Ep 115: Why Empathy Is Not Enough For Chronic Illness
In this episode, therapists Destiny Davis and Victoria Rodriguez discuss why empathy alone isn't enough when working with chronically ill clients and share insights about the first-ever Chronic Illness Therapist Conference. They explore the importance of understanding medical terminology, disability theory, and evidence-based frameworks, beyond just lived experience and compassion, to effectively support clients navigating chronic illness, medical trauma, and the US healthcare system.
Connect with Destiny: Instagram / Facebook / Website
______________________________
🤝 RESOURCES & WAYS TO WORK TOGETHER
______________________________
🩺 FOR HEALTH PROFESSIONALS
💬 Clinical Consultation
→ The Mastermind: A free monthly business and clinical consultation group for therapists, PTs, OTs, and RDs specializing in chronic illness. Come think through cases, talk shop, and connect with a community of providers who really get this work.
🎓 Continuing Education
→ The Chronic Illness Therapists Conference — 2027: The 2026 conference was just the beginning. We're returning to Atlanta (new venue!) in October 2027 — in person and virtually. Early bird pricing is live now.
→ Past CE Workshops Browse past on-demand continuing education workshops in the Skool community.
______________________________
🌊 FOR PEOPLE LIVING WITH CHRONIC ILLNESS
🛋️Therapy:
→ Therapy Intensives with Destiny: Half-day and full-day intensive therapy sessions are now available for clients in Georgia, Florida, and Colorado. A good option if weekly sessions aren't working for your schedule — or if you want to do deeper work in a shorter window.
🧑💻Non-therapy Support Groups/Education
→ Welcome to the Waiting Room is a low-cost membership run by Destiny and guest experts each month, including:
General support groups, 2–4 Fridays per month at 12 EST
Sex + Chronic Pain Support Group — biweekly, on Thursdays at 11am EST for those navigating intimacy while living with chronic pain. Facilitated by Jessica Sullivan-Sanchez, LPC, CRC, SEP, a somatic sex therapist with lived experience.
Monthly community education workshops on topics relevant to life with chronic illness with new expert guests each month
These groups are not therapy and are not a replacement for therapy. Due to ethical guidelines around dual relationships, current therapy clients of Destiny or Angie are not able to join the membership at the same time. If you have questions about whether the membership is the right fit for you, feel free to reach out before joining.
______________________________
⚠️ DISCLAIMER
The Chronic Illness Therapists Podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. Nothing shared in this podcast — by Destiny, guests, or anyone else — constitutes medical advice, mental health treatment, or a therapeutic relationship. Listening to this podcast does not create a client-provider relationship of any kind. Always consult with your own qualified healthcare providers before making decisions about your medical care, mental health treatment, or medications. If you are in crisis, please contact the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988.
More From Current Show
Related Episodes
No related episodes found.
