Living with a chronic or invisible illness can change the way you see yourself, your body, your relationships, and your future.
You may be used to pushing through, managing responsibilities, and looking “fine” on the outside while carrying pain, fatigue, uncertainty, grief, or fear that other people do not fully see. Even when you have support, it can be hard to explain what it feels like to live inside a body that no longer works the way you expected.
At Compass Counseling and Wellness, we offer therapy for people navigating the emotional impact of chronic illness, invisible illness, medical trauma, identity changes, anxiety, grief, and major life transitions. Our practice is led by Bridget Longecker and includes a team of therapists who share a compassionate, grounded approach to care.
A group practice built around whole-person support
Compass Counseling and Wellness was created for people whose lives have been shaped by illness, uncertainty, or physical limitations that are not always obvious to others.
We understand that therapy for chronic illness is not just about coping with symptoms. It is also about the grief of what has changed, the pressure to keep functioning, the strain on relationships, and the work of rebuilding a life that still feels meaningful.
Because we are a group practice, we are able to support clients with a range of needs, personalities, and therapy goals. Some clients want help processing the emotional weight of diagnosis or flare-ups. Others are trying to manage anxiety, set boundaries, communicate their needs, or reconnect with a sense of identity beyond illness.
Our goal is to help you feel less alone in what you are carrying and more connected to your own strength, values, and direction.
Specialized therapy for chronic and invisible illness
Chronic illness can affect every part of life, even when other people only see a small piece of it.
You may be navigating medical appointments, changing energy levels, unpredictable symptoms, or the emotional exhaustion of constantly having to explain yourself. You may feel frustrated by what you can no longer do, guilty about needing rest, or unsure how to plan for a future that feels less predictable than it used to.
Therapy at Compass Counseling and Wellness helps clients work through experiences such as:
- Chronic illness and invisible illness
- Medical trauma and health-related anxiety
- Grief, loss, and identity changes
- Burnout from pushing through
- Relationship stress connected to illness or caregiving
- Difficulty setting boundaries or asking for help
- Depression, anxiety, and emotional overwhelm
- Life transitions shaped by health changes
We do not approach illness as something to “think positive” your way through. We also do not define you by your diagnosis. Instead, we help you make space for what is real while supporting the parts of you that still want connection, purpose, steadiness, and hope.
Our approach to therapy
Our work is compassionate, collaborative, and practical. We listen closely to what you have been through, what you are facing now, and what kind of support would actually feel useful in your life.
Therapy may include grief work, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, nervous system support, boundary work, meaning-making, identity reconstruction, and practical tools for managing emotional overwhelm. The approach depends on the person, not a formula.
For many clients, the work includes learning how to live with uncertainty without letting it take over everything. It may also include recognizing old patterns of over-functioning, people-pleasing, self-blame, or pushing through pain because stopping has never felt like an option.
Our therapists help you slow down enough to hear yourself again, understand what your body and emotions are asking for, and begin making choices that support the life you are trying to build now.
A team that sees more than symptoms
At Compass Counseling and Wellness, we know that chronic illness can be deeply personal. It can affect your confidence, your relationships, your work, your parenting, your social life, and your sense of who you are.
Our team brings warmth, clinical training, and a deep respect for the complexity of each person’s story. We work with clients who are high-functioning and exhausted, newly diagnosed and overwhelmed, long-term illness survivors, caregivers, and people who are still trying to find language for what they have been experiencing.
You do not have to arrive with everything figured out. Therapy can begin with the simple truth that something has changed, something hurts, or you are tired of holding it all by yourself.
Meet our team
Bridget Longnecker, LMHC, LPC
Living with chronic illness can change the way you move through the world. You may look
Whitney Batista, Registered Mental Health Counselor Intern
Hi, I’m Whitney. I believe each person has the capacity for healing, growth, and change, even
Devan Figliomeni, Registered Mental Health Counselor Intern
Hello, my name is Devan Figliomeni, and I am a registered mental health counseling intern with
Rebecca Nelson, Registered Mental Health Counselor Intern
Hi, I’m Becka. I am a registered mental health counseling intern who specializes in helping individuals
Care that meets you where you are
Compass Counseling and Wellness offers online therapy for clients in Florida and Oregon. Virtual therapy allows you to receive care from a space that feels accessible, especially when energy, pain, mobility, or health concerns make in-person appointments difficult.
Our practice includes licensed therapists and interns, allowing us to offer different levels of support based on each client’s needs and goals. Whether you are looking for a therapist with lived experience, specialized support around chronic illness, or a warm place to begin sorting through what you are feeling, we will help you find the right fit within our team.
Begin with support that understands the weight you carry
Reaching out for therapy can feel like one more thing to do when you are already tired. It can also be the beginning of feeling less alone.
At Compass Counseling and Wellness, you will find a thoughtful, supportive team that understands how deeply chronic illness and invisible struggles can shape your life. We are here to help you make sense of what has changed, care for what still hurts, and move toward a life that feels more grounded, honest, and your own.
For more information or to book your complimentary consult, give us a call or fill out the contact form and click send.