Pages Navigation Menu

Licensed Psychologist         (561) 444-8040

Mindfulness & ACT-based therapy: Questioning “I hurt; therefore, I suffer.”

Posted by | 0 comments

Mindfulness & ACT-based Approaches to Therapy Mindfulness & Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)-based approaches to treatment might (Hayes, Strosahl, & Wilson, 2003) ask you to consider the truth of the following statement: I hurt; therefore, I suffer. Most of us would probably agree that suffering is usually borne out of hurt. But this doesn’t mean that pain, discomfort, or unwanted emotions necessarily lead to suffering. In truth, many hurts do not lead to suffering. Pain and suffering are distinct entities that exist on two entirely different planes. Pain is based on an experience, whereas suffering is based on how we perceive that experience. In many cases, we may not be able to sidestep pain or hurt; however, suffering may be a different matter. Pain Think about the last time you felt physical pain. Maybe you’re feeling it right now....

Read More

Social Anxiety Treatment: CBT & Intentional Mistake Practice (an example)

Posted by | 1 comment

When I was a kid, one form of mischief that was briefly popular in my neighborhood was crank calling strangers. Usually, the bravest kid in the group would pick up the phone, and with the encouragement of all the other kids in the room, would dial a random telephone number. A brief, very Bart Simpson-esque conversation would then ensue. Usually it would go something like this: Kid: Hello, ma’am. I am conducting a brief survey for the Grocer’s Association. Do you have a minute to answer a quick question? Stranger: Of course. How can I help you? Kid: I was wondering if you have Sara Lee in the freezer. Stranger: Why, yes I do. Kid: Well then let her out!!! We would then bust out in laughter and hang up the phone, leaving the recipient of our phone call...

Read More

OCD & D-cycloserine: A Promising Medication for OCD Treatment

Posted by | 7 comments

As someone who has long been enamored with basic science, I find it fascinating when classic medications are re-purposed in surprising ways.  One of the newest examples of this is the use of D-cycloserine (also known as Seromycin) in the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). What’s interesting about D-cycloserine is not so much what it is…but what it isn’t: D-cycloserine is neither an SRRI nor any other type of antidepressant (e.g., Prozac). It’s not an anti-anxiety medication (e.g., Xanax, Klonopin). It’s not even an atypical antipsychotic (e.g., Abilify, Risperdal). If it’s not one of the above, then what is it? The answer might surprise you.  Seromycin is actually an antibiotic that was originally developed to help fight off tuberculosis.  What’s exciting about using an antibiotic to treat OCD is that it’s not subject to the same side effects as other medications (i.e., the SSRIs,...

Read More

Therapy as Science: You + Your Therapist + Scientific Method

Posted by | 2 comments

I consider myself a scientist.  I wear this hat officially when conducting research, but I also wear it every time I sit with a patient.  In my research, my science is pretty self-evident: I identify a research question, develop falsifiable hypotheses, and then collect quantifiable data to see whether or not the phenomenon I’m studying behaves the way I think it does. A very similar process unfolds when I work with you in my clinic.  However, from your vantage point, you might not realize it right away.  Nevertheless, we are two collaborative empiricists. Most often, you will define the “research question”.  Usually, this is the very reason that you’re coming to see me.  Sometimes the questions we think we’re asking are not necessarily the ones we should be asking.  For example, questions like, “Why is this happening to me?”...

Read More

One Panic Treatment Basic that Even Your Therapist Might not Know

Posted by | 4 comments

If you have panic disorder or suffer from panic attacks or agoraphobia, chances are you might be inadvertently doing one simple thing that is making your panic attacks and anxiety worse. You might have even learned this strategy from your therapist.  Although beneficial in many different contexts, when used inappropriately, this technique has the potential to dramatically increase symptoms of anxiety and panic. The technique in question? Deep breathing. What is deep breathing? Deep breathing, or diaphragmatic breathing, is a core coping skill taught by many excellent therapists of diverse theoretical orientations. It is a technique that has a long and revered history in the field of psychology due to its anxiety-reducing (anxiolytic) effects. Used alone or when combined with other strategies, such as visual imagery or progressive muscle relaxation (PMR), deep breathing can be a potent aid to...

Read More
Page 7 of 9« First...56789