Helping you accept your illness, grieve what’s been lost, and reconnect to joy in your body.
I’ve been in your shoes.
You’ve tried everything to heal, chased the perfect treatment plan, blamed yourself for not doing enough to get better, lost trust in your body, and felt broken.
I’ve been there too.
And here’s what I know: You’re not broken and you never have been.
You’re just living through something incredibly hard. And you deserve self-acceptance, not shame.
I work with the recovering perfectionists, the Type A overachievers, the overthinkers, the people pleasers.
(because I used to be all of the above)
The coping mechanisms you’ve developed aren’t flaws, they’re survival tools. And they are fully welcomed and accepted in our work together. You are enough, and you always have been.
We work in harmony with your body, your mind, and your thoughts. Instead of trying to change you, we help you remember your worth and reconnect with your joy.
You can create a life that you are proud of, without cutting illness out from your story. Because illness is part of what has made you who you are, and I bet you’re pretty amazing if you’re reading this.
With a PhD in clinical psychology, extensive experience in chronic illness mentorship, and a knack for building supportive communities, I bring expert, yet compassionate and empathetic, guidance to help you live a more easeful and joyful life while managing your health.
Maybe this sounds like you…
😭 You judge yourself for every symptom and flare
😭 You’re constantly chasing a “perfect” treatment plan to fix you.… but you’re still sick
😭 You’re consumed by grief about the life you imagined—especially when you compare yourself to peers or your past self
😭 You’re exhausted by needing to adapt to new and changing symptoms
😭 You can’t remember the last time your body felt like a joyful or safe place to be
😭 You take on other people’s emotions related to your illness and feel like a burden
I can help.
Working with a coach who brings lived experience of illness, an extensive meditation background, and therapy training means you’ll feel heard, validated, understood, while making the progress you know is possible.
After working with me you’ll:
🌱 Feel less powerless to the rollercoaster of your symptoms
🌱 Stop gaslighting yourself and trust that your symptoms are real, no matter what others say.
🌱 Have the confidence to advocate for yourself at work, school, and medical appointments without emotional overwhelm
🌱 Experience fewer anxiety and fear spirals during high-symptom flares
🌱 Learn to read your body’s language, knowing when symptoms require immediate attention and when they don’t
🌱 Meet yourself and your life with acceptance and kindness, instead of wasting precious brain space and energy on wishing life was different
Packages
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🌱 Foundations Mentorship – $650*
A focused coaching experience to help you understand your needs more deeply, soften self-criticism, quiet overthinking, and begin accepting your body.
What’s included:
🌱 Three 1:1 60-minute mentoring sessions
🌱 Personalized Foundational Goals Roadmap tailored to your unique journey
🌱 Between-session email support for ongoing guidance and connection
*or 2 payments of $350
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🌻 Flourish Mentorship – $950*
A transformational mentorship container for if you’re ready to shed perfectionism, stop gaslighting yourself, and accept your life, illness included.
What’s included:
🌻 Five 1:1 60-minute mentoring sessions
🌻 Personalized Flourish Transformation Plan crafted to guide your continued growth and provide personalized resources
🌻 Between-session email AND audio support to match your style and keep you moving forward
*or 3 payments of $333
FAQs
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This is such an important question! Therapy primarily focuses on diagnosing and treating mental illness, aiming to reduce symptoms and support your mental health. If your main goal is managing a mental illness like depression, I highly recommend finding a therapist who incorporates somatic practices, which can be especially helpful if you’ve experienced chronic pain, illness, or trauma.
Coaching, on the other hand, offers a broader, collaborative relationship where I support you in achieving personal and life goals that you may be having trouble reaching due to illness or pain. These goals are more holistic, centered on building acceptance, joy, body connection, and processing grief. Coaching isn’t about digging into past experiences; it’s about creating a toolkit and mindset to help you flourish in the present and future.
An added benefit is that I bring my own lived experience with multiple chronic illnesses, so I understand firsthand what you’re going through and can share insights when it’s helpful. Coaching is a great option if you’ve tried therapy but are ready for a fresh approach.
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I want to start by saying that therapy was instrumental for me in treating my PTSD, and I fully believe in its value. That said, from my own experience and that of many clients, traditional therapy often falls short when it comes to the unique emotional demands of chronic illness.
One reason is that therapy tends to be deficit-focused, aiming to reduce or eliminate symptoms. But many people with chronic illness—especially recovering perfectionists and people pleasers—need an acceptance- and strength-based approach to feel truly safe and supported. They’ve often been gaslit or told there’s something “wrong” with them far too often.
Additionally, most therapists aren’t trained to work with chronic, ongoing stressors like illness. I know this firsthand—I was in a therapist training program! Therapy’s focus on change and symptom alleviation can clash with the reality of living with a condition that doesn’t simply go away, which can create frustration or even harm.
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Coaching is a great fit for individuals who are ready to take an honest look at themselves, reconnect with their bodies, and commit to personal growth. If you’re goal-focused and understand that healing takes time, energy, and often financial investment, you’ll likely benefit from this work.
On the other hand, if you’re mainly looking for a space to vent, unsure about your readiness, resistant to shifting your perspective, or currently have pressing mental health needs that require clinical treatment, coaching might not be the right fit, at least not yet. It’s okay to come back when you have more space for this kind of work!
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Goals are personalized but here are some examples:
Find harmony between your body and mind
Accept and love your full self
Access daily joy, even in tough times
Build self-trust and self-compassion skillsets
Make treatment decisions based on your intuition
Strengthen self-advocacy proficiency
Learn how to grieve effectively
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Well, that’s a personal calculus! But if you’re ready to invest in yourself, if you’ve tried therapy, meditation, and too many specialists, and you have a gut feeling that working with an expert who truly gets it can help you build the skills you need—then yes, coaching is worth it.
It’s a big upfront investment, but coaching with me is an investment in the rest of your life. Coaching can set you up to make the most of your time and energy for the long run, which can be especially important with an energy-limiting illness or dynamic disability.
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I don’t take insurance because coaching is not treatment for a mental or physical illness. Instead, we focus on building a life that feels more easeful, joyful, and accepting of yourself.
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Happy to answer questions! You can email drtaliaphd@gmail.com or DM me on Instagram @drtaliaphd.