A Therapist’s Guide to Practicing with an Invisible Chronic Illness

I start my day at 6am—not because I’m a morning person, but because that’s when my body and mind are at their best. I don’t see clients past 3pm, ever. Not because I don’t care, but because I’ve learned the hard way that pushing through chronic pain or fatigue doesn’t make me a better therapist—it makes me a burned-out one.

For years, I tried to live by the ‘shoulds’ I was taught: always be available, put the client first, work long hours. But those rules weren’t made for therapists living with invisible illnesses like fibromyalgia, chronic pain, or depression. It’s time we dismantle those ‘shoulds’ and rebuild practices that honor both our calling and our condition."