You don't have to navigate all of this alone

Therapy for Cancer and other Serious Illness

In Walnut Creek and online across California


Unexpected and scary health challenges can turn your life upside-down.

Whether this is a newer diagnosis or You’ve been Traveling down this road for awhile-Therapy can help at any point along the way.

Maybe you’ve been holding it together in front of family and friends. They keep telling you how “strong” or “brave” you seem or encouraging you to “reach out if there’s anything you need.” 

Their intentions are so very kind, but despite those genuine offers of help…

you find yourself feeling more isolated than ever.

It feels surreal to be the one suddenly needing support -especially when you are used to being the one taking care of everyone else! 

You are not alone.

Many people decide to try out therapy when life suddenly feels upside-down and overwhelming in a way they’ve never experienced before. It can help so much to know you have a warm and non-judgmental space to figure out what you need and want on your path towards healing.

Does any of this sound familiar?

In sessions, clients dealing with serious illness have shared things similar to:

I can’t honestly figure out how I’m really doing because I end up comforting others when talking about my diagnosis with them.

I lie in bed at night with my thoughts racing, unable to sleep.

I don’t know how much to share with my kids and need help in figuring out how to talk with them.

I don’t recognize my body anymore.

My relationship with my partner is changing and I’m not sure sure how to navigate all this.

I was doing ok during the initial treatments. Now it’s six months later and I wonder why I can’t stop crying and can’t concentrate at work.

I don’t have the exact words to describe what I’m feeling or what I’ve been through. I just want to feel better and more at peace than I do right now.

Serious illness upends so many areas of your life. Finding a dedicated, warm and supportive space to explore what you need for healing can help.


Working together

Specialized support for living with cancer and other serious illness

Hi-I’m Ilana.

Through my work as a dedicated oncology and medical social worker in hospitals and clinics for many years, I’ve witnessed so much of what a diagnosis of cancer or other serious illness can bring-physically, emotionally, spiritually and existentially.

And I know how crucial it is to find support that feels like the right fit for you.

I’ve walked this road with many wonderful people and their worried loved ones-all thrown into scary situations they never expected to be in. In my therapy practice, I continue to have the honor of supporting and thinking deeply with people dealing with difficult and life-changing diagnoses.

Deciding to carve out the space for therapy with a therapist who already speaks the “language” of cancer and other illness can help during such a time of overwhelm and uncertainty. 

I’m right here with you as you navigate all this-together we’ll figure out what feels most helpful to YOU.

Whether you just learned about your diagnosis, have been dealing with it all for a long time or are watching someone you love go through this…

I’m glad you are considering reaching out for support right now. 



Therapy for cancer or other serious illness can help you:

  • Feel more empowered around your treatments and your own unique healing process

  • Cope with worry, fear and ”scanxiety” (anxiety about tests and scans)

  • Identify what is most important to you - physically, emotionally, spiritually or existentially

  • Set boundaries and let go of feeling “selfish” or “guilty” for prioritizing what YOU need right now

  • Find strategies to cope with and heal from medical trauma

  • Talk freely in ways you may not be able to with close family/ friends because you worry about their reactions/want to protect them

  • Explore and better navigate changing relationships with the people important to you

  • Cope with physical impact of illness, including body image concerns, effects of treatments and surgery, changes around intimacy/sex

  • Know that you have a separate, supportive space to sort out all that comes up during a time of overwhelm and uncertainty


You don’t have to navigate this crazy world of cancer or serious illness on your own. You deserve to have a space where you feel heard, understood and supported in the ways that resonate the most for you.

Questions?

FAQs

  • The first few sessions are a chance to get to know one another, and for you to share whatever you’d like to about your experience.

    We then collaborate together to determine what feels most helpful for you.

    Sometimes this looks like having the space to slow down and talk about it all. Other times I might suggest we focus more on the mind-body connection. Or perhaps some days it’s about finding practical ways to bring in more support. There is no “right” or “wrong” way to do this-and it can be part of the healing process to get to decide what feels most useful and leave behind what doesn’t.

  • Many clients find it convenient to schedule virtual appointments, which can be done from the comfort of your own home. This can be especially helpful when your blood counts are down and it’s better not to be out and about as much.

    For those who prefer meeting together in person l also offer an option for sessions on Tuesdays at my office in Walnut Creek.

  • I usually suggest meeting once a week to start with. We will talk about this together as we go along -sometimes it helps to meet more or less often depending on what’s going on for you at any given time.

    I offer flexible scheduling to clients going through treatments as I know appointments can get unpredictable. We can work around this to figure out what works best for you.