Autoimmune & Chronic Illness Support
Restoring Resilience Through the Mind–Body Connection
Cathy Armstrong, MS, LPC-S, RN, CIMHP, F-NBCCH
* PhD, religious studies & spiritual counseling (non-secular, unrelated to mental health), ordained minister
6901 Holly Road
Corpus Christi, 78414
in- person or online across Texas
Call us: (361) 688-8200
Living with a chronic or autoimmune condition can be exhausting—not only physically, but emotionally and spiritually. Constant pain, fatigue, or uncertainty often bring anxiety, grief, and feelings of isolation. Many clients tell me they’ve been “holding it all together” for so long that they’ve forgotten how to rest, receive, and trust their own body again.
In counseling, we explore how stress, trauma, and emotional patterns influence the body’s natural rhythms of healing and immunity. Using a combination of neuroscience-based counseling, clinical hypnosis, and mind–body integration, we create a supportive space for both emotional restoration and physical regulation.
Understanding the Stress–Immune Connection
The emerging field of psychoneuroimmunology shows how chronic stress and unprocessed emotions can affect immune balance and inflammation. When the body remains in a state of hyper-vigilance, healing is slowed; when we learn to regulate the nervous system and restore calm, the body often begins to respond in new ways.
Together, we’ll focus on helping the nervous system move from “fight or flight” into a state of safety and repair. This shift can improve sleep, reduce pain perception, stabilize mood, and foster a greater sense of inner peace.
Supporting the Emotional Side of Illness
Autoimmune and chronic health issues often stir complex emotions—fear, anger, guilt, or loss. Counseling offers a safe, non-judgmental space to process these feelings and reconnect with hope.
We’ll explore tools such as guided imagery, mindfulness, somatic grounding, and self-compassion practices to release stored tension and invite emotional resilience.
Many clients find that as emotional balance improves, they experience more clarity, energy, and self-trust in navigating their health journey.
Conditions I Commonly Support
Clients often seek therapy while managing or recovering from:
Autoimmune and immune-related disorders, connective tissue disorders, heart disease, heart failure, diabetes, chronic fatigue, multiple sclerosis, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, chronic pain, and stress-related inflammation.
Counseling does not replace medical care—it complements it. Emotional regulation, stress reduction, and self-understanding are powerful allies in any healing plan.
A Compassionate Path Forward
Healing from chronic illness is not linear. There are days of strength and days of stillness, but every step counts. My role is to help you find meaning, connection, and calm within the journey—to reconnect your body and mind in ways that invite renewal.
You deserve a space where your story is understood, your symptoms are respected, and your whole self—body, mind, and spirit—is welcomed into the healing process.
