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Online Workshops

Chronically Ill Conversations

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Chronically Ill Conversations is a monthly online workshop designed for adults navigating chronic illness, disability, chronic pain, medical trauma, and the emotional complexity of living in a body that doesn’t always cooperate.This space was created because so many of us move through the world feeling unseen, dismissed, or misunderstood — even by the people who love us. Here, you don’t have to explain, justify, or minimize your experience. You get to show up exactly as you are.

 

Each month, we gather as a community to explore a theme that reflects the real, lived experiences of being chronically ill in an ableist world. Together, we name what hurts, honor what’s been lost, and make room for hope, connection, and self‑compassion.

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Chronically Ill Conversations is for adults who are navigating:

  • chronic medical conditions

  • dynamic disability or fluctuating functioning

  • chronic pain

  • medical trauma or invalidation

  • grief, identity shifts, or loss related to illness

  • the emotional labor of advocating for themselves

  • feeling misunderstood or unsupported by others

  • the loneliness that often comes with chronic illness​

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You do not need a formal diagnosis to attend.

You do not need to be “doing well” to show up.

You do not need to hide your symptoms, your emotions, or your truth.

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If you’re living in a body that requires more care, more patience, and more gentleness than the world makes space for — you belong here.​​​​​

Workshop Details

  • When: The first Sunday of every month 3:00-4:30PM EST
  • Length: 90 minutes

  • Format: Live online workshop (Google Meet)

  • Cost: $35/workshop or pick any price if you are on disability or receive public assistance, full and partial scholarships are available

  • Accessibility:

    • cameras optional

    • captions available

    • gentle, low‑pressure participation

Introducing the 2026 Summer Series

This summer, we’re diving into three themes that come up again and again in chronic illness life: burnout, pacing, and the emotional labor of “being okay” when you’re not.

 

June 14th 3:00-4:30 PM EST

"Burnt out Beyond!" Sick and Tired of Being Sick and Tired

We'll discuss being sick and tired of being sick and tired and the exhaustion of managing all that comes with chronic medical condition/s. We'll discuss why burnout is a normal response to abnormal circumstances and how to cope.

 

July 10th 3:00-4:30 PM EST

"Pacing 101” On Struggling to Keep up and Preventing the Push-crash Cycle

We'll explore how to understand your body’s fluctuating energy, recognize early warning signs, and plan activity in a way that reduces crashes and supports more predictable days. We’ll break down the core skills of pacing—energy mapping, task‑shaping, rest planning, and early‑warning awareness—and show how they fit into real life. Participants will leave with practical tools they can start using immediately to prevent crashes and support steadier functioning.

 

August 9th 3:00-4:30 PM EST

“How Are You, Really?” Behind the Mask of Chronic IIllness

When every day is a sick day, it's hard to figure out how to be authentic without feeling like a debbie downer. We'll discuss the challenges of isolation, feeling different, and getting inundated with unsolicited advice, all while feeling like crap.

Why This Space Matters

Chronically ill and disabled adults often carry:

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  • Grief that others don’t see

  • Shame that was never ours to hold

  • Exhaustion from advocating for ourselves

  • Fear of being dismissed or disbelieved

  • Loneliness that comes from being “the only one”anger at systems that fail us

  • Hope that feels fragile or complicated

 

This workshop exists to give you a place to set some of that weight down.

It’s a space where your truth is welcome, your body is honored, and your story is held with compassion.​

What Makes This Workshop Different

Chronically Ill Conversations is led by a therapist who is also chronically ill — someone who understands the terrain from the inside.

 

This space blends:

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  • Practical strategies for navigating chronic illness

  • Clinical knowledge

  • Lived experience

  • Disability‑affirming practice

  • Trauma‑informed care

  • Community connection

  • Warmth, humor, and honesty

 

You don’t have to translate your experience here. You don’t have to pretend you’re fine. You don’t have to hide the parts of your story that feel “too much.” This is a space built for you

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