Therapy for Chronic Illness and Medical Trauma in Chicago, Illinois
Specialized Care from Chicago, Serving 40+ States
When Your Chronic Illness Won’t Let You Live the Life You Planned
Living with a chronic illness or medical trauma affects every aspect of your life, from your relationships and daily functioning to your sense of identity and emotional well-being. While others may see you “handling it well,” the internal struggle of coping with a health condition can feel isolating and overwhelming.
At Healthy Life, we specialize in therapy for chronic illness and medical trauma, offering evidence-based treatment including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to help you manage the emotional and psychological impact of your diagnosis. Our experienced therapists work with individuals navigating chronic pain, life-altering diagnoses, health anxiety, and adjustment to illness, helping you rebuild a sense of peace, purpose, and deeper connection with the people you love.
If you’re ready to stop just surviving and start thriving, contact us today for a free consultation and take the first step toward healing your mind alongside your body.
A therapy space where you do not have to be the “strong one.”
If you or a loved one is living with cancer, diabetes, POTS, EDS, an autoimmune disorder, chronic pain, long COVID, dementia, or another serious health condition, you probably feel the impact in every part of your life — not just your body.
There may be a clear “before” and “after” in your mind.
You might wake up already exhausted, dreading the effort it takes to get through a “normal” day, carrying a constant undercurrent of fear about symptoms, test results, or the next flare.
You may feel like your body has become a full-time job: appointments, medications, tracking symptoms, advocating with providers who sometimes don’t listen, and bracing yourself before every scan or lab.
Emotionally, it can feel like you’re grieving the version of you who could just go to work, say yes to plans, travel, move, eat, or parent without having to think about pain, fatigue, or blood sugar.
Therapy can be a place where you don’t have to do that. Together, we can put words to what you’re carrying: the anxiety before appointments, the shock of new diagnoses or setbacks, the grief for the life you imagined, and the way illness has shaken your identity, relationships, work, and sense of safety in your own body.
In our work, you get space to not be okay, to be fully honest about how hard this is, and to build emotional tools and practical coping strategies for living with an unpredictable body — so you don’t have to hold all of this alone.
About us
We’re so glad you found us.
We know that finding the right support, whether it’s the right doctor, the right physical therapist, or the right counselor — takes real effort. And if you’re here, you’ve already taken one of the bravest steps you can take: reaching out for help.
This work means everything to us, because it’s personal. Each member of our team has been touched directly or indirectly by the challenges that come with navigating a medical diagnosis and a healthcare system that doesn’t always make things easy. We’ve seen how a diagnosis can shake not just your physical health, but your sense of self, your relationships, and your hope for the future.
That’s exactly why we do what we do. At Healthy Life, we’ve built a team of compassionate therapists who specialize in helping people living with chronic illness and medical conditions find their footing again. Using evidence-based therapies like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), we’ll work alongside you to help you rediscover peace, connection, and joy — no matter what your diagnosis or limitations may be.
We truly believe that growth and healing are possible for everyone. And we can’t wait to help you experience that for yourself.
Meet Our Chronic Illness Providers
Dr. Michelle Williams, PhD
Post-Doctoral Health Psychology Fellow; Speciality: Chronic Illness and Sleep
Mary Maraventano-Stried, LPC
Dr. Cassandra Kandah, PhD, LCP
Speciality: Chronic Illness and Medical TraumaSpeciality: Chronic Illness and Respiratory ConditionsAre you feeling lost since your new diagnosis?
If the answer is, “Yes,” then you are in the right place.
Download out free Guide to Navigating Your New Diagnosis: A Health Psychology Guide
Discover simple ways to help you better navigate your health condition.
What People Are Saying
Therapy Services
Therapy to help you better navigate your medical trauma and learn how to better live your life with your diagnosis.
Therapy for Chronic IllnessTogether, we outline a path forward that’s realistic, strategic, and tailored to your specific needs with your chronic health condition.
Therapy for Medical TraumaAnxiety and Depression are common responses to the adjustment to your health condition. We are here to help if your anxiety and/or depression was impacted by your condition as well.
Therapy for Sleep It is common for sleep to be impacted following your diagnosis. We know that sleep is a behavior and there are things that we can do to help improve your quality of sleep.
Therapy for Anxiety and Depression
Frequently Asked Questions
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We currently accept Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) PPO, Medicare, and Aetna insurance plans for therapy services at Healthy Life.
For clients with out-of-network mental health benefits, we partner with Mentaya to make insurance billing easier. We can:
Click here to check out your out of network benefits using Mentaya’s HIPAA Compliance benefits calculator.
Help you submit claims
Support you through the reimbursement process
This helps make using your insurance for therapy more straightforward and less stressful, so you can stay focused on your health and wellness.
We also offer self-pay therapy options. Session fees are based on your provider’s license and experience level, and typically range from $70 to $350 per session.
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We provide evidence-based therapy for chronic health conditions and medical trauma, including:
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) Skills Training
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) for PTSD
Our therapists specialize in helping you manage the stress, anxiety, depression, and emotional challenges that often come with chronic illness and long-term medical conditions.
In addition to advanced clinical training, our providers bring deep expertise and genuine passion for supporting people who are struggling with the emotional impact of chronic health conditions, so you don’t have to navigate this alone.
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If you are struggling, don’t wait, contact us today to schedule an appointment or ask a question. You can reach our team anytime through our contact page or by email, and we typically respond within one business day.
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Autoimmune disorders
Diabetes & endocrine disorders
Heart disease
Chronic pain
Headaches
Traumatic Brain Injuries
Gastrointestinal conditions
Cancer
Long COVID & post‑viral syndromes
POTS & dysautonomia
Connective Tissue Disorders like EDS
Lung & kidney disease
Pre and post transplant
Respiratory Conditions
Neurological disorders
Fertility, reproductive health issues, perimenopause and menopause
How to Get Started
Schedule Your Appointment at Healthy Life Today
Getting started on your wellness journey is quick and easy. Contact our Chicago team through any of the following options:
📧 Email us at info@healthylifechicago.com
📞 Call us at 312-736-2903 to speak with a team member during regular business hours
📅 Book online by clicking the button below to select a convenient time to meet with one of our trusted providers
We look forward to helping you achieve your health goals!
Request Further Information
Submit the inquiry form to discuss opportunities to work with one of our providers.
For those who use Out-of-Network Benefits
We have partnered with Mentaya to help clients use their out-of-network benefits to save money on therapy. Use this tool below to see if you qualify for reimbursement for our services.