Lyme disease can be a debilitating illness having a profound effect on interpersonal relationships and a patient’s ability to function at home, in school, and in the workplace. Making matters worse, most chronic Lyme patients suffer from delayed or inaccurate diagnoses prior to finding a doctor who will treat their illness effectively. Some patients have spent months or even years trying different treatments that don’t work, since their diagnosis was, in fact, wrong. Patients often feel isolated and trapped when those around them do not understand the complexity of their illness and what they are experiencing.
As a Lyme-literate psychotherapist, I become an integral part of my client’s treatment team as they progress toward recovery. I provide individual psychotherapy or family therapy including support, direction, and strategies for coping and healing. My ability to do that comes from my having a comprehensive understanding of tick-borne diseases and their impact on patients, who have complex medical issues, and are living in a world where their illness is often denied and validation is rare.
As a Lyme-literate psychotherapist, I have had extensive training which enables me to understand Lyme and other tick-borne diseases, their impact on the body, brain, and life of a patient. Through the therapeutic process, my client can expect to gain:
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An understanding of the nature of their illness, and effective strategies to deal with it.
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An ability to better cope with symptom flares and side effects of medications, while functioning at the highest possible level.
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An ability to advocate, if necessary, on behalf of a child with Lyme disease in their school and community.
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Enhanced communications and problem-solving skills both within and outside of their family.
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An ability to establish boundaries with those who lack an understanding of the illness.
2026 Projects
Lyme Association of Greater Kansas City
At a Lyme Disease Association conference a few years ago, I met Judy Campbell, the President of the Lyme Association of Greater Kansas City. Following the meeting that preceded the conference, Judy and I had a chance to talk. She had a young family member who had Lyme, so we spoke for a while about how to help this young person. Right then and there, I knew I’d like to talk to her again. It was obvious that she was a very compassionate person, and that is my bottom line when it comes to making friends. Little did I know that COVID would interrupt our chance to see each other in person again.
Both she and I continue to belong to an Affiliate’s organization, set up by Pat Smith years ago. We arranged to have monthly meetings following Pat’s death. So we enjoyed each other’s company in those zoom meetings. I came to know Judy better, and continued to see her as a compassionate, open person, and I always enjoyed her input. Then she gave me a unique opportunity. During a meeting, she asked if I’d like to speak about my work as a Lyme-literate psychotherapist, and I immediately knew that I would do it, despite my having two other volunteer Lyme advocacy projects due around the same time. Getting to know Judy also meant getting to know about her organization. And working with her on the nuts and bolts of technology for my talk, we became friends. When two chronic Lyme patients/advocates meet and talk, we both understand each other on a level that others don’t. And from that experience, friendships develop.