| Florida Medical Psychology Associates, LLC

Services

Florida Medical Psychology Associates, LLC provides an array of empirically validated services to address individual patient needs. General services include: assessment, psychotherapy, couples counseling, family therapy, coaching, consultations with businesses and organizations, & workshops. Treatment approaches include: cognitive-behavioral, positive psychotherapy, insight oriented, problem-solving, and mindfulness/relaxation methods.

We also consult with physician practices to determine the specific mental health needs of their patients. With this collaborative process, we are able to develop the best intervention strategies to fit the unique aspects of the practice population. Below are some examples of programs that we offer. Treatment is available in both individual and group formats.

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 neuropsychological evaluations that specifically screen for dementia and other cognitive decline. 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 mindfulness 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 is available individually or in a 10-week group format. 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.

Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction:

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 reduction 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 stress reduction through individualized or group programs that teach well established techniques such as breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, meditation, guided imagery, cognitive restructuring/reframing, and assertiveness training.

Weight Loss:

“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, helps individuals develop and maintain healthy lifestyle changes by using behavioral methods (e.g., hunger/fullness rating scale, goal setting, etc.) as well as confronting obstacles such as emotional and binge eating that often undermine weight loss and maintenance. Patients can choose to achieve their weight loss goals through our 8 -week cognitive behavioral Weight Loss Success Group, or by working individually with any of our providers.

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 approach is based on a positive psychology coaching model designed to inspire increased positive emotion, a deeper sense of purpose, achievement of personal goals and overall life satisfaction.
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