Chronically Human: Chronic Illness & Disability Therapy Group
A support group for those navigating life in a body that doesn’t follow the rules.
Every other Tuesday 6 - 7:30pm• Virtual throughout California
For the ones who are tired of being strong all the time — or simply too tired to keep pretending.
Chronically Human is a space to finally feel understood.
Living with chronic illness, chronic pain, autoimmune conditions, disability, or long COVID can feel invisible in all the hardest ways. You’re managing pain, fatigue, constant recalculation of your energy, and unpredictability…while still being expected to function like nothing’s wrong.
Being in a limited body means navigating a world that can’t see what you carry—
and often carrying that weight alone.
It’s explaining your reality over and over…and still feeling misunderstood.
It’s being told you’re “fine” when you know you’re anything but—and sometimes saying you’re “fine” because it’s too hard to explain (again).
It’s wondering if you’re too sensitive, too much, or just not trying hard enough.
You don’t have to prove your pain here.
Maybe you’ve been dismissed or gaslit by the medical system.
Maybe your identity feels like it’s been swallowed by your illness.
Maybe you don’t recognize yourself anymore.
Maybe you’ve had one too many conversations where your experience is questioned—
and you start to question yourself, too.
We believe you. We know this is real.
This is a space to finally put down the “I’m fine” mask.
A space where you don’t have to pretend, explain the basics, defend your experience,
or shrink what you’re going through.
You get to just… be.
Real understanding. From people who actually get it.
You don’t have to do this alone anymore.
Book a discovery call and see if this space feels like the support you’ve been missing.
Why “Chronically Human”?
Because so much of living with chronic illness is, quietly, deeply dehumanizing.
Being reduced to symptoms, dismissed by systems meant to help you, or treated like a problem to solve instead of a person to understand. So much of chronic illness gets distilled down to physical limitations, symptoms, and diagnoses, like your whole identity has been flattened into a medical chart.
It’s grief, identity shifts, anger, isolation, and dark humor that only makes sense if you’ve lived it.
But you are more than your illness.
More than your body.
More than what’s been lost or changed.
You are still a full, complex human, and Chronically Human is a reminder of that.
This group is a space to reconnect with your humanity, not in spite of what you’re living with, but alongside it.
A space to feel more alive in your life again, to take up space in ways that actually fit your body, and to become more fully yourself—not a smaller version.
A space where you can explore all the parts of being human that don’t disappear just because your body changed: connection, meaning, humor, desire, creativity, belonging.
Here, we make space for all of it, and all of you.
No need to have anything figured out
come just as you are. There’s room here for rage, grief, numbness, hope, and joy.
When your worth gets tangled with productivity
Living with chronic illness in a culture that rewards “pushing through” can feel disorienting.
You might be used to being capable, reliable, and the one who handles things. So when your body starts setting limits you didn’t choose, it can feel like something is wrong—not just with your health, but with you.
Maybe you find yourself:
Pushing past your limits and paying for it later
Feeling guilt or shame for needing more rest than others
Comparing yourself to who you used to be—or who you think you “should” be
Measuring your worth by what you can get done in a day
Even when you know your body has changed, it’s hard to let go of the expectations you’ve been taught to hold.
So much of this is shaped by living in a culture steeped in productivity and ableism, where rest is seen as weakness and worth is tied to output. There can be grief for the life you imagined. Frustration with what your body can’t do. And a quiet, persistent voice asking: Why can’t I just keep up?
Over time, this can turn into a constant negotiation—between what your body needs vs. what you feel like you should be able to do. In this group, we begin to gently untangle that.
Together we start to question the idea that your worth is something you have to earn. To make space for rest without guilt. To build a relationship with your body that is rooted in listening instead of pushing.
And to explore what it might look like to live a full, meaningful life—one that actually fits you now.
What you’ll experience in this chronic illness support group
In this group, you’ll have space to:
Speak openly about what it’s really like to live in a body others don’t understand
Stop being “the strong one” and name the emotional labor you’ve been carrying
Process identity shifts, grief, and the impact of long-term illness
Connect with others who get it, without needing to explain or minimize
Untangle your self-worth from productivity and external expectations
Explore anger, guilt, and medical trauma in a space where those feelings are welcome
Navigate relationships when others don’t understand or know how to support you
Practice boundaries, self-compassion, and care that actually fits your life
Find language for your experience and feel less alone in it
Build a more sustainable, compassionate relationship with your body
Experience moments of relief, connection, and even humor along the way
What makes this therapy group different
This isn’t a space where you’ll be given advice, told to “stay positive,” or encouraged to push through.
It’s a therapist-led group grounded in the understanding that living with chronic illness is complex, ongoing, and deeply human.
Here, you don’t have to perform wellness.
You don’t have to prove that you’re struggling “enough.”
And you don’t have to translate your experience for people who don’t get it.
This is a space where:
Your reality is believed, not questioned
Your full range of emotions is welcome—not just the “acceptable” ones
Rest, slowness, and limits are respected
Lived experience is honored as real expertise
Connection happens without comparison or competition
You’ll be supported by a therapist who understands both professionally and personally what it means to live in a body that doesn’t play by the rules.
And alongside others who are navigating similar realities—so you don’t have to carry this alone.
Hello,
I’m Dani. I look forward to helping you feel more seen & understood.
the deets
When We Meet
Every other Tuesday, 6:00–7:30pm (90 minutes)
Format
Ongoing, therapist-led group
Held virtually via a HIPAA-secure platform
Facilitator
Led by Dani Marrufo, LMFT—a queer, Spoonie therapist who brings warmth, humor, and lived understanding to this work. Dani specializes in supporting chronically ill clients and draws from her experience working with grief and cancer patients to create a space where all parts of you are welcome.
Investment
We want this space to feel sustainable and accessible.
$190/month—Includes all bi-weekly group sessions and reserves your spot
One-time intake session: $215 (50 minutes)
A chance to connect individually with Dani to make sure this feels like the right fit and ensure she can best support you in the group
Reduced fee option: $115/month + $115 intake (limited spots available)
Reduced-fee spots are limited.
Book your discovery call using the calendar below to learn more and reserve your spot.
Who This Group Is For
This group is for adults of all genders living with chronic illness, chronic pain, or disability.
We especially welcome BIPOC, queer, trans, and disabled community members who are often overlooked or excluded by mainstream medical and mental health systems.
If you’ve been searching for a space where your full identity and your full experience are both seen and respected, you belong here.
Schedule your free discovery call
Use the calendar below to book a free 15–20 minute call with our Care Coordinator.
What to expect on the call
This is a low-pressure conversation where you can:
Share what’s bringing you here and what support you’re looking for
Ask any questions about the group
Get a feel for whether this space—and the next steps—feel like the right fit
There’s no pressure to join during this call.
If it feels aligned, we’ll talk about scheduling your intake session.
Group space is limited, so if this is resonating, we encourage you to book soon.
Chronically Human Group F.A.Q.
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You don’t need a specific diagnosis or level of severity to belong here. If your health is impacting your daily life or identity in a meaningful way, that’s enough.
You don’t have to prove anything to be welcome.
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You’re always welcome to participate at your own pace. Some days you may share more, and other days you may just listen—and both are valid ways of being in the group.
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We understand that health can be unpredictable. While consistency helps build connection, we approach attendance with flexibility and compassion.
That’s part of why we have a monthly membership system too—your spot is reserved, even on days you don’t feel well enough to attend.
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We ask therapy group members to commit to keeping what’s shared in group private.
Similar to individual therapy, our therapist facilitators are legally required to protect your confidentiality though some exceptions apply (i.e. clinical supervision, imminent risk of harm, abuse/neglect of a minor/dependent elder).
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No—Many group therapy members are; others aren’t. One of the benefits of group therapy is that it tends to be a more affordable option than one-on-one therapy, and our hope is that this means you have more diverse options for accessing therapy. Our care coordinators can help you decide what therapy combo best supports your goals.
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All therapists at Kindman & Co. are LGBTQIA2S+ affirming and anti-racist. We hold a strong disability justice lens and work to reduce ableism in language and practice. If you need specific accommodations (sensory, pacing, masking preferences), email us at [email protected]—we’ll collaborate.