Dr. Beckman contracts with Wellness Psychological Services to offer services in both our Tampa office as well as remotely all across the state of Florida.
Hi, I am Dr. Lisa Beckman. I am a licensed Clinical Psychologist trained in working with adults of all ages, from 18 to 98. While I have worked with a wide range of mental health concerns, my expertise is in trauma/PTSD, anxiety disorders, and health-related concerns, including chronic pain management, insomnia, and weight management. I am passionate about increasing life satisfaction and overall well-being, not just alleviating symptoms.
I take a client-centered, integrative approach to therapy. The foundation of my work is Cognitive Behavior Therapy, and I incorporate third-wave behavioral therapies when appropriate (i.e., Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and Mindfulness-based interventions). My aim to create a safe, nonjudgmental space where we can work collaboratively to identify goals and improve overall life satisfaction. This allows for exploration of thoughts and emotions that are impacting daily life. Through the course of therapy, my goal is to help those I work with to gradually develop coping skills and harness their individual strength to create a toolbox that will allow for personal growth.
TRAUMA & PTSD SPECIALIZATION
The long-term effects of experiencing a traumatic event can have significant consequences in day-to-day life. Oftentimes, trauma will change the way one thinks about themselves, others, and the world. Additionally, remembering the trauma can elicit a substantial emotional response and negative thought processes. Through therapy, the goal is to gradually approach the memories while simultaneously gaining a clearer understanding of the experience through challenging related thoughts and beliefs. While PTSD cannot be “cured,” the goal is to understand the trauma as part of your life narrative and live more fully and presently.
LIFE TRANSITIONS SPECIALIZATION
Life transitions occur throughout the lifespan, and they can impact our relationships, change our daily routines, and increase stress. From starting college, to having children, to retiring, these life events can have an impact on our emotions and can even start to make use feel isolated or stuck. I work with patients to explore difficult emotions and develop skills to manage them, as well as how to engage in productive problem solving and goal setting. I also use values-based approaches to help clarify what aspects of life bring the most satisfaction and fulfillment.
ANXIETY SPECIALIZATION
Anxiety is an overuse of the system designed to protect us from stress (fight-or-flight). When this system is chronically overworked, it can leave us feeling indecisive, restless, distracted, and panicked. Managing the physiological response to anxiety is an important part of decreasing anxiety, and often includes relaxation exercises to calm the body. It is hard to have an anxious mind, with a relaxed body! Understanding how negative thoughts are impacting emotions and behaviors, and restructuring them with more neutral, realistic thoughts can help one manage their worries and allow for the development of positive coping mechanisms.
HEALTH PSYCHOLOGY SPECIALIZATION
Does it take you hours to fall asleep? Has your doctor told you that you should lose weight? Have you fallen into the boom-and-bust cycle of chronic pain with lots of activity on a “good” day, only to pay for it the next few days? Physical health and mental health are not individual entities. They are intertwined, and when one is suffering, the other is at-risk. However, obtaining overall wellness, improving both physical and mental health, can often take place through behavioral changes. While setting goals and working towards them is an important component of treatment, I also strive to help you gain understanding of why you engage in certain patterns of behaviors and consider the root causes, so that you can build healthy habits and thrive.
OTHER ADULT THERAPY SPECIALTIES:
- Depression
- Substance Use/Relapse Prevention
- OCD
- Phobias
- Assertive Communication Skills
- Stress Management