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Episode summary:
In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Victoria Rodriguez, PhD, LPC, a licensed professional counselor in New Orleans, Louisiana. In her private practice, she specializes in medical trauma and provides wellness trainings for professionals and healthcare organizations. She also serves on the Pregnancy Associated Mortality Review Board with the Louisiana Department of Health to advance equitable medical care across the state.
In this conversation, we cover:
The social model of disability and practical tools like a daily “tension list” and workplace accommodations (including resources like the Job Accommodation Network) to reduce physical and psychological strain.
A reimagined approach to wellness: seasonal capacity, community care in chronic illness, and how cultural and family context shape our relationship to pain, rest, and asking for help.
Clinical considerations for chronically ill therapists, including self-disclosure, managing countertransference, and building rest into your schedule before burnout.
Why accommodations and comfort are acts of self-worth—and how accessibility practices (like those modeled at the Chronic Illness Therapist Conference) reflect the belief that wellness is about environment, not earning rest.
Victoria reminds us that wellness isn’t about being cured or perfectly “healthy”—it’s about intentionally designing your environment and practice so you can show up fully. She challenges the idea that rest must be earned through productivity, arguing instead that comfort is a basic human right. For chronically ill therapists doing complex work, that message is both grounding and revolutionary.
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Join Victoria's next FREE training "The Home-Based Practice: Intentional Design for the Chronically Ill Telehealth Therapist" to learn how to design your office and practice to build a successful business AND prioritize your comfort.
Register at homebasedtherapist.com
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JOIN DESTINY’S MEMBERSHIP - for folks with chronic pain & illness
→ Join Welcome To The Waiting Room (ongoing support for staying regulated while living with chronic illness - This does not replace therapy, but it’s a great addition to your regular therapy appointments)
FOR MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS:
🏢 WE’RE HOSTING A CONFERENCE! It’ll be an IN-PERSON & VIRTUAL event in Atlanta, GA, on MARCH 6&7, 2026! REGISTER HERE!
🛋️ Join The Mastermind! (monthly business and clinical consultation calls for medical professionals specializing in working with patients with chronic illnesses)
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Disclaimer: Everything we talk about here is just meant to be general education and information. It's not intended as personal mental health or medical advice. If you have any questions related to your unique circumstances, please contact a licensed therapist or medical professional in your state of residence.
