Chronically Hopeful
An online community for those with chronic health conditions that provides therapeutic skills to cope, process emotions, and explore the impact of medical trauma.
Chronically Hopeful is an online 4-week group, inviting those with chronic health conditions to connect and identify methods to cope, nurture resiliency, and explore the impact of medical trauma.
The group meets online Wednesday evenings at 7p, October 2nd through 23rd. Group sessions covered by most in-network insurance plans. Registration for participants closes on Wednesday, September 25th.
Join Lara Govendo, therapist at Your Story Counseling, as she facilitates discussion about how chronic health conditions impact daily life, struggles to find support, and identify methods that create and nurture emotional wellness. She will provide you with the tools to cope, process emotions, and process and explore trauma caused by chronic health conditions.
Current Groups
Program Information & Facilitator:
Lara Govendo | Group developer and facilitator— In addition to this group, Lara also facilitates workshops designed to support individuals, partners, and families in coping with chronic illness. Check back here for more information on upcoming workshops. Click on Lara’s name to learn more about her experience and background as a therapist.
Request Information:
Complete the form below for more information regarding the Chronically Hopeful Group.
Group Therapy & Support
We all need a safe place where we can talk things out, a place that makes us feel not so alone in the world. At Your Story Counseling, we continue to remain wise to the struggles of those around us to develop group therapy and support groups that address these issues.
If you’re currently grappling with the decision to begin therapy or not, group therapy may be a beneficial place for you to begin your journey towards healing. Regardless of your current situation, sharing your struggles amongst a group of individuals going through a similar condition with the guidance of a therapist provides its unique benefits to interact with peers and discuss the current chapter of your life as it is.
It provides different perspectives on the conflicts of life while also offering individuals the opportunity to improve their relationships with others. At the end of the day, we’re all looking for ways to better cope and manage the world’s stress around us, and sometimes the best thing is knowing that we aren’t alone in that.
Group Therapy & Support
What to Expect
Group therapy is a common type of therapy that involves one or more therapists who lead a group with up to 10 members. Usually, each group meets once per week and lasts for about 1-2, depending on the scope of the group.
Our groups offer you peer support, plus a therapist who can help you process individual obstacles while also leading the group moment-to-moment. Traditionally groups will begin with an introduction and individual sharing of reasons for attending the group. However, this will depend on the therapist facilitating the group preference.
- Activities vary from group to group.
- They promote open, honest communication, respect, and understanding
- Our groups meet in our private designated group room at Your Story Counseling
- Common FAQs about groups are listed to the right, however, if you can’t find what you are looking for please reach out to us below in the contact form!
Most of our groups occur in person each week at Your Story Counseling. However, there are some groups offered virtually. This question can be found on the groups’ event page you may also reach out to us directly to find which groups we offer virtually.
Yes, some groups are classified as “insurance-based groups,” meaning the price of the group is determined by an individual’s co-pay. Individuals without insurance are also welcome to join and pay out of pocket for each session. To determine the price of the group you would like to attend, please reach out to us directly, and we will help you determine the cost.
Research shows that group therapy is as effective as individual therapy for specific and presenting concerns. At Your Story Counseling, we also believe group therapy is an excellent stepping stone for those considering individual therapy for the first time. It also serves as an immediate offering to those who are currently on a waitlist for individual therapy and can help with the following:
- Decrease social isolation
- Learn healthy coping skills
- Gain an understanding of problems and explore solutions
- Practice interpersonal skills in a safe group setting
- Develop/practice healthy communication skills.