Online in san diego and throughout all of california
Therapy for Women With Celiac Disease, Chronic Illness, and Autoimmune Conditions
You Thought Getting a Diagnosis Would Bring Relief. So Why Do You Still Feel Anxious?
finally having answers after month, or even years, of unexplained symptoms can feel like a huge relief.
But for many women with celiac disease, that relief is quickly followed by something they didn't expect:
Anxiety.
Suddenly, eating out feels stressful. Traveling requires planning. Every invitation revolves around questions about food. You find yourself reading labels, researching restaurants, packing snacks, and wondering if every headache, stomach ache, or wave of fatigue means you've accidentally been glutened.
If you're searching for a therapist for celiac disease, therapy for chronic illness, or a therapist who understands living with celiac disease, I want you to know you're not alone.
As both an EMDR therapist and someone who personally lives with celiac disease, I understand that this diagnosis affects much more than your digestive system. It can impact your nervous system, your relationships, your confidence, and your sense of safety in the world.
You don't have to explain why eating at a restaurant feels overwhelming or why comments like "just one bite won't hurt" feel so invalidating.
You deserve support from someone who truly gets it.
YOU DON’T HAVE TO HOLD IT ALL ALONE.
Living with a chronic illness or autoimmune disease often comes with invisible emotional challenges.
Many of the women I work with are also navigating anxiety, overthinking, perfectionism, people pleasing, burnout, medical gaslighting, difficulty trusting their bodies, and feeling overwhelmed by managing their health.
Whether you have celiac disease, another autoimmune condition, or chronic health concern, therapy offers a place where your emotional experience is just as important as your physical one.
You don't have to keep carrying the mental load alone.
Feel familiar?
Feeling anxious before eating at restaurants or social events.
Wondering whether every symptom means you've been glutened.
Grieving the spontaneity you once had around food and travel.
Feeling like no one really understands how much mental energy this requires.
anxiety isn’t the problem, it’s the signal. let’s learn what it’s trying to tell you.
Your brain has learned that getting glutened can have real consequences. After enough experiences of becoming sick, your nervous system may begin anticipating danger before it happens.
That can look like:
Fear of eating food prepared by someone else.
Anxiety before vacations or work trips.
Avoiding restaurants altogether.
Constantly scanning your body for symptoms.
Feeling panic when your stomach feels "off."
Second-guessing whether you're actually safe.
These responses aren't a sign that you're weak.
They're a sign that your nervous system has been working very hard to keep you safe.
If this sounds familiar, you may also enjoy reading my page about Anxiety Therapy for Women, where I explain why anxiety often continues even after you've learned coping skills.
Rather than simply talking about anxiety, EMDR helps your nervous system process experiences that may still feel unresolved.
Together, we might work through experiences such as:
A severe glutening that left you feeling unsafe.
Years of being dismissed before receiving your diagnosis.
Medical gaslighting.
Fear of accidental gluten exposure.
Anxiety around restaurants or travel.
Feeling like you always have to advocate for yourself.
The emotional impact of living with an invisible illness.
Many women find that while they continue taking appropriate precautions, they no longer feel consumed by anxiety every day. The goal isn't to become less careful. It's to help your nervous system recognize the difference between caution and constant danger.
a different way forward
You don’t have to keep living in constant stress.
lived experience
Why Working With a Therapist Who Also Has Celiac Disease Matters
If you've been searching for a therapist with celiac disease, you're probably looking for more than clinical knowledge.
You're looking for someone who understands the day-to-day realities.
Someone who already knows why:
Cross-contact matters.
Traveling can feel overwhelming.
Reading every ingredient becomes second nature.
Eating out requires planning.
Well-meaning comments can still feel hurtful.
Living with celiac disease can sometimes feel lonely.
Because I also live with celiac disease, you don't have to spend sessions explaining why these experiences are stressful.
We can start from a place of shared understanding and focus on helping you feel more at ease in your life.
FIND THE PEACE YOU’VE BEEN longing for.
Your diagnosis doesn’t define you.
Questions?
FAQs
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Yes. While therapy doesn't change the medical condition itself, it can help reduce the anxiety, hypervigilance, and emotional burden that often come with living with celiac disease.
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Yes. I work with women navigating a variety of chronic illnesses and autoimmune conditions who are looking for support with anxiety, overwhelm, medical trauma, and the emotional impact of living with an invisible illness.
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No. I provide online EMDR therapy for women throughout California, including San Diego, Carmel Valley, La Jolla, Del Mar, Encinitas, Carlsbad, Coronado, and surrounding communities.