Invisible Chronic Illness and Client Experiences of Health-Shame
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Authors
Terhoch, Sierra
Issue Date
2024-05-01
Type
Capstone
Language
en
Keywords
chronic illness , shame , health-shame , disability
Alternative Title
Abstract
This capstone explores the intersections of Invisible Chronic Illness (ICI) and health-shame, as they relate to counselling psychology and the broader mental health field. Integrating an intersectional feminist, anti-oppressive, and disability justice lens, it reviews current literature that highlights how people who live with ICIs experience shame, specifically in relation to their health symptoms and condition. The uniquely 'invisible' nature of ICIs is taken into account as a key factor that informs people with ICIs lived experiences. Through this analysis, this capstone sheds light on how health-shame pervasively affects many areas of peoples' lives, including mental health, relationships, access to treatment and care, diagnosis and medical validation/invalidation, as well as resistance and community building. This project seeks to emphasize the urgent need for an increase in research that centers the experiences of people who live with ICIs as well as with broader disabilities. Based on the literature review findings, this capstone offers recommendations for how counsellors can provide affirming and competent care to clients who live with ICIs. Recommendations include potential therapeutic modalities, clinical interventions, and trainings/resources for future learning. Given the limited research that exists on this under-acknowledged topic, these recommendations are preliminary and are a call for more awareness of ICIs in the counselling psychology field.