Meet Lissa Merkel

In 1999 I found myself in an ER, soon admitted to the hospital for emergency surgery. An almost month-long hospitalization followed. During this hospital stay, I had many frightening and damaging experiences. Everything was new to me. I didn't know anything about advocating for myself.

After discharge, I was really shaken and suffered what I now understand to be medical trauma. I was lucky to have a great therapist to help me process the strong feelings I had about what had happened to me.

In 2016 I developed a chronic illness. This is what lead me to ultimately change the focus of my practice to helping those who are experiencing medical trauma and/or managing a chronic illness. I know what it feels like to be ill, and I know what it is like to have to navigate a sometimes unfriendly and difficult medical system.

Such experiences can cause a wide range of emotions and can include some very difficult situations that need processing and healing.

If any of this feels like what you are going through, I can help. I hope you will reach out to me.