ABOUT THE BOOK
Jodi Taub, LCSW
Psychotherapist | Author | Speaker
“You did not choose to be sick, but you can choose what to do with it. The right relationships can transform your experience, and this book will help you build them.”
More Than A Patient is not simply a book about coping with illness.
Inside, you will find guidance for navigating:
Dating with discernment
Cultivate friendships, old and new
Medical trauma and adjustment to medical illness
Supporing caregiving relationships
Grief, loss, identity shifts, and creating a meaningful life
Caring for your mental health
Nuture secure attachments with long term partners.
Work collaboratively with doctors and medical teams
Jodi Taub, LCSW, is a New York-based psychotherapist with over 27 years of experience providing individual, couples, family, and group therapy. She specializes in chronic illness and rare diseases, supporting patients and caregivers in managing health anxiety, medical trauma, and the psychological impact of complex health conditions. In addition to her clinical work, Jodi is a published writer, speaker, and researcher.
She lectures nationally, facilitates support groups, and contributes to professional education and advocacy within the chronic illness and rare disease communities. Drawing on both her expertise and her own lived experience with chronic illness, Jodi is recognized for her evidence-based, relationship-centered approach that fosters resilience and meaningful connections.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Building relationships and creating a meaningful life is still possible when you are living with chronic illness.
Topics covered in
More Than A Patient
Chapter I: Words
that sting
A practical guide for navigating the unintended sting of unhelpful comments and learning how to respond in a way that protects your well-being.
Chapter II: Friends
Exploring why friendships shift after a diagnosis, how to grieve lost connections, and strategies for building a supportive peer community.
Chapter III: Dating
Navigating the "weeding-out" process of dating, including a three-point plan for when and how to disclose your condition to potential partners.
Chapter V: Long-term relationships
Tools for sustaining marriage or partnerships by "turning toward" each other during health struggles and preventing caregiver burnout.
Chapter V: When your partner or spouse is
your caregiver
A practical guide for navigating the unintended sting of unhelpful comments and learning how to respond in a way that protects your well-being.
Chapter VI: When your caregiver is your parent
Navigating the delicate transition from parental dependence to adolescent or adult independence within the healthcare journey.
Chapter VII: Being a caregiver when chronically ill
Strategies for the "sandwich generation" who must care for children or aging parents while simultaneously managing their own health.
Chapter VIII: Working with doctors & healthcare providers
How to move from being "gaslit" or misunderstood to establishing a collaborative, shared decision-making partnership with your medical team.
Chapter IX: Introduction to mental health
An exploration of the psychological impact of chronic illness, including medical trauma, health anxiety, and the shifting sense of self.
Chapter X: Strategies for managing mental health
An organized guide to practical coping strategies and emotional regulation exercises designed to build resilience and decrease emotional exhaustion.
What People Are Saying About
More Than A Patient
Whether you are newly diagnosed, have been living with illness for years, or are supporting someone you love, you do not have to navigate this alone.
Research has shown the best outcomes for patients depend on the quality of their social connections and relationships.
Learn how to build
and strengthen your
relationships with:
Caregivers
Family and friends
Romantic partners
Doctors and
healthcare providers
Invite Jodi to Speak
