SDPsychology,
Psychological Services
Areas of Specialization
Trauma and PTSD
Traumatic events can result in a person feeling insecure, helpless, isolated, overwhelmed, and have anxiety. Trauma can be inflicted by many factors, such as one time events, ongoing, relentless stress or commonly overlooked causes such as: surgery, grief and loss of someone close to you, humiliating or deeply disappointing experiences. Coping and reacting to these types of emotions varies from person to person, however you may be experiencing physical and emotional symptoms such as: shock, denial, anger, anxiety, sadness, hopelessness, disconnected from others or loved ones, or feeling numb. Physical symptoms to trauma can also lead to insomnia, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, muscle tension, and edginess. Recovering from trauma takes time as everyone heals at a different pace. Receiving help from a specialist in a safe and quiet space to be able to resolve these unpleasant feelings can help you process and evaluate your thoughts and feelings about the trauma.
In connection with traumatic events, such as natural disasters, car accidents, being in combat, violent events, you may have heard the term PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder), which is the technical term that mental health professionals use to note the emotional and physical difficulties that occur after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event. PTSD affects 3.5% of adults every year. Symptoms can vary depending on each experience however examples of symptoms of PTSD are intrusive thoughts of the event or “flashbacks," avoidance of people, places, activities or situations that will trigger a memory of the event, unable to experience positive emotions, irritable or having angry outbursts, or having problems concentrating or sleeping. Often these symptoms are not experienced immediately, but may start months or years after the event. These symptoms often persist for months and sometimes years which can lead to other related conditions if left untreated such as depression, substance use, memory problems and other physical and mental health problems.
Health Care Workers
We specialize in working with Mental Health Professionals and Physicians. The importance of resiliency and how to manage unique challenges is something we can all train and improve upon. By working with a specialist in this field with decades of experience, you will be able to talk openly about how to face the uncertainty of difficult situations, cope with problems at work, and be able to process personal matters so they don’t interfere in your work with patients.
Further, we offer workshops on stress management at work and creating a positive and safe environment for patients and staff. We will design a specialized workshop for your particular clinic and come to it to offer it to you and your staff.
Grief & Loss
Grief and loss can be in response to a wide range of life situations, death of a loved one, dissolution of a marriage, estrangement with a family member or close friend, losing a pet, losing a job, or a loss of something significant to you. Studies have shown there are several steps of grief: Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression, Acceptance. Through working with a licensed therapist, patients will work through grief in a healthy manner to understand and cope with the emotions that they are experiencing and ultimately find a way and form to move forward. It is normal to experience these symptoms in your own way and in your own time, however working through the stages with healthy guidance can help you accomplish your goal in a supportive and safe environment.
Illness / Health Psychology
Health problems are stressful. It is easy to fall into a negative stress cycle while worrying about pain and illness. Our Clinic offers stress management related to health problems and we specialize in helping cancer patients navigate the stressors of treatment. Psychotherapy is beneficial in each step of your treatment, from the moments of first diagnosis to managing treatment and surgeries and making plans for the future. A trained psychologist will be with you on this difficult path.
Anxiety
Anxiety is both physically and emotionally exhausting. Anxiety is noticeable initially through physical problems such as chest pains, heart palpitations, sleepless nights, racing thoughts, dizziness, or nausea. Our body usually has a stress response like that when we become aware of a threat or danger in our environment (Let’s say we encounter a bear during a hike). Our brain responds in the same way to the fear that we think about, not only are actually experiencing physically. Meaning that you can be in the safety of your home and your body is having a stress response because you are thinking of what could possibly go wrong or you worry about different aspects of your life. Psychotherapy has been proven to be a most effective way to treat and prevent the recurrence of most types of anxiety. Unearthing and resolving long-standing issues can start to conquer your anxiety while having the openness of speaking with a professional in a safe environment.
Depression
Depression has many causes. Upsetting life experiences, such as illness, a death in the family, a loss of a job or divorce, and relationship conflict are just some of the many causes of depression. Each stage can vary depending on each person. According to studies of Mental Health there is a total of 17 million Adult Americans suffering from depression in a year period. Feeling sad and helplessness with little interest in doing the things that you usually enjoy may be part of what you are experiencing. Working with a licensed therapist can help you to pinpoint the life problem and understand the aspects of the situations that lead you to feeling this way, identify negative thinking, and explore ways to regain a sense of control and pleasure in life.
Adjustment to Life Circumstances
Human beings are creatures of habit; we depend on routine and keeping our lives safe and orderly. This however can change at any moment in this new day and age. Trouble adjusting to a new living situation, a major change, or adapting to drastic changes can bring along many symptoms such as feeling worried, anxious, stressed, or sad. Sudden and extreme changes can even take a toll on your emotional health. When experiencing these changes you need to re-invent the way you move your entire life, making it harder when done alone. Working with a trained professional can help you understand in a healthy, positive way of thinking how to get your routine back on track. Change and stress does not have to be the enemy. By better understanding problems and limitations, you can learn to overcome a negative thinking and feeling cycle. Working with your specialist can help you to recognize difficulties as well as what is working well for you, and create ways to improve your life.
Health Coaching
Health Coaching allows you to work with a trained professional to make long-term positive health plans. When faced with health issues such as weight loss or gain as well as management of chronic conditions it often impacts individuals negatively with negative outcomes on the person's emotional world, not only physically and thus can cause negative outcomes on your goals. Health Coaches encourage you to adapt to a healthier lifestyle by providing good advice, positive motivation, and emotional support. This is done by discussing ideas and issues that you may be facing by letting you create your own goals and providing positive strategies to arrive to these goals. Health Coaching is a collaborative partnership in which the individual is empowered to turn their new healthy habits into automated routines.