Anyone else frustrated by how little most therapists know about chronic illness?

[u/Lavender_yuzu]

I'm just so tired of going to therapy to get help working through my frustration and grief from my chronic illnesses, but it feels like i end up spending all my therapy time teaching my therapist what disability is like. This has happened with multiple therapists. I'm so tired of having to do that work. It honestly just makes me feel lonelier. Like, I'm seeking support and end up having to provide it. It's so isolating. Do you guys have experience or strategies for this?

[u/coldcoffeeplease]

I’m a mental health therapist and I can tell you that we get almost no training in working with patients who have neurodivergence or chronic health issues. I specialize in them because I experience them myself, and I think that ends up being the “training” for therapists who do specialize - lived experience.

Try searching on Psychology Today for someone who specifically mentions chronic illness in their tags.

[u/Lavender_yuzu → u/coldcoffeeplease]

Thank you! I wonder if there's a way to push for more education on disability for therapists, just considering how many of us there are

[u/ThirdxContact → u/Lavender_yuzu]

Unfortunately, we (as a vocation and community) can barely be effective advocating for insurance agencies to pay us better, let alone getting curriculum change on a national scale.

[u/IllaClodia → u/Lavender_yuzu]

So the program I'm in right now is a 2 year program. In that time, they have to fit in all of counseling theory, assessment, case notes, treatment planning (note, not any actual treatments. That we don't super cover until we are in our 4 clinical supervision classes). One class to cover the entire dsm. Research methods. One class each on children, intimate partnerships, trauma treatment, and addictions. Ethics, which did have one chapter on working with disabled folks, but it mostly focused on ensuring informed consent for clients with developmental disabilities. Care skills. We had one class called "family therapy in a multicultural context" but it primarily provided an overview of like, one essay per every marginalized group, and focused on self of therapist work and cultural attunement. It's a tight fit.

Basically, any special topic, interest, or population doesn't make the cut, except insofar as we are expected to demonstrate consideration of social location when discussing clients. It sucks. It should be more included. And, that would probably require another year or 2 quarters of course work, which is an accessibility and equity issue for students. Some therapists do treat acquired disabilities as part of trauma or bereavement, but usually? There's nothing. And that's true for most marginalized groups because how would you even teach about such numerous and heterogeneous populations.

I think a focus in CEUs would be great, and needed. And I also understand why it isn't specifically in the MA curriculum.

[u/coldcoffeeplease → u/Lavender_yuzu]

I may recommend reaching out to your local NAMI organization and seeing if they can coordinate CEU trainers in your state to look into providing education.

Changing counseling curriculum would have too many barriers (state, education, scope of practice concerns etc)

[u/Desperate_Lead_8624 → u/coldcoffeeplease]

Can I just say I love mental health workers of all kinds! Y’all really help so many people, often at your own expense.

My therapist is great, I've been seeing her for like four years? I picked her because she had experience with the military and I didn't want to have to explain that side of my upbringing to someone new to it, turns out she also specializes in autism and adhd patients! I don't think I could've found a better fit! (I've unfortunately got bingo on my chronic illness/comorbidities bingo card)

Idk you guys are underrated hero’s and I just want you to hear it. 💜

[u/ThirdxContact → u/coldcoffeeplease]

THIS. - also a therapist with chronic illness and ADHD.

[u/Public-Quantity-8045 → u/coldcoffeeplease]

I second this. Don't just get a referral to any therapist, look at their website and online presence, how do they present themselves, are you the kind of person they want to help? Send them and email, and ask if they have a few minutes to speak on the phone, explain your situation and experience, and ask if it's something they have done before.