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Emotional Autoimmunity

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Emotional Autoimmunity

Online Coach & Counsellor, living well with chronic illness and supporting you to do the same. You don't have to do this alone.

As a therapist, coach and clinical hypnotherapist, I know how life changing becoming chronically ill can be because I live with 4 chronic autoimmune diseases that have changed every aspect of my life. It feels like you have lost yourself and the future you thought you were going to have. It feels like you have to fight every step of the way to be believed, supported and get the help you need, at a time in your life when you don't have the health, energy or ability to advocate for yourself. It feels lonely, isolating and full of grief, guilt and stress and I am here to tell you that it doesn't have to be this way. My unique online therapy programs give real life results because they are skills based, help you overcome trauma, depression and anxiety, improve your relationships, know how to get the best from medical professionals and best of all, help you take back control of your life, health and happiness. I live what I teach and I would love to help you overcome the overwhelm and know that you are not alone anymore. Get your FREE 25 minute online Discovery Session with me now so meet me and see if I feel like the right fit to give you the skills, support and understanding that you need right now. Copy and paste the link below into your browser to book your Discovery Session with me. https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule.php?owner=12377349

13/10/2025

This is a repost of something I was feeling last year and I just know that one of you out there needs to hear it right now.

It’s been one of those days.

I feel thyroid tired, my type 1 diabetes has been more challenging than usual to manage and I’ve spent all afternoon on the couch, playing mindless games on my iPad and resting.

I was interviewed this morning for a podcast and shared my story about the autoimmune diseases I live with, and he said, “but you look so well!”

That comment really used to bug me but now I smile and say “I’m a very healthy chronically ill person” which feels true for me because in many ways, I am actually healthier than before chronic illness because I take much better care of myself now.

But not looking “sick enough” is an issue that so many of us with chronic illness face daily, because when you live with invisible illness, you can feel like you need to “prove” that you really are sick.

Especially when you need to rest or cancel plans or set boundaries and say no to people who want your time and energy.

The only time you ever need to prove your chronic illness is when you are applying for government assistance like disability or other forms of formal support.

Please don’t ever allow yourself to feel the pressure to be “sick enough” for someone else, especially when they are unwilling to believe or support you.

You know how you feel. The only person who really needs to believe you is you.

Big hugs to everyone else who is needing to rest up today. 💕

11/10/2025

Today I went to a beautiful national park and even though it was raining, have raincoat, will explore. 😂

This park is set in the basins of an ancient volcano with lakes, wetlands and old volcanic rock.

I was greeted by a gorgeous koala as I arrived (see my stories) and saw emus, heard frogs singing and lots of gorgeous birds and wildflowers everywhere.

I managed two of the easy graded walks with a short break in between to rest and check my blood sugars.

It was truly magical. 💕

10/10/2025

Today, a beautiful botanic garden and a whale nursery beach. The roar of the waves was incredible. 💕

09/10/2025

I got to meet all these cuties today and cuddle a baby wombat.

08/10/2025

On a wild and windy walk today, first day out exploring after a day of recovery yesterday from my travels.

The ocean here is so powerful and beautiful , carving out the cliffs like sculptures.

Slipping into holiday mode. 💕

05/10/2025

There have been so many times in the early days with chronic illness, when I thought that I wasn't doing enough and because I "look so well", it felt next to impossible to get people to take it seriously that life had permanently changed for me.

My energy, my motivation and my brain is not always reliable, dependable or predictable and while I definitely have improved, these things are still subject to constant change.

Do people get frustrated when I can't do something I said I would? Yeah, they do.

It's disappointing for me as well but that's the way it is.

More and more these days I am choosing to spend my precious time and energy on me and that means taking my boundaries up a whole new level and letting a lot more things slide than I would have done before.

It's not fair to expect someone with chronic illness to keep pushing through just to make you happy.

It's not fair to expect someone living with chronic illness to still be able to do everything that they could do before and it's certainly not fair to never actually acknowledge how much being chronically ill has taken from them.

As a person living with chronic illness, I don't want to be told that I can do anything I put my mind to because either I can't do it or I don't want to do it because doing the thing is going to cost me a far bigger price than most people would be willing to pay.

Pushing through increases my pain levels and creates more physical and cognitive disability.

Pushing through takes away my ability to work and function.

Pushing through means I don't get to spend any of my precious time and energy on things that I actually enjoy that are meaningful to me and make my life worth living.

People who have an issue with you now that you have chronic illness, are living in denial of the fact that things have changed and they would much rather see you suffer than experience being inconvenienced.

It's your job to protect your health and your time and your precious energy.

What ever you can do right now? It's more than enough.

You are enough exactly as you are.

30/09/2025

Ask anyone who lives with chronic illness and they will tell you that one of the things we are most sick of hearing is someone telling us what we should or shouldn't do for our health.

People wonder why more of us don't feel comfortable sharing our experiences of chronic illness and it's because no matter what you do, you will always have someone tell you that you are wrong.

And that can leave you feeling more isolated and alone because you stop sharing for fear of criticism or ridicule.

So, whatever decision you choose to make to best manage your health, I support you.

Want to try a particular diet? You are doing the best you can to manage your health.

Want to trial a special supplement or drug and see how it works for you? You are doing the best you can to manage your health.

Everyone is different and only you can decide what works best for you.

Stop telling people with chronic illness that the choices they are making are wrong.

It's unhelpful, frustrating and it is literally none of your business.

If you truly want to help someone with chronic illness, then support them in what they are doing because more than anything else, they want you on their side.

24/09/2025

There are several triggering things you can say to someone who is sharing about how their chronic illness affects them.

This can be one of them and for me, it definitely depends on how it’s said.

I do look well and that’s because managing my health, dietary requirements and reducing my symptoms are the center around which my life revolves.

My aim is to be as healthy as possible with the 4 chronic autoimmune diseases I live with so I understand peoples surprise whenever I share my reality.

But saying it with disbelief, skepticism or or dismissal is a totally different experience.

What’s your experience with this?

23/09/2025

One of the things I most love about our wonderful online community is just how much wisdom and knowledge we have to share.

I have honestly gotten some of my best advice from other people with chronic illness so let's share our combined wisdom so we can help each other.

What diagnostic or other tests have most helped you with your chronic illness?

Mine are:

For Hashimoto's definitely getting a FULL thyroid test panel including thyroid antibodies as TSH test alone simply does not cut it.

A full thyroid panel should include Free T4, Free T3, Reverse T3, TSH, TPO and TgAb
then learn how to read and interpret them.

Be aware that thyroid hormone tests may have different names and ranges depending on what country you live in. In the USA you can order thyroid and many other tests online and complete them at home, depending on your budget.

For Type 1 diabetes, going by finger pricks and NOT my sensor works best for me, helps me keep my blood sugar levels more stable and my HBA1C tests within normal range.

I get thorough annual blood tests that include things like thyroid, HBA1C, iron, Vitamin B, Magnesium, inflammatory markers and many other things my doctor considers is necessary to get a full picture of my health.

And ALWAYS, always request copies of your test results. I can't stress this enough. It's been invaluable for me over the years to have that information to track if my interventions are working and empower me to better understand the illness I live with.

Now it's your turn so make sure to share your wisdom in the comments below. 💕

22/09/2025

Living with chronic illness has given me a much smaller and more restricted life and finding little things that give me joy is very important to me.

Often it involves simply being present to what’s already around me and appreciating the beauty in it.

Like these gum leaves that I’ve found on my walks or outside my door and I love collecting them.

Yesterday, I found a tiny gecko on my doorstep and caught and released it back into the garden so it wouldn’t get squashed by the door.

And today, I noticed these leaf stems that came in a bouquet of flowers that have stayed alive for months are growing the tiniest flowers on the backs of each leaf.

It’s amazing because none of the stems have developed roots and by rights, they should have died with the flowers yet, here they are still alive and creating tiny pieces of beauty.

In many ways, chronic illness has given me a new appreciation of the small and simple things in life that are still here for me. 💕

What little things are giving you joy right now?

18/09/2025

Back where it all started in late 2014, struggling through my first Christmas after my Hashimoto’s diagnosis.

My skin yellowing because my kidney and liver function were less than 50%.

Losing my hair, dealing with terrifying symptoms, everything hurt and I could barely walk, talk, think or function.

I couldn’t work and would see the loss of my business I had spent years building.

I didn’t know if I could ever feel better or if I would even survive.

I’m trying so hard to smile for my family but all I see is the deadness in my eyes and the sheer exhaustion I was feeling.

This was the beginning of it all. All the changes, all the sacrifices, all the countless experiments to find things that would help me to try and rebuild my life and health.

To see what was possible for me.

Not knowing the coming years would hold multiple hospitalizations, new diagnoses, hitting rock bottom and needing to rebuild yet again.

When I say I know what living with chronic illness is like, what it takes from you and how it changes everything, I mean it.

I couldn’t find a therapist or coach back then to support me to deal with all of my grief, fear and overwhelm so I had to become that person.

Hone all my skills as a therapist and coach to find new, replicable strategies I could teach to others that worked for them as they did for me.

Emotional tools to help rebuild a new life with chronic illness. A life that’s very different, but still satisfying and meaningful.

If you need support, understanding and strategies, all the information is on my website. I’d love to give you the support you need and deserve. 💕

You don’t have to keep doing this alone.

17/09/2025

Here's the thing:

If you live with chronic illness, you have physical disease.

The disease/s give you ongoing symptoms, pain, cognitive issues, limit your energy and often creates different types of functional disability.

In most cases, the disease has no current cure, limited treatment options (which can often cause side affects) and your health and functionality requires constant and consistent management on your part.

Your illness can look invisible to others and is often disbelieved, questioned, judged, belittled and trivialised.

It is physical, not a lack of positive thinking.

It is physical, not deficit of willpower or determination.

It is physical, not psychosomatic or 'all in your head.'

Regardless of what other people think, your illness is real, it affects every single area of your life and no one but you can know how it feels and how much it has changed your life.

Other peoples disbelief doesn't change your reality.

Other peoples judgement does not change the biological facts of your illness.

Chronic illness is real and deserves empathy, compassion, belief and support, always.

Address

Melbourne, VIC

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 5pm
Tuesday	9am - 5pm
Wednesday	9am - 5pm
Thursday	9am - 5pm
Friday	9am - 5pm

Website

http://www.emotionalautoimmunity.com/

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