Blog

Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) refers to practicing confronting the thoughts, images, objects, and situations that make you anxious & provoke obsessions. It is a type of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). While for many years, OCD was thought to be untreatable, fortunately, over the last few decades, ERP has been proven quite successful in reducing they symptoms of OCD. ERP...[ read more ]

This month, we’ve been exploring the facets of OCD; its symptoms, how it presents itself, as well as how it effects the people who carry its diagnosis. In this blog, we will talk about how perfectionism can play a part in Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and Obsessive Compulsive Patterns. Webster’s dictionary defines perfectionism as “a refusal to accept any standard short...[ read more ]

We are really excited to welcome our first Post Doctoral Fellow, Dr. Patricia Calixte-Civil. She joins us with a wealth of unique experience and is currently being supervised by Dr. Lisa Beckman. What inspired you to pursue a career as a therapist? It’s a bit cliché, but the truth is I’m passionate about supporting others. I find it extremely gratifying...[ read more ]

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a mental health condition that affects millions of people worldwide. It is characterized by a cycle of distressing and intrusive thoughts (obsessions) that lead to repetitive behaviors or mental acts (compulsions) performed to alleviate the anxiety caused by these obsessions. In this blog, we will delve into the intricacies of OCD, exploring what obsessions and compulsions...[ read more ]

By Dr. Lea Martinell It’s back to school time!  Many parents are looking forward to predictable schedules and routines again!  Some kids are looking forward to the routine and seeing their friends again.  Some also might be feeling stress, worry, and potentially fear of the change that will come from a new school year starting. Back to school for many,...[ read more ]

On July 1, 2023, Florida joined the Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact (PSYPACT). The Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact (PSYPACT) is an interstate compact designed to facilitate the practice of both teletherapy and temporary in-person, face-to-face practice of psychology across state boundaries.  In our last blog, we discussed some of the benefits of teletherapy. PSYPACT broadens those even more. While Telehealth has provided a...[ read more ]

'tIt’s no secret that in the aftermath of a worldwide pandemic, many things have changed.   With the increase in the need for mental health care, many people have wondered if therapy is right for them. If you’re like many of us, the need to speak to someone about our struggles often takes the backseat to the dozens of other...[ read more ]

Living With an Invisible Illness: Coping With Chronic Pain & Illnesses By Dr. Sarah Carpenter   Living with chronic illness inherently has its own challenges, from processing difficult emotions such as grief, anger, confusion, embarrassment, disappointment, to having to entirely change your lifestyle and incorporate new habits to manage a condition you never asked for but must take full responsibility for...[ read more ]

Coping with the “What Ifs” By Kristin Phillips, PhD In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, May’s blog is devoted to coping with what keeps many of us awake at night: the “What Ifs.” Just as the heart is always beating, the mind is always thinking. And when the mind does not have something capturing its attention, it will find...[ read more ]

What inspired you to pursue a career as a Health Psychologist? I became a Health Psychologist to help people live their best lives. I was astonished at the fact that so many of the leading causes of death in the United States (such as heart disease, cancer, stroke, lung disease, type II diabetes, liverdisease, and kidney disease) were conditions that...[ read more ]