Dr. Patty is Postdoctoral Fellow with Wellness Psychological Services offering services in both our Tampa and St. Pete offices and virtually all across the state of Florida.
Hi! I am Dr. Patricia Calixte-Civil (or Dr. Patty), a psychologist and postdoctoral resident under the supervision of Dr. Lisa Beckman. I am passionate about supporting clients as a whole person by providing individual adult therapy while they navigate mental and physical health changes and life transitions. With my emphasis on health psychology, I have extensive experience working with adults (18-80) living with the wide range of emotional, psychological, and relationship/communication struggles related to chronic health conditions. I specialize in treating anxiety, depression, adjustment to health changes and life transitions, and communication or relationship issues.
I believe in meeting clients where they are in terms of what they are looking to gain from therapy because overall well-being and psychological growth are my priorities. I strive to create a warm and non-judgmental space that promotes trust and curiosity, and encourages clients to collaborate with me when developing a treatment plan and setting realistic goals. My approach to treatment considers how an individual’s life experiences and environments have contributed to how they respond to situations, which can be helpful for reducing self-judgment and recognizing opportunities for growth. I appreciate discussing what responses clients want to continue, change, or stop. By working together, we can make progress in understanding the function of emotions and behavior and develop helpful coping strategies. I draw upon skills from cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavioral therapy, and/or acceptance and commitment therapy techniques to help clients cope with life stressors that can cause overwhelming feelings, negative thinking, and worry.
ANXIETY SPECIALIZATION
I specialize in the treatment of anxiety and encourage you to actively collaborate with me in creating a treatment roadmap. My therapeutic approach is informed by a deep understanding of how your life experiences and environments influence your emotional responses and patterns of behavior. By understanding this and the function of anxiety, we can foster self-compassion and recognize areas for personal growth. I welcome candid conversations about the cognitive and behavioral changes you seek, so we can partner together to assess which responses are taking you farther away from the life you want to live and how to intervene. Ultimately, our treatment roadmap will include building up your coping skills to include the kinds of responses that will bring you closer to how you want to live. We can confront your stressors, acknowledge and accept overwhelming emotions, and address negative thoughts and incessant worries.
RELATIONSHIP & COMMUNICATION ISSUES SPECIALIZATION
It is common to feel isolated while navigating the complex emotional and social strain that comes with chronic illness and life transitions. You may feel unsure of who to confide in within your social network or how to initiate difficult conversations. One of my main interests is in helping you get in touch with barriers to healthy and effective communication and then creating adaptive strategies and coping skills to approach these challenges. Part of this journey usually includes taking time to reflect on how your life experiences have contributed to your approach and what you have to lose or gain by changing the approach. Challenges in communication are sometimes made more complicated by the multiple roles we serve in our lives, how we see ourselves, or our unique cultural or social expectations about expression. I provide a judgment free space to explore what you do or do not want in relationships, how you want to show up in your relationships, and what coping skills can help you move towards your goals. I enjoy and pride myself on being available for you to learn and practice new communication skills and openness in a warm, low-stakes setting.
ADJUSTING TO HEALTH CHANGES SPECIALIZATION
I specialize in supporting adults in their journey to navigate chronic health conditions. Many clients find it necessary and helpful to have a space to discuss the complex emotions that accompany a medical diagnosis, its treatment, recovery, and survivorship. When grappling with major life changes, therapy can be a space for you to process emotions and take steps reconnecting with your personal interests and passions that have been overshadowed by health concerns. There are no prizes for suffering alone or in silence, so I encourage and facilitate gentle exploration of overwhelming emotions and thoughts through mindfulness. My expertise includes working with clients who are dealing with issues related to cancer care and/or fertility care. We can discuss a range of common topics from negative thoughts and worries about upcoming appointments, prognosis, recovery, fear of cancer recurrence, and coping with ambiguous symptoms, to anxiety while waiting for results, worries about miscarriage or pregnancy, coping with insensitive remarks from friends and family, and decision making. As part of our work together, you may also be interested in developing coping strategies for the chronic fatigue and insomnia that often accompanies changes in wellbeing.
OTHER ADULT PSYCHOTHERAPY SPECIALITIES
- Coping with cancer (diagnosis, treatment, survivorship, fear of recurrence)
- Fertility Support
- Caregiver Stress (e.g., cancer, fertility)
- Depression
- Quitting Nicotine
- Relapse Prevention
- Insomnia
- Medication Adherence