What does this mean for my life, my future, my family? Can I even have a family? Can I keep my job?”
And the impact this diagnosis will have on your relationships…
Illness takes a toll.
“My partner doesn’t understand.”
“My boss was understanding at the beginning, but now I’m falling behind on projects.”
“I’m tired and cranky with my children.”
No one understands what you’re going through!
Emily graduated from college with her whole life ahead.
Looking for a job, dating, considering grad school…
Until the pain started, and the urgency – racing to the bathroom, the doctor’s appointments, the tests that felt so violating… then finally, the diagnosis of Crohn’s disease.
Emily’s parents told her she was overreacting. Everyone gets stomach aches and diarrhea once in a while. Emily’s friends told her how great she looks since she lost weight.
Emily felt that her life was spiraling out of control.
She was trying to make sense of her emotions…
… anxious all the time…
… never knowing when the pain or urgency would hit…
She slowly stopped talking to her friends who wanted to go dancing or to bars, but Emily was worried about having to use public bathrooms.
Emily wasn’t sure if or how she should tell people.
Emily also had to consider her upcoming job interview.
“Should I tell them that I’ll have to leave work to go to the doctor? I’ve been in the hospital three times in the last two months… do they need to know?”
Dating already comes with its own pressures, and her Crohn’s symptoms took her anxiety to a new level!
“What about my date next Saturday night? Should I tell him? What in the world should I say? ‘I have a disease, but it’s no big deal!’”
Emily wanted help. She needed guidance. And she reached out. Her path to healing began with that first step.
A chronic illness diagnosis can be scary…
But you don’t have to navigate the journey from illness to wellness alone.
With therapy, you can learn the skills to live life with chronic illness successfully.
It’s life-changing when you can explain things to your family and friends – and get the support you need.
The jobs and relationships you want are within your reach. Learn to use the adversity of your
illness as a catalyst for growth and fulfillment.
Hi, I’m Dr. Marci Reiss.
When someone gets an illness diagnosis, their lives can quickly feel overwhelming.
Everyone has areas of life that are important to them. I call these areas “domains.” They include such things as family, friends, work, school, finances, religion, culture, and health. Within these domains, everyone has “barriers to wellness.”
When we work together, we go through the different domains of your life to identify where the specific barriers are for you in your adjustment to your pain or illness.
For example, do you have a supportive family but they are pressuring you into trying diet before medicine? Do you feel unsupported by your partner? Do you have a job that cannot accommodate your new medical needs? Do you have a doctor whose personality doesn’t allow you to tell them what your real concerns are?
We will go through each domain and see where your real challenges are. We will address each challenge, and I will help you overcome them, one by one.
What I Offer
True healing in the face of chronic illness is possible.
A chronic illness diagnosis does not mean it’s the end of living the life you want.
This is your chance to regain stability. Let’s talk.