What I treat
WHAT I TREAT
My practice is specialized in the areas below.
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My practice is specialized in the areas described below.
Cancer
Just hearing the word "cancer" can have a profound effect on a person. A cancer diagnosis is the start of a long journey that will affect physical health, mental well-being, and relationships with loved ones.
Almost everyone experiences a wide range of emotions following a cancer diagnosis. Anxiety, fear, and distress are common. A lot of people have anger, too, or thoughts of "why me?". Sadness and grief are other common responses. Longer-term, living with uncertainty is a challenge that many face.
Day-to-day life changes, too. Time becomes consumed with medical appointments, and treatment can cause unwanted side effects. People might have to stop working or curtail other activities during active treatment.
Spouses or other loved ones of people who have cancer face their own set of demands. Caregiving stress, coming to terms with changed circumstances, and uncertainty about the future are common issues, yet these challenges are often ignored in favor of attention on the person who has cancer. The truth is that families and other loved ones need support, too.
I draw from my decades of work with cancer patients and their families to offer practical suggestions and skills for navigating successfully through all that cancer entails. I help people adjust to their diagnosis, cope with uncertainty, deal successfully with family and friends, and create meaning in their everyday life. I also see family members and other loved ones of people who are ill. Much of my work in this area is derived from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy.
Anxiety disorders
Almost 2 in 10 Americans have an anxiety disorder, yet most never receive treatment. Anxiety disorders include phobias, panic disorder, health anxiety, and pervasive worry (generalized anxiety disorder).
Anxiety affects body, mind, and behavior - all at once. Physically, people might experience a rapid heartbeat, sweating, muscle tension, or a dry mouth. At the same time, they perceive danger or threat, from either outside and/or inside themselves. And they usually change their behavior to avoid feared situations or contexts, which increasingly limits them over time.
Cognitive behavioral treatments
have been proven to be highly effective for people with anxiety. This usually involves some combination of relaxation techniques, identifying and changing anxiety-related thought patterns, and eventually, confronting feared situations and contexts.
I sometimes combine cognitive behavioral treatments with other interventions, such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy skill development; and mindfulness practice.
Professional stress
About 8 in 10 Americans say they frequently (44%) or sometimes (35%) encounter stress in their daily lives. Stress that's left unchecked can contribute to many health problems, such as high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity and diabetes.
Professional stress is far and away the major source of stress for American adults, and it has escalated progressively over the past few decades. Stress and burnout are particularly common among health-care professionals and those working in the tech industry or start-up companies.
Fortunately, a range of approaches can be used to help people manage stress better. My approach usually includes teaching breathing and other relaxation skills, helping clients adopt healthier lifestyles such as regular physical activity and adequate sleep opportunities, and finding ways they can effectively decompress and unwind after work.
MY CLIENTS
My practice is limited to adults.
Physicians and allied health
I have specialized training in working with health-care professionals. I have a keen appreciation for the ever-increasing demands and other stressors they face.
Other professionals
I see a wide range of professionals in my practice, including those from technology, business, law and academia.
People with cancer or chronic illness
Many of my clients have been diagnosed by cancer or another chronic illness, or they are the loved one of someone facing this type of challenge.
You
If you would like help with something I treat, I invite you to get in touch.