Chronic Illness & Invisible Disabilities

Therapy for what people can't see

Trauma-informed, DBT-informed support for living with chronic illness, invisible disabilities, and burnout — with a therapist who understands how systems and bodies shape mental health. In Dartmouth, Halifax, and online across Nova Scotia.

Book a Free Consult with Charise Take the Therapist Quiz

The weight of the invisible

When your struggle doesn't show on the outside

Living with a chronic illness or a disability other people can't see comes with a particular kind of exhaustion: the medical appointments, the not being believed, the grief of a life that looks different than you planned, the pressure to seem fine. That weight is real, and it deserves a space of its own.

Charise Besson works with people carrying exactly this. Her approach is trauma-informed and draws on DBT for the days when emotions run high, alongside compassion-focused and schema work for the harder patterns underneath.

Your Therapist

Meet Charise Besson, MA

Charise Besson, MA · RCT (Cand.) · Canadian Certified Counsellor

Focus: invisible disabilities, chronic illness, burnout, anxiety, depression, grief and loss, low self-esteem, and emotional dysregulation.
Approaches: trauma-informed, drawing on DBT, CBT, compassion-focused therapy, and schema therapy.
Background: before becoming a therapist, Charise worked in case management with the Department of Community Services and in policy with the Department of Health and Wellness — so she understands how systemic and personal factors intersect.

Book a Free Consult with Charise → · Read Charise's Full Bio

A DBT-informed approach to intense days

When chronic illness or burnout leaves emotions hard to manage, Charise draws on Dialectical Behaviour Therapy skills — distress tolerance, emotion regulation — as a practical foundation, alongside deeper trauma work.

Common Questions

Chronic illness & invisible-disability therapy questions

Who offers therapy for chronic illness in Nova Scotia?↓

Charise Besson at Wholetherapy focuses on chronic illness, invisible disabilities, and burnout. She works with clients in person in Dartmouth and Halifax and online across Nova Scotia, using a trauma-informed, DBT-informed approach.

Do you offer DBT (Dialectical Behaviour Therapy)?↓

Yes. Charise draws on DBT skills — emotion regulation and distress tolerance — as part of a trauma-informed, integrative approach tailored to each client.

Is there a therapist who understands invisible disabilities?↓

Yes. Supporting people with invisible disabilities and chronic illness is a core focus of Charise's practice, informed by her prior work in health policy and community services.

Do I need a referral, and is it covered by insurance?↓

No referral is required, and most private insurance is accepted. Our team can help you verify your coverage before your first session.