Online Therapy for Chronic Illness and Chronic Pain in Canada

Chronic/invisible illness can make you feel vulnerable, isolated, afraid and extremely misunderstood. Elysia has gone above and beyond to make me feel safe, seen/heard, and honestly cared for. The overwhelmingly heavy emotions that come with being sick have gotten lighter since meeting her, and I’m so grateful. I’ve never met anyone so compassionate and nonjudgmental. She’s more than a therapist, she’s an advocate and an ally and someone who truly gets it. She is collaborative and flexible - if I need to talk she is always ready to listen, validate and provide helpful insight - if I need tools she is armed with many. She has such a way of making you feel like she’s in the fight with you. I trust her completely and will never forget the comfort and empathy she has shown me in my darkest moments. I hope others like me are lucky enough to find Elysia - her support is invaluable to anyone, but especially those with chronic illness / disabilities. Thank you Elysia.

I owe my composure and ability to function to Elysia. I deal with several health complications, and chronic fatigue (ME/CFS), I am the main caregiver for elderly parents, and have many family responsibilities. I deal with anxiety and depression, and just as I started with Elysia, I was diagnosed with ADD, and was told that my "brain fog" was caused by physical damage to the executive functioning area of my brain. It is very important to me to be competent and reliable, and to be helpful and accepting to all, but I was drowning and losing my sense of self. Elysia gives me a safe place where I can vent and be the center of focus, but she also calls me very gently to task and gives practical suggestions and helps me focus. She has humor and a sense herself of what it is to live in the unpredictable world of "push and crash". I leave every session feeling centered, purposeful, calm, and more in control. I am able to see that there are choices and boundaries that are mine even when I feel like a runaway train. Elysia reacts to my bad moments with compassion, reminding me that I am always learning and developing, and models the self-compassion that I am learning to use.

First time talking to a counsellor and I know for a fact I couldn’t have made a better choice. I feel like most people fear judgement, and I’m definitely one of them but from the first interaction, I’ve felt extremely comfortable opening up and feel understood but also align with every piece of advice and guidance I’ve been given. Thanks Elysia!

I am so happy that I found Elysia. She takes such a technical approach to helping me - which makes the path forward seem a lot more inviting and less overwhelming. She's giving me the tools and she's patiently and kindly teaching me how to use them. Elysia is incredibly intelligent and her knowledge of people and how our brains work is so impressive. I don't feel like I'm just sitting there talking about my problems. Elysia is teaching me how and why I feel the way I do, and ways in which I can improve the way I think and feel about myself and situations I find myself in on a day to day basis.

I'll be forever grateful. When I started therapy I was really really anxious of being vulnerable and sharing about my trauma and relationship and feeling dumb. I'd never done therapy and had some bad experiences with social workers. But when I met Elysia she was a warm gentle spirit. She was open to helping and non-judgmental towards anything I said. Nothing was too uncomfortable to say, and she made me feel like I wasn't crazy. It's been months and I don't know where I'd be without her.

I highly recommend The Woods Counselling Co. for anyone struggling with chronic illness and mental health challenges. It was so wonderful to have Elysia to support me each week. and give me tools as I faced cancer and treatments.

I feel validated and heard by Elysia. She is empathetic and she actively listens. She shares helpful feedback and insight regarding my chronic health complications, providing me with tools and resources to deal with these issues.
I have learned some healthy strategies; setting boundaries, learning how to pace myself and listening to what is helpful for me now and for moving forward.

I have been seeing Elysia for a few months now as we work through my past trauma and abuse. I greatly appreciate her gentle nature, open mindedness, and non-judgmental approach.

She has been helpful in working with me to identify my strengths and healthy coping strategies and continues to assist me in my recovery.
Thank you Elysia! I'd highly recommend.

"I'd spent years being brushed off by doctors. Elysia was the first person who actually understood what living in a chronic pain body feels like — not just clinically, but really had felt what it was like. The sessions gave me tools I still use every single day."