Guest Interview: The Chronic Illness Therapist Podcast
A few months ago, I had the opportunity to be a guest on The Chronic Illness Therapist Podcast! I sat down (virtually) with Destiny Winters, a licensed professional counselor who supports folks experiencing hard-to-diagnose health issues.
This was my first podcast interview, so I was a bit nervous and didn’t know quite what to expect. But Destiny and I had so many things to talk about that the time flew by (the uncut interview is about 75 minutes — perhaps a good commute listen)!
Here are some of the highlights of our conversation:
Living well and living with a health condition aren’t mutually exclusive. Unfortunately, both the healthcare and “wellness” industries come up short in addressing the human experience of living with chronic illness. Each person gets to define what living well looks like for them – not doctors, well-meaning friends, random strangers who comment on social media posts, or the larger cultural narratives.
Key skills and approaches can significantly improve well-being and confidence.
A few that I discuss are habit- and routine- reviews; embodiment practices; and self-compassion-building. Interoceptive awareness is another foundational skill for self-management of chronic/complex health conditions that is rarely robustly addressed in traditional healthcare.Rest is an act of resistance and radical self-care.
Truly restful activities are those that refresh, restore, allow us to relax and feel supported. We frequently consider them "treats" and many of us have been taught that rest must be earned or indicates weakness. These myths harm us all, especially people at the intersection of oppressive systems, such as racism, sexism, and ableism. Rest is a human right (not a privilege) and foundational to whole-self health.
To listen on another platform, just go to the Chronic Illness Therapist Podcast page. Choose your platform and search for Episode 45: Beyond the Medical Model.
Looking for more support along your journey?
I am here to be your guide to discover new ways to thrive while living with a chronic health condition. I would love to hear about your journey and see if I can support you along the way. Find out how we can work together 1-to-1 here.
If you’re looking for a community space to explore a self-compassionate, mindful approach to living well with chronic illness, Root to Rise groups might be a great fit for you!
You can also dive into the Rooted + Resilient Playbook (which you get in the first email when you sign up for my newsletter here)! I designed this creative guide to help you reflect on this season in your life with mindfulness and self-kindness.
