Individual Counseling for Chronic Pain & Trauma

Healing

with Grace.

Counseling

With Compassion.

Compassionate individual counseling for chronic pain management, trauma, anxiety and depression. Located in Chandler, Arizona & serving adults statewide in Arizona via telehealth.

Who I Help

Graceful Counseling works with adults 18 years and older who are experiencing the following:

Chronic Pain & Complex Medical Conditions

Are you living with pain that doctors can’t explain, or been told “it’s all in your head”?

Many of my clients have invisible illnesses like fibromyalgia, migraines, EDS, POTS, IBS, or endometriosis. Others navigate conditions such as cancer, MS, diabetes, or CKD.

But no matter the diagnosis, pain effects more than just your body. It can impact your emotions, thoughts, relationships, work, and sense of self. I’m here to support you in navigating all areas of life impacted by pain so you don’t have to face it alone.

Trauma

Have past experiences left you feeling unsafe, disconnected from yourself, or avoiding reminders of what happened?

After trauma, it’s common to feel on edge, overwhelmed by negative thoughts, experience physical discomfort, or have vivid flashbacks.

No matter the experience you have had that’s left you feeling stuck in the past, I’m here to help you process what’s happened and gently move toward present day awareness and a more hopeful perspective of yourself as well as the world around you.

Anxiety & Depression

Do you feel overwhelmed by constant worry or a heavy sense of sadness that won’t seem to lift? Are you having a hard time enjoying things you once loved?

Anxiety and depression can effect every part of life, including your energy, focus, relationships, and your physical health.

Sometimes you can pinpoint what started these feelings, other times it seems to come out of nowhere. Together, we’ll work on understanding what’s beneath the surface, finding beneficial tools, and moving toward a life that feels more peaceful and meaningful.

What Actually is Counseling?

  • Schedule a 15 minute video chat to ensure that Graceful Counseling is the best fit for you and your needs. We can take some time to explore your primary goal. You will have the opportunity to ask any questions you may have. This will also allow time to discuss payment options such as insurance or self-pay.

  • Your first appointment is an intake session where I’ll ask a lot of questions to get a full picture of your experiences, challenges, and goals for counseling. This is an opportunity for me to gather important information about your physical and emotional health, life history, and what’s most important to you right now. While it may feel a little more structured than future sessions, this process helps me better understand your needs and begin tailoring an approach that fits you.

  • After the intake session, we’ll work together to create a treatment plan that feels aligned with your needs and goals. This includes identifying the challenges you’d like to focus on, the outcomes that matter most to you, and the approaches we can use to support your progress. Your treatment plan isn’t set in stone, but rather a flexible guide we’ll revisit and adjust as your needs and priorities evolve over time.

  • This is where the real work begins. In ongoing sessions, we’ll use the treatment plan we created as a guide while exploring the challenges, goals, and values that matter most to you. Each session is a space to process your experiences, learn new tools, and take small, meaningful steps toward the life you want. We will check in regularly about what’s working, make adjustments as needed, and move at a pace that feels right for you.

  • As you start feeling more confident in using the tools and insights you’ve gained, we’ll talk about gradually reducing session frequency. This stage is about supporting your independence while making sure you still feel grounded and prepared. When the time feels right, we’ll plan a thoughtful transition—whether that means ending regular sessions or shifting to occasional check-ins as needed. Therapy doesn’t have to be forever, but you don’t have to navigate life’s challenges alone, either.

Therapy for Chronic Pain and Trauma

  • Mindfulness Based Approaches

    "Mindfulness is awareness that arises through paying attention, on purpose, in the present moment, nonjudgmentally." ¹

    In our work, I may guide you through body scans to gently reconnect with physical sensations, use visual imagery to cultivate calm and focus, or lead guided meditations to help ground you in the present moment. These practices can reduce overwhelm, strengthen your mind-body connection, and help you focus on what truly matters even when pain or stress are present. Techniques are general or pulled from MBCT, MBSR, etc.

    Research suggests that mindfulness can lead to significant improvements in pain, pain acceptance, and perceived stress.²

    Learn More

  • Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT)

    “A = Accept your thoughts and feelings and be present. C = Connect with your values. T = Take effective action.” ³

    Commonly sessions in ACT include values clarification exercises to explore what’s most important to you, acceptance strategies to help you make space for difficult sensations, and committed action planning to take small, doable steps toward your goals. These tools can help you build a life that feels fulfilling and aligned while living with pain.

    Several studies show that ACT can improve depression, anxiety, pain intensity, physical functioning and quality of life!⁴

    Learn More

  • Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR)

    “EMDR is a means of stimulating the nervous system to help it change the pain responses.”⁵

    This work entails using bilateral stimulation (gentle eye movements, tapping, or sounds) to support your brain’s natural healing process. I will provide resourcing tools to build a sense of safety and stability before we begin reprocessing traumatic memories. These interventions help you work through distressing experiences and form more positive beliefs about yourself.

    Improvements seen in research were shown to be lasting after 3 months and include pain intensity, quality of life, as well as anxiety and depressive symptoms.⁶

    Learn More

  • Pain Reprocessing Therapy (PRT)

    "The more afraid you are of the pain, the more likely your pain is to get stuck and stay stuck." ⁷

    This approach is used to break the pain-fear cycle by changing how your brain interprets pain signals and fostering a deep sense of safety in your body. You’ll learn that all pain is created in the brain—so just because it’s “in your head” doesn’t mean it’s made up or not real. To do so, I will educate you on neuroplastic pain, explore triggers of fear, practice somatic tracking, and create evidence sheets. This will aid in retraining your nervous system and how it responds to sensations.

    While research is limited, a study on chronic back pain showed 66% of participants were pain-free or nearly pain-free after receiving PRT!⁸

    Learn More

¹ Kabat-Zinn, J. (2015). Mindfulness meditation for everyday life. Hachette UK.
² Veehof, M. M., Oskam, M. J., Schreurs, K. M., & Bohlmeijer, E. T. (2016). Acceptance- and mindfulness-based interventions for the treatment of chronic pain: A meta-analytic review. Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, 45(1), 5–31. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/16506073.2015.1098724
³ Harris, R. (2009). ACT Made Simple: An Easy-to-Read Primer on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. New Harbinger Publications.
⁴ Ye, L., Li, Y., Deng, Q., Zhao, X., Zhong, L., & Yang, L. (2024). Acceptance and commitment therapy for patients with chronic pain: A systematic review and meta-analysis on psychological outcomes and quality of life. PLOS ONE, 19(6), e0301226. https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0301226
⁵ Shapiro, F. (2018). Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy: Basic principles, protocols, and procedures (3rd ed.). New York, NY: Guilford Press.
⁶ Suárez, N. A., Pérez, J. M., Redolar-Ripoll, D., Hogg, B. M., Gardoki-Souto, I., Guerrero, F. G., Cabrera, S. J., Bernal, D. S., Amann, B. L., & Moreno-Alcázar, A. (2020). EMDR versus treatment-as-usual in patients with chronic non-malignant pain: A randomized controlled pilot study. Journal of EMDR Practice and Research, 14(4), 190–205. https://doi.org/10.1891/EMDR-D-20-00004
⁷ Gordon, A., Ziv, A., & Ashar, Y. K. (2021). The way out: A revolutionary, scientifically proven approach to healing chronic pain. New York, NY: Avery.
⁸ Ashar, Y. K., Gordon, A., Schubiner, H., Uipi, C., Knight, K., Anderson, Z., ... & Wager, T. D. (2021). Effect of pain reprocessing therapy vs placebo and usual care for patients with chronic back pain: A randomized clinical trial. JAMA Psychiatry, 78(11), 1231–1240. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapsychiatry/fullarticle/2784694

The image shows a house entrance with a wooden door, brick exterior, wall-mounted lights on either side, a small mailbox below and a doormat that says "so happy you're here." The roof has terracotta tiles, and the sky is clear and blue.
Living room with brick walls, a dark gray sofa with beige pillows, a light gray armchair with blue pillows, a colorful area rug, a small side table with a tissue box, a black office chair, a white desk with a computer, large windows with vertical blinds, and a decorative hanging plant on the wall.

Where it Happens

I offer flexible options to fit your needs and comfort level. Whichever option you choose, we’ll work together to create a space that feels supportive and centered on your needs.

In Person Therapy in Chandler, Arizona

Meet with me in my quiet, private office in Chandler, AZ. This space is designed to feel calm and welcoming—giving you room to slow down and focus on yourself.

Virtual Therapy in Arizona Statewide

Attend therapy from the comfort of your own home anywhere in Arizona. Virtual sessions are secure, HIPAA-compliant, and a great option if you prefer convenience or have difficulty attending in person due to your pain.

Hybrid Therapy for a combination

Prefer a mix of both? You can combine in-person and virtual sessions to create a schedule that works best for you. This may be beneficial if you have a flare up and are unable to attend a scheduled in-person session.