Therapy for Chronic Illness and Autoimmune Disease in Texas
Dr. Crystal Benjamin, PhD., CFLE, LMFT - Associate
(Supervised by Julia Wesley, LMFT-S)
I’m an autoimmune disease survivor who understands that living with a chronic illness is more than a medical journey. It's an emotional one too.
Do you feel like no one truly understands what you are going through?
Are you exhausted by doctor appointments?
Chronic Illness and Autoimmune disease often arrives quietly, then changes everything. Many of the women I work with are outwardly strong, accomplished, and dependable, while privately struggling with fatigue that never lifts, a body they no longer recognize, and an emotional weight nobody around them seems to understand.
Clients Come to Me When They Experience
Just diagnosed with an autoimmune condition
Exhausted by flare ups that won't quit
Tired of feeling like their body is the enemy
Grieving the life they had before getting sick
Struggling to explain lupus, Hashimoto's, or MS to people who don't get it
Watching their relationship suffer because of their illness
Anxious about what the diagnosis means for their future
Feeling alone in a waiting room full of people
Done pretending the emotional toll isn't real
Tired of being the strong one
Ready to heal more than just their body
If you're tired of managing your illness alone, I'm here. I work alongside your doctors and care team to make sure your emotional health is never an afterthought.
How Therapy With Me Works
I have research experience in chronic illness and autoimmune disease so you don't have to explain your world to me
I know that a diagnosis changes more than your health. It changes who you are.
I understand the grief that comes with losing the life you had before you got sick
I work directly with your doctors and care team so nothing falls through the cracks
You won't spend your sessions educating me. We get straight to the real work.
I see the whole you, not just your diagnosis
Modalities I use
Experiential Techniques
Helps you tune into your body’s cues so you can respond instead of dissociate or react.
Acceptance And Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Supports you in making room for difficult thoughts while choosing actions aligned with your values.
Mindfulness And Breath Techniques
Helps regulate your nervous system and reduce chronic stress responses.
"Your illness is part of your story. It was never meant to be the whole story."
Redefine Your Life
Therapy helps you feel more grounded and confident.
After Therapy for Chronic Illness and Autoimmune Disease, My Clients Report
A deeper understanding of how their illness has shaped their identity
Stronger, more honest communication with their partners and loved ones
Less anxiety about what the future holds
Finally being able to grieve what they lost without guilt
A sense of peace with their body even on the hard days
Feeling supported for the first time, not just medically managed
About Dr. Benjamin
Dr. Crystal Benjamin, PhD., CFLE, LMFT - Associate (Supervised by Julia Wesley, LMFT-S)
I‘m a therapist, professor, and scholar, and do this work because I genuinely enjoy people and want to help others come out on the other side of the struggle.
My work is shaped by both clinical training and lived experience. I understand how chronic stress, illness, and early emotional wounds influence how we move through the world.
Therapy with me is thoughtful, honest, and relational. We explore patterns, slow things down when needed, and build skills that help you move from reaction to choice. Some sessions are reflective. Others are direct and practical. All are grounded in respect and curiosity.
Outside of therapy, I like staying active, especially with the gym and crossfit. I’m a self admitted “big shopper” and also have the travel bug - including hiking the Grand Canyon from rim to rim and riding the trains in the Swiss Alps.
I’m originally from Trinidad and Tobago and know firsthand how major life changes reshape identity and relationships.
Availability: I provide online sessions for clients in Texas and Trinidad & Tobago
Education
Ph.D. in Family Studies, Loma Linda University
M.S. in Marital and Family Therapy, Loma Linda University
B.S. in Behavioral Sciences with an Emphasis in Psychology, Andrews University
A.S. in General Business, Andrews University
Credentials
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Associate – Texas License No. 206086 (Supervised by Julia Wesley, LMFT-S)
Certified Family Life Educator (CFLE)
Trainings
Gottman Method Couples Therapy – Level 1 & Level 2
Gottman Method: Treating Affairs and Trauma
Youth Mental Health First Aid USA
Education & Credentials
Contact Me
Fill out the contact form. If I am not the right fit, I will help guide you toward next steps.
Brief Consultation
We’ll connect briefly to see if this work feels like a good match.
First Session
We begin building safety, understanding patterns, and identifying goals for therapy.
You don’t have to carry this alone.