Cardiac Risk Reduction:
Research shows that cardiac patients who are taught to manage their stress enjoy better health at less cost to the health system and to themselves than patients who receive standard cardiac care (American Journal of Cardiology, 89, 164-168). Florida Medical Psychology Associates, LLC, offers cardiac patients structured programs which teach patients how to positively change their negative lifestyle habits to enhance overall cardiac health. Patients and their families learn how psychosocial factors, such as stress, anger, and social support (or lack of it), can affect a person’s risk for initial or recurrent cardiac events. The concepts of stress reduction and anger management are promoted through individual and/or group sessions via psycho-educational and interactive methods.
Diabetes Self-Care Success:
Diabetes presents unique issues for individuals living with the chronic disease. "For young people, simple things, such as going to a birthday party, playing sports, or staying overnight with friends, need careful planning. Checking blood glucose, making correct food choices, and taking insulin or oral medication can make children feel ‘different’ from their classmates. For any child or teen with diabetes, learning to cope with the disease is a big task and may cause emotional and behavioral challenges.” [National Diabetes Education Program]
Our structured, state-of-the-art groups (for kids, teens, and adults) are designed to teach behavioral self-management strategies to help patients and their families learn to adjust and maintain healthy lifestyle changes using mindfulness training and stress management techniques in a goal-oriented, success driven framework. Our programs fill the gap between basic diabetes education and personal mastery of diabetes self-care practices for individuals who still struggle with adopting a successful healthy lifestyle.
Memory Screening:
Among all primary care patients older than 65 who have dementia, approximately one-half are undiagnosed (Archives of Internal Medicine, 160, 2964-68). Screening for early dementia offers patients the opportunity to discuss future planning with regard to health care, safety, and finances, as well as sensitive issues such as driving safety, self-neglect, and living arrangements. Florida Medical Psychology Associates, LLC, offers evaluations that specifically screen for dementia and other cognitive decline in the familiar setting of the patient’s own doctor’s office. Dementia screening that is integrated into the patient’s overall medical care allows for direct communication and care planning with the family physician.
Pain Management:
Ninety-seven million Americans suffer from chronic pain, the leading cause of disability. More than half of the patients suffering from chronic pain also suffer from depression or anxiety. When a person with chronic pain is suffering from high levels of stress, anxiety or depression, their pain is felt more acutely. Florida Medical Psychology Associates, LLC, offers evidence based cognitive-behavioral interventions, which address the psychosocial distress and related factors facing pain patients (e.g., increased stress, use of ineffective coping strategies, and hopelessness). Treatment begins with a thorough individual evaluation followed by enrollment in a 10-week cognitive behavioral group. The 10 group treatment sessions cover traditional cognitive restructuring training, adaptive coping techniques, effective communication strategies, and relaxation training, all tailored for chronic pain patients. Additional individual treatment is provided when necessary as determined throughout the evaluation and group treatment process.
Stress Management:
Some say stress is the most common cause of illness in our society likely underlying as many as 70% of all visits to family doctors. Fortunately, research has shown that stress management training can produce significant improvements in individuals' sense of well-being and in physical symptoms, such as high blood pressure. In one study, a 10-week program for hypertensive employees in a large corporation led to a sharp cut in health care claims (Psychosomatic Medicine, 46 (5), 387-397). Florida Medical Psychology Associates, LLC, offers a 10-week stress management program that teaches well established techniques such as deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, meditation, guided imagery, cognitive restructuring/reframing, and assertiveness training.
Weight Management:
“There is strong evidence that combined interventions of a low calorie diet, increased physical activity, and behavior therapy provide the most successful therapy for weight loss and weight maintenance (National Institutes of Health Clinical Guidelines for the Treatment of Overweight and Obesity).” Florida Medical Psychology Associates, LLC, works with individuals to develop strategies to increase motivation to engage in the necessary lifestyle changes to reduce and maintain weight, as well as confront obstacles such as emotional and binge eating that often undermine weight loss and maintenance. Specific programs, such as a 12-week cognitive behavioral weight loss group, are combined with individual therapy to provide a comprehensive behavioral therapy component to any weight loss program.
Wellness and Prevention:
“Nearly half of the nation’s premature deaths from the 10 leading causes of mortality are attributable to controllable behavioral factors such as unhealthy diet, lack of exercise, tobacco use, alcohol and drug use, and risky sexual practices.” (Center for the Advancement of Health, 2000 status report on Selected Evidence for Behavioral Approaches to Chronic Disease Management in Clinical Settings) Florida Medical Psychology Associates, LLC, works with individuals to promote optimal physical and emotional health and prevent the development of illness. This is accomplished through a comprehensive health risk appraisal process during which an individual’s strengths and risks are identified. Following the appraisal, coaching sessions are designed to increase positive emotion, provide a deeper sense of purpose, and facilitate achievement of personal goals and overall life satisfaction. This approach is based on a positive psychology coaching model designed to inspire optimal human functioning.