When I worked at the Epilepsy Foundation of Colorado as the Mental Health Program Manager, I was struck by the lack of available mental health resources for individuals with epilepsy and non-epileptic seizures (NES), and by how few mental health providers have been trained to work with these topics. I’m proud to offer my expertise in these areas to clients throughout the state of Colorado!
Individuals with epilepsy and/or NES often feel misunderstood and isolated. Not only are these disorders highly stigmatized, but the very nature of epilepsy and NES can cause major lifestyle limitations, including making transportation very difficult. Epilepsy treatment can be complicated, and medications can be ineffective for about a third of people with epilepsy. Family members can struggle with how to support individuals with epilepsy and/or NES. And people with these disorders and their loved ones can be exhausted by stays in the epilepsy monitoring unit (EMU) and constant doctor’s appointments.
Individuals with NES face a unique set of challenges. NES is diagnosed after an individual with seizures has spent time in the EMU and doctors find that there is no seizure-causing electrical activity happening in the brain. This can mean that seizures, or events, are psychogenic in nature. This does not mean that you are “psycho” or “crazy”! This means that mental health symptoms are manifesting as seizures. Mental health treatment and education are the best way to relieve these types of seizures.
Maybe you are looking for support around a new diagnosis or you want help supporting a spouse or child with either of these conditions. Maybe you want to work on ways to manage your NES. Perhaps you would like help adjusting to a new lifestyle that accommodates these diagnoses. I’m excited to offer you my services and my expertise in these areas. To ensure that my services are accessible to individuals unable to come to my office in person, I also offer video sessions to individuals residing anywhere in the state of Colorado. Use the form on the right to schedule a free 30-minute phone consultation!
Need financial support for mental health treatment? You might qualify for limited financial help for therapy through the Epilepsy Foundation of Colorado. I’m happy to discuss these resources with you when you contact me.
