Chronic Pain therapists in Alton, IL
Browse Chronic Pain therapists in Alton, Illinois. Compare credentials, specialties and therapeutic approach. Contact a therapist to learn more.
Chronic Pain
Dr. Jenny Shields
Psychologist
You’ve been told it’s “just stress,” that “your labs look fine,” or that maybe it’s “all in your head.” But deep down, you know something’s not right. Living with chronic pain or illness—especially when it’s invisible to others—can feel both physically exhausting and emotionally isolating. Maybe you’re grieving the life you once had, constantly justifying your experience to people who don’t understand, or quietly wondering if you’re just supposed to push through. Dr. Jenny Shields offers something different: a space where you don’t have to prove your pain to be taken seriously.
With warmth, respect, and clinical expertise, Dr. Shields works with people navigating the complex realities of illness—whether you’ve recently received a diagnosis, are stuck in a cycle of uncertainty, or have been managing symptoms for years. Drawing from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), mindfulness-based tools, and trauma-informed care, she helps you move through grief, frustration, and fear with compassion. Together, you’ll explore how to live a meaningful life in a body that doesn’t always cooperate—on your own terms.
12 Years Experience
Online in Alton, IL
Chronic Pain
Gemstone Wellness, Inc.
Psychologist, PsyD, LCPC, LCSW, LPC
Living with chronic pain, invisible illness, or physical health challenges can take a heavy toll on your emotional well-being, relationships, and sense of self. At Gemstone Wellness, we provide compassionate, mind-body therapy to help you process the grief, isolation, and medical trauma that so often accompany long-term conditions. We focus on gentle nervous system regulation, unlearning body-betrayal narratives, and building sustainable pacing strategies to improve your quality of life. In-person care in the Chicago Loop and telehealth across Illinois are available, in-network with BCBS PPO, Aetna PPO, and Curative Health.
10 Years Experience
Online in Alton, IL
Chronic Pain
Mariana Carabantes, Psy.D.
Psychologist, Licensed Psychologist
Pain is invisible to others, which can leave you feeling lonely and misunderstood. Fibromyalgia, Crohn's disease, immune disorders, irritable bowel syndrome, ulcerative colitis, trigeminal neuralgia, rheumatoid arthritis, arthritis, and nerve damage are just a few. Any condition that affects daily function and is accompanied by chronic pain may require adjustment and acceptance. Chronic conditions and pain take a huge toll on our emotional wellbeing.
16 Years Experience
Online in Alton, IL
Chronic Pain
Annette Popernik
Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, LCSW
Chronic pain and illness are debilitating. We are affected by things that others don't think about. There are choices taken from us. I am here to work with you in processing this and also to work on empowering you. Let's find your autonomy and take your choices back, even if they look different. I believe that your pain is NOT in your head but we can use your head to help you.
9 Years Experience
Online in Alton, IL (Online Only)
Chronic Pain
Bold Expressions Therapy
Psychologist, Psy.D.
For individuals with invisible chronic illnesses, hiding your pain all the time becomes exhausting. With a chronic health issue, you don’t get to choose when you’re in pain and when you’re not, and as such, I keep my cancellation policy flexible so that I can best support you. There is often a great deal of shame surrounding chronic illness, and significant stigma as well, both from the medical community and society at large. This can lead to depression and anxiety, both medical anxiety and social anxiety. I want to work with you to ensure that your chronic illness does not completely shape your mental health. As someone who suffers from a chronic pain condition, I am understanding and aware of the unique challenges that diagnoses such as fibromyalgia, Ehlers-Danlos, Dysautonomia, arthritis, and cancer have on an individual’s personal, romantic, and professional life. My goal is to help each patient understand and accept these diagnoses and work together to manage both the physical symptoms as well as the mental turmoil that can occur while trying to live life in an able-bodied world.
6 Years Experience
Online in Alton, IL
Chronic Pain therapists in Alton, IL Statistics
Chronic Pain therapists in Alton, IL average 15 years of experience and charge around $214 per session. 100% offer online sessions. The top treatment approaches are Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) (81%), Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT) (46%), and Behavioral Therapy (44%).
Average years in practice
15 Years Experience
Average cost per session
$214
Accept insurance
48%
Offer sliding scale
39%
Gender ID
| 64% |
Female |
|
| 31% |
Male |
|
| 3% |
Gender Fluid |
|
| 2% |
Non-Binary |
|
Session Type
| 56% |
In Person and Online |
|
| 44% |
Online Only |
|
Top Treatment Approaches
| 81% | Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) |
| 46% | Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT) |
| 44% | Behavioral Therapy |
| 38% | Person-Centered Therapy (Rogerian) |
| 33% | Family Systems Therapy |
| 32% | Multicultural Therapy |
| 32% | Psychodynamic Therapy |
Ages Served
| 99% | Adult |
| 66% | Senior |
| 62% | Young Adult |
| 46% | Teen |
| 27% | Children |
Client Focus
| 61% | Women |
| 47% | Men |
| 46% | LGBTQ+ |
| 44% | Military / Veterans |
| 44% | Persons with Disabilities |