Darcie Spence, MA, JD
Psychotherapy, Consultation & Coaching in San Francisco ☎ 415-820-3250
“Living through” the experience of Lyme disease is incredibly challenging. It is a complicated illness that impacts multiple systems. Treatment requires patience and perseverance. It is rarely a straight line. In addition, most patients are misdiagnosed multiple times before finding a physician that can diagnose and actually treat them. The financial expense of the illness and the loss of previous levels of functioning can be overwhelming.
Because of the mind-body connection, attending to your emotional well-being is a critical component of treating this illness. Groups, in particular, provide social support and connection that enhances your ability to overcome illness. Group treatment can be a great adjunct to both your medical treatment and individual therapy.
This on-going psychotherapy group is for adults who are struggling to overcome Lyme disease. The group is designed to provide a safe, collaborative space to explore some of the common psychological issues evoked by the experience of Lyme disease that need to be addressed in the healing process.
The group is designed to help participants with the following:
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•Process the psychological distress evoked by the experience of Lyme disease;
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•Identify psychological coping mechanisms that have a negative impact on health;
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•Increase competence in feeling, processing, and discharging emotions which is stress
reducing and immune enhancing;
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•Holding the tension of not giving up while also surrendering to the process of being ill;
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•Finding your own path through this illness while also depending on others;
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•Becoming an appropriate and compassionate caregiver to yourself;
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•Integrating the experience without becoming over-identified with the illness; and
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•Coming to terms with your loss of capacities while also recognizing the gifts bestowed by the experience.
Cost is $50 per session with a three-month commitment to the group. Prior psychotherapy experience required. For more information or to set up an assessment interview (no charge),
please call Darcie Spence at 415-820-3250 or e-mail her at darciespence@me.com.
Darcie Spence, MA, MFT
, is a psychotherapist in private practice in San Francisco. Her practice integrates psychodynamic, somatic and relational approaches to psychotherapy. She has longstanding interests in both the transformative power of illness and the connection between emotional health and physical well-being. She works with clients who are struggling with health issues, including autoimmune disorders, stress-based illnesses, Lyme disease, chronic fatigue, and environmental illness. Other focus areas of her practice, which are often implicated in illness, include: developing healthy self-esteem and assertiveness, working through speaking fears, managing anxiety and stress, addressing work addictions and overachieving, and trauma resolution. California Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (MFC40060).
© 2011-2012 Darcie Spence, MA, JD, Psychotherapy, Consultation & Coaching in San Francisco ☎ 415-820-3250
Psychotherapy Group for Lyme Patients in San Francisco
Anticipated Start Date: April 2012
Every other Monday from 10:45 am – 12:15 pm