Counseling for the mental load of chronic illness

A chronic illness touches more than your health. It can change your energy, your work, your finances, your relationships, and the plans you had for your life. You may notice frustration with appointments and test results, fear about what comes next, grief for how things used to be, or guilt about needing help. Those feelings make sense, and they deserve care too.

Growth & Guidance was founded by Jalinia Logan, LCSW, CCATP, who worked as a Licensed Practical Nurse before becoming a psychotherapist. That background shapes our whole practice. Jalinia believes in treating the whole person, including the biopsychosocial, physical, and spiritual parts of life, and in helping people see how mental health and physical health affect each other.

Our behavioral health care is especially supportive for people carrying the emotional weight of a chronic medical illness, where physical and emotional health are deeply intertwined. We help you understand what you're experiencing and give you tools to care for the whole you.

How we help

Counseling for chronic illness blends emotional support with practical skills. Your therapist will start with what feels most pressing, whether that's coping with symptoms day to day, adjusting to a new diagnosis, or making room for feelings you haven't had time to process.

• Psychoeducation about how stress and emotion show up in the body
• Coping skills for flare-ups, fatigue, pain, and uncertainty
• CBT and ACT tools for the thoughts and fears that can come with a diagnosis
• Space to grieve changes in your body, your role, or your plans
• Support for communicating your needs to family, partners, and employers
• Referrals for medical screenings, specialists, and psychiatry, which are part of our founder's practice

What working together looks like

A calm, human first step

1. 1

   Book a free 10-min consult

   Tell us what's bringing you in — no pressure, no clinical detail required.

2. 2

   Match with the right therapist

   We'll pair you with a clinician whose training fits what you need.

3. 3

   Start where you are

   Warm first session at your pace. You choose what to share.

4. 4

   Grow — in person or online

   Ongoing support across Illinois, Georgia, and Florida.

When your body and mind are talking to each other

Stress can make physical symptoms feel louder, and physical symptoms can wear down your mood. Sleep, appetite, energy, and concentration can all get pulled into that loop. Counseling helps you notice the pattern, so you can respond to it with more skill and less self-blame.

This is never about telling you a physical condition is 'all in your head.' It's about making sure the emotional side of living with an illness gets real attention, alongside the medical care you already receive.

Working alongside your medical care

Your therapist is not a replacement for your doctor, and you won't be asked to choose between them. With your written consent, your therapist can coordinate care with your other providers, so the people supporting you are working from the same picture. If something you describe sounds like it needs a medical look, we'll encourage you to follow up with your medical provider.

Care that fits a demanding schedule

Managing an illness can mean a calendar full of appointments. Telehealth by secure video is available across Illinois, Georgia, and Florida, so you can meet from home on days when getting to an office is hard. In-person sessions are available in Oak Lawn and Marietta.

Who on our team works with this

Two of our clinicians came to therapy from nursing, which shapes how they understand the connection between body and mind. A free 10-minute consult helps us match you by fit, schedule, and location.

• 
  Jalinia Logan, MSW, LCSW, CCATP, LPN

  Founder & Clinical Director

  Founder, LCSW, CCATP, and former Licensed Practical Nurse who helps clients connect mental and physical health.

• 
  Majorie Bonheur, MSW, LMSW

  Counseling Therapist

  A licensed nurse and mental health therapist whose first career taught her how deeply mental and physical health are connected.

Common questions

• How is counseling for chronic illness different from other therapy?

  It uses the same evidence-based approaches as individual counseling, with extra attention to the mind-body connection: how stress and emotion show up physically, how symptoms affect your mood, and how to cope with both. It sits alongside your regular medical care, not in place of it.

• Can you talk with my doctor?

  With your written consent, your therapist can coordinate care with your other providers, so everyone supporting you is working from the same picture.

• What if my illness makes it hard to get to appointments?

  Telehealth may help. Sessions happen over secure video, and you'll get a private link before each appointment. You need a private space, a device with a camera, and a stable internet connection, and you need to be located in Illinois, Georgia, or Florida during the session.

• Can you help me find medical specialists?

  Our founder's practice includes referrals for medical screenings such as physical exams, labs, and diagnostic tests, as well as referrals to medical specialists and psychiatrists. Ask about this on your free consult.

Keep exploring

Not sure where to start? A 10-minute call is a low-pressure way to find the right fit.

This page is for information only and is not a substitute for medical or mental-health advice. If you are in crisis, call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.