Our minds and bodies are deeply interconnected. When you are living with a medical condition, chronic pain, or ongoing health concerns, the impact is never just physical. Health challenges can affect mood, energy, relationships, identity, work, and overall quality of life. Likewise, stress, anxiety, depression, and burnout can influence physical symptoms and recovery. Attending to both mental and physical health is not optional—it is essential.
As a board-certified clinical health psychologist, I specialize in helping individuals navigate the psychological and behavioral aspects of medical conditions. Health psychology is a specialty within psychology that applies scientific knowledge about the connections among behavior, emotions, thoughts, relationships, and biology to promote health and improve quality of life. In practical terms, this means helping you develop tools to cope more effectively with illness, manage stress, and make sustainable health-related changes.
I work with individuals facing a wide range of concerns, including chronic illness, chronic pain, gastrointestinal conditions, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, autoimmune disorders, sleep difficulties, and other stress-related health issues. I also support people adjusting to new diagnoses, medical procedures, or significant changes in functioning.
Our work may focus on:
Due to my experience working in primary care, I understand the realities of medical systems and the complexity of living with ongoing health concerns. My approach is evidence-based, practical, and compassionate. I draw from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and other scientifically supported approaches to help you build psychological flexibility and resilience while working toward what matters most to you.
Living with a health condition can feel isolating and overwhelming at times. Therapy offers a space to process, adapt, and regain a sense of agency. My goal is to help you not only manage symptoms, but also strengthen your ability to live a meaningful and engaged life—even in the presence of medical challenges.
As a board-certified clinical health psychologist, I specialize in helping individuals navigate the psychological and behavioral aspects of medical conditions. Health psychology is a specialty within psychology that applies scientific knowledge about the connections among behavior, emotions, thoughts, relationships, and biology to promote health and improve quality of life. In practical terms, this means helping you develop tools to cope more effectively with illness, manage stress, and make sustainable health-related changes.
I work with individuals facing a wide range of concerns, including chronic illness, chronic pain, gastrointestinal conditions, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, autoimmune disorders, sleep difficulties, and other stress-related health issues. I also support people adjusting to new diagnoses, medical procedures, or significant changes in functioning.
Our work may focus on:
- Coping with the emotional impact of a diagnosis
- Managing anxiety related to symptoms or medical uncertainty
- Reducing stress that may exacerbate physical symptoms
- Building sustainable health behaviors
- Addressing insomnia, fatigue, or burnout
- Reconnecting with meaning and identity in the context of health changes
Due to my experience working in primary care, I understand the realities of medical systems and the complexity of living with ongoing health concerns. My approach is evidence-based, practical, and compassionate. I draw from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and other scientifically supported approaches to help you build psychological flexibility and resilience while working toward what matters most to you.
Living with a health condition can feel isolating and overwhelming at times. Therapy offers a space to process, adapt, and regain a sense of agency. My goal is to help you not only manage symptoms, but also strengthen your ability to live a meaningful and engaged life—even in the presence of medical challenges.
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Chronic pain
Millions of people suffer from chronic pain that can be debilitating and significantly impact daily life. While therapy for chronic pain can reduce pain in some people, the main goal is to improve functioning and decrease the hold that chronic pain has on your life. I use a combination of acceptance and cognitive-behavioral tools to help you regain control over your life when living with chronic pain. Insomnia
Getting enough quality sleep is essential for mental and physical health and yet many people have difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep. Medications can be helpful but they often do not work in the long-term or have undesirable side effects. Cognitive-behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) has become the first-line treatment for insomnia. CBT-I works by examining and change the different possible perpetuating factors that maintain poor sleep. Adjusting to a new diagnosis
Getting a new diagnosis can be stressful and difficult for many people. If you are struggling with a new health diagnosis, therapy can help make sense of the new diagnosis and what it means to your life. |
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Coping with chronic health issues
Managing some conditions, such as chronic pain, diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease require ongoing efforts and behaviors. If you are struggling to manage a chronic health condition, therapy can provide tools to improve your ability to care for yourself and optimize your health. |
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Health anxiety
Many people experience distress related to their health to the point that it can impact their ability to live with ease and pursue their goals. Therapy can help clarify the concerns and develop ways to take control of your life. |
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Health-related behaviors
Even in the absence of a medical diagnosis, many individuals have difficulty engaging in health-related behaviors, such as healthy eating, exercise, and sleep. If this is something you are struggling with, therapy can help understand the factors that are keeping you stuck and help develop a plan to change your behavior so that it is consistent with your goals. |
Contact me if you would like to know more about health-focused therapy and how I can help you reach our goals.