Intensive outpatient psychotherapy is well suited for a number of individuals. In my practice this means being seen for two, ninety minute sessions per week as opposed to a more standard single forty five minute session per week.

For individuals diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) one of the treatment approaches I use (EMDR) is designed for extended session use so that the client may process important information and have time to recover and end the session with a sense of calm and /or completion.

For clients recently recovered from serious drug and/ or alcohol addiction, intensive outpatient psychotherapy provides needed structure and skills building to help reduce the risk of relapse, a common problem for individuals in recovery.

For individuals suffering major depression and/ or severe panic disorder, intensive outpatient psychotherapy allows for completing a comprehensive evaluation early on so that appropriate treatment can have an impact on reducing psychological pain and suffering in the shortest amount of time possible.

Intensive outpatient psychotherapy is also sort after by individuals who may only in the area for a short period of time and want to make the most of the limited time available to them.

For couples seeking relationship or marital counseling, intensive psychotherapy is often useful in that both parties often have lots to say and it takes time to teach and practice communication skills, model desired behaviors and convey important ideas in the same session. Emotions are often stirred up and having the time to provide closure on a topic and ending on a positive note is important to maintain progress.

In intensive outpatient psychotherapy, the client is provided with a series of assessment forms and information sheet to help diagnose their problems and concerns, develop short and long term goals and explain various approaches and treatment options available to them.

In the second session the assessments are reviewed with the client, goals are agreed upon and an initial treatment plan is developed. With the client’s permission, past records are reviewed and contact is provided with current relevant health care providers to provided coordinated treatment.

In subsequent sessions, clients are taught a variety of coping skills to help them manage their emotions as they move through the treatment phase.

Public Speaking Anxiety is one of the most common forms of anxiety that affect children and adults alike. Whether is it giving a book report in third grade or making a toast at your best friend’s wedding, few individuals enjoy the experience. However, when even thinking about speaking in front of a group causes you to lose sleep over it or your anxiety is so severe that you appear highly uncomfortable or you look for ways to avoid speaking altogether, you are now in the public speaking anxiety disorder club!

Public Speaking Anxiety is a form a Performance Anxiety. In short, you are afraid of the feeling of being afraid, of looking bad, sounding bad and other’s (the audience), thinking less of you because of it.

In severe cases, students would throw up before speaking, freeze on stage or take a failing grade rather than speak at all! Adults would not take promotions in their job if it required them to speak in front of groups.

Public Speaking Anxiety has usually very little to do with intelligence, preparation or even practice. I have worked with some of the brightest and best prepared individuals from the Harvard Graduate School of Business who were terrified to speak in front of  large group of people.

Fortunately, modern psychology provides several types of treatment which do not require medication, can be completed in a matter of months and are pretty darn effective for a great many individuals.

I offer three major types of psychological treatments for Public Speaking Anxiety; Cognitive Behavior Therapy, Hypnosis and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. Sometimes clients come in with a preference for one or the other. Perhaps they have had a successful experience with one of these methods in the past. If not, following an initial evaluation, I can usually recommend a method that I think would suit them best.

If Public Speaking Anxiety is holding you back from performing at your best in school or at work, call Dr.Robert Heller now for an initial consultation at 561 451-2731.

Chronic pain is usually defined as pain that lasts for 6 months or more. Now you don’t have to have it continuously for that period of time. It’s just that is never really goes away.

As a cognitive behavior psychologist and a chronic pain sufferer I have been evaluating and treating chronic pain in myself and others for more than 40 years. The holistic approach I use doesn’t eliminate but helps manage the “flare ups” that occur periodically, often, for no apparent reason.

For example I have had chronic back pain for many years. Most of the time, I am pain free and able to do most normal activities. However, I do get flare ups that are so severe,  I literally cannot move. The pain can be so excruciating that I cannot even get out of bed to go to the bathroom! I have even  passed out from the pain and collapsed on the floor laying there for hours until a physician came to my house and administered an injection and some strong medications to control the pain and reduce the inflammation. These extreme acute episodes can take me up to three months to recover from. In my younger days, they might occur twice a year or more. As I have learned how to integrate mind-body practices into my lifestyle, these extreme flare ups have been greatly reduced and I recover from the ones I do get much more quickly.

The use of Cognitive behavior therapy in the treatment of chronic pain helps me and my clients not give ourselves a problem about our problem. I rarely get depressed as I used to as I recognize that I have tools to reduce my pain, speed my recovery and that the discomfort I feel will be manageable and short lived.

I use relaxation and self soothing methods derived from yoga, Tai Chi and hypnosis to relax my body and mind which in turn helps reduce the tightness in my muscles and facilitates the healing process. At times, I may visit a chiropractor, massage therapist, physical therapist, acupuncturist and other health practitioners to assist in the healing process.

I use positive coping self talk to reduce frustration, fear and depression. I use self hypnosis to remain optimistic and as soon as I can, begin to get physically active again, being cautious and patient in not overdoing it to avoid a premature relapse.

Living with chronic pain is not easy but I have found that the treatment of chronic pain through comprehensive holistic practices and an emphasis on living a healthy lifestyle can result in most of us being able to have a good quality of life in spite of our limitations and vulnerabilities.

If you or someone you know is a chronic pain suffer, I know what you are experiencing. Let me help you learn to help yourself to reduce your suffering and improve the quality of your life.