Coping with Medical Issues

A medical crisis can take many forms: infertility, pregnancy loss, chronic illness, chronic pain, or the like. Practitioners focus on identifying what the patient and her family members may need in order to confront and cope with such a deeply disturbing and disruptive life event.

A client can expect assistance with sorting through issues such as: "What do I do now?" "How can this be happening to me?" or "Who will take care of my family?" Treatment also aims to help the patient face the many difficult emotions that often accompany illness.

Psychotherapy for medical issues can be either short-term depending on the patient's needs. Various forms of psychotherapy can ease the stress of a medical crisis. The practitioner may also teach the patient techniques such as visualization, relaxation exercises and self-hypnosis.

Treatment is designed to meet the immediate needs of the patient and her family. Priorities are set during an initial consultation and therapy is aimed at easing the burden on both the patient and her family.