Complex Chronic Illness with Dr. Lisa Belvy
Listen to Full Episode Here
About My Guest
Dr. Lisa Belvy (she/they) is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist who owns and operates a private practice in the San Francisco Bay Area, and sees clients throughout California. She specializes in health psychology, working at the intersection of what’s traditionally been labeled ‘physical’ and ‘mental’ health, with the goal of helping clients improve their holistic well-being.
Dr. Belvy has a particular focus on complex chronic health conditions. She has dedicated much of her practice to clients living with connective tissue disorders such as Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (hEDS), a condition that she herself lives with. Dr. Belvy enjoys working with clients individually and as part of her EDS support group, and aims to help empower those who have often been marginalized in healthcare settings.
You can find Dr. Belvy on her website www.lisabelvyphd.com
In This Episode
Dr. Belvy's history of working in health psychology has led to a deep understanding of complex chronic illnesses, such as Ehlers Danlos Syndrome. She differentiates chronic illnesses (like diabetes) from complex chronic illness (life-long conditions involving multiple systems within the body). While the diseases themselves can be quite complex, Dr. Belvy highlights the additional challenges of living with a complex chronic illness--from attending multiple doctor appointments each week to managing medication schedules to responding to symptom flares.
Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, a connective tissue disorder that impacts all systems of the body, is a prime example of this complexity. Many doctors are not trained in complex illnesses, which leads to misdiagnoses, often with psychological conditions, that can delay or misguide proper treatment. Dr. Belvy provides advice for those navigating the US healthcare system, such as seeking second opinions, following empirical science, and pacing yourself to make sure you can maximally benefit from your treatments.
Drawing from Liberation Psychology and Feminist Psychology, Dr. Belvy highlights the crucial importance of seeing how the sociopolitical environment impacts our health experiences. From public policy to internalized capitalism and ableism, understanding the structures and systems we live in informs how we interpret and approach our own health experiences. Understanding the sociopolitical context is particularly important when we experience "failures" in our health. Tools like nonjudgmental awareness, grief processing, and gratitude can help turn the harrowing experience of complex chronic illness into one that clarifies your values and guides your life choices.
Finally, Dr. Belvy shares how having Ehlers Danlos shaped her professional career path. Instead of treating each "failure" as a personal defeat, Dr. Belvy took each step of the process as information that helped guide her toward her goal of working sustainably as a health psychologist. While grief was a part of this journey, it also brought her to a place of joy and gratitude as she thrives in her current practice.
