If you’re living with chronic illness, long-term health conditions, or persistent pain, therapy can offer support, clarity, and tools that make daily life more manageable. At Dr. Ingela Thuné-Boyle LLC, I provide specialized online therapy for people coping with the emotional and physical demands of long-term conditions including chronic pain, fatigue and trauma. Below are answers to the most common questions people have about therapy for chronic health conditions and pain.

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1. Can therapy help with chronic illness or chronic pain?
Yes. While therapy does not remove a physical medical condition, it can change how symptoms are experienced, processed, and managed. Evidence-based approaches including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), mindfulness, trauma-informed therapy, somatic approaches, and Pain Reprocessing Therapy (PRT), help reduce distress, calm the nervous system, and improve daily functioning.

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2. How can therapy support pain management?

Chronic pain is closely connected to the nervous system. Therapy helps you understand pain patterns, reduce fear and muscle tension, and build pacing and self-regulation skills. For some people, it can even reduce the intensity and frequency of pain, or even remove pain altogether, depending on its underlying causes. This is especially true for neuroplastic pain or persistent pain that continues after tissues have healed.

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3. Is therapy only for mental health, or can it help with physical symptoms too?
Therapy cannot cure physical conditions, but it can significantly reduce the impact of symptoms, including pain, fatigue, dizziness, and flare-ups, by helping the nervous system shift out of stress and into regulation. Therapy also supports emotional balance, sleep, and overall wellbeing.

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4. Is online therapy effective for chronic illness and chronic pain management?
Yes. Online therapy can be just as effective as in-person sessions. Many people prefer it because fatigue, pain, mobility challenges, and the unpredictability of illness, make travel difficult. It's also a safer option for those who are immunocompromised, or otherwise medically vulnerable, especially during months where viruses are a present danger for that population. Online sessions allow you to access support from home, conserving energy and reducing stress.

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5. What kinds of conditions do you support?
I work with a wide range of chronic illnesses and long-term health conditions, including chronic pain syndromes, fibromyalgia, arthritis, autoimmune diseases, long Covid, migraines, neuropathic or neuroplastic pain, chronic fatigue, medically unexplained symptoms, and mind–body syndromes. Therapy can be helpful even when symptoms have a clear physical cause, by reducing stress, regulating emotions, and calming nervous system patterns that amplify illness progression, pain or fatigue.

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6. What is Pain Reprocessing Therapy (PRT), and does it work online?
PRT is a research-backed approach that teaches the brain to interpret pain signals more accurately. It is especially effective for neuroplastic or persistent pain that continues after tissues have healed. PRT works well in online sessions and can be integrated into therapy when appropriate.

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7. Do I have to talk about trauma for therapy to help?
Not necessarily. Therapy adapts to what feels safe and helpful for you. Some clients explore how long-term stress or past experiences have shaped their health, while others focus on coping strategies (e.g. how to manage triggers), nervous system regulation, emotional resources, and day-to-day management.

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8. How does chronic illness affect emotional wellbeing?
Living with long-term health problems can lead to anxiety, low mood, frustration, grief, and a sense of isolation. Therapy provides space to understand these emotional responses, make sense of your experience, and feel less alone.

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9. Are support groups better than therapy?
Support groups can provide understanding, shared experiences, and a sense of community, which reduces isolation. Therapy offers individualized, evidence-based guidance tailored to your unique challenges, emotional patterns, and goals. Many people benefit from combining both, drawing on peer support alongside personalized therapy strategies.

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10. How can therapy help with the uncertainty of chronic illness?
Chronic conditions often bring unpredictability. Therapy can teach tools for emotional regulation, improving coping, increasing a sense of control, reducing anxiety, and adjusting to changes in health. Methods like ACT, CBT, mindfulness, and trauma-informed therapy help rebuild stability, resilience, and a sense of meaning and purpose.

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11. How long does therapy take?
There is no fixed timeline. Some clients need short-term support for a specific challenge, while others benefit from ongoing therapy that matches the long-term nature of their condition.

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12. How do I know if therapy is right for me?
If you’re struggling emotionally or physically, feeling overwhelmed, or simply seeking support to navigate your health, therapy may help. You don’t have to reach a crisis point to benefit.

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13. Where can I learn more about your approach and therapy fees?
You can find detailed information about my therapy approach, session options, and fees [here].