Toronto Catastrophic and Chronic Illness Counselling
It can be quite unnerving to be told by your primary healthcare provider that you have a long-term chronic illness or a terminal illness. Nothing can prepare you for the words you doctor tells you, like “Your tests came back and indicate you have cancer,” or “There is no cure for this terminal disease.”
At that moment, you can experience a wide range of emotions from hurt and anger to sadness and disbelief. You may even question if this is really happening to you right now at this moment in your life.
On top of receiving the bad news, you now have to go home and share it with your family and friends. In some cases, you may even decide you are not ready to share the news because you are a single parent or fully responsible for the financial support of your family.
This time in your life is very difficult and can drain your mental capabilities and energy which could affect your emotional stability. Discovering how to manage your current situation, deal with your family and friends, tell your children, and other important people in your life can leave you feeling overwhelmed.
Depending on your diagnosis, you may also have to get your affairs in order. You have to decide what your next steps will be and how to ensure your loved ones are still cared for after you are gone. Holding it all together and putting on a brave face is not something that can be all that easy.
Fortunately, you are not alone in this when you get help from a catastrophic and chronic illness counsellor. Seeking help from a qualified counsellor allows you to fully express you range of emotions and concerns in a caring, supportive, and nonjudgmental environment.
You are able to work through short-term and long-term concerns and develop effective solutions. You can learn how to let your loved ones know about your diagnosis if you are finding it difficult telling them. No matter how hard or difficult it might seem, or what you are feeling, I can help.
What If My Spouse or Partner Is the One Facing This Crisis?
If your loved one is the one that is facing this crisis, counselling can benefit both of you. You can attend counselling sessions individually or as a couple. Sometimes, your loved one may not be ready to accept their current condition. This can leave you feeling worried, concerned, and not sure how you can help them.
Counselling is beneficial to address these and other such issues, even helping your loved one come to terms with their condition. Having an experienced counsellor familiar with catastrophic and chronic illness situations can often bring the relief you need at this time.
With me, you have someone who will listen to you as your share your fears and worries. We can also celebrate any triumphs, no matter how small or big. You never have to be concerned with being judged or not have the support when you need it the most.
If you are looking for some place where you can figure out what to do next, please feel free to contact me, Ellen Starr directly at 416-488-3102 to schedule an initial consultation today!
