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White Pine
Behavioral Health |
Office Location: 25 Middle Street Portland, ME 04101 207-272-8500 Directions/Map |
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Issues treated at White Pine Behavioral Health LLC
include:
(Click on the issue for more information) |
Beyond Problems Many of us know our struggle by name: we may call it Anxiety, Depression, Substance Abuse, or some other from an ever-growing list of diagnoses. Just as often, however, our work is defined by what we are seeking: greater closeness and intimacy, connection with others, a richer and more fulfilling life, a path that may begin with a nagging sense of emptiness but leads to a clearer sense of who we are and who we would like to be. These ends justify--and dignify--the hard work of therapy and personal growth and lie at the heart of most people’s desire to change. |
| Anxiety and Stress | |
| Anxiety and stress are a normal and expected part of everyone's
life. However, some people find that their struggles with
anxiety and stress can keep them from participating fully in
life or keep them from enjoying the life they have. |
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| Anxiety.
Some individuals struggle with persistent worrying that prevents
them from remaining present and dealing with daily activities.
Others experience extreme anxiety in social situations, avoiding
work or family functions or enduring them with much discomfort.
Still others have anxiety attacks, marked by strong physical
reactions (heart beating, feeling hot and sweaty or dizzy), and
the fear of these attacks can lead to rigid avoidance patterns
that erode one's quality of life. Problems with anxiety
and even diagnosable anxiety disorders such as Panic Disorder
and Social Phobia (sometimes called Social Anxiety Disorder) can
be treated. In fact, they are among the most readily
treatable of all psychological conditions.
[Treatments:
CBT and ACT.] |
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| Stress.
Extreme stress can overwhelm an individual's ability to cope.
Work demands, family problems, unexpected health problems,
financial woes--all of these can lead to heightened and
persistent stress that can challenge the coping of even the
toughest individuals. Chronic stress can lead to both
emotional and physical health problems. Even if your
stress seems uncontrollable and due to external life demands,
there is a good chance that you can learn more effective
strategies to manage this stress, to keep your head above water
until the situation improves. [Treatments:
CBT and ACT.] |
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| More information:
Fact Sheet on Anxiety.
APA Help Center on Anxiety.
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| Depression and Problems with Mood | |
| [Treatments: CBT and ACT.] | |
| More information:
Fact Sheet on
Depression.
APA Help Center on
Depression.
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| Trauma and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) | |
| [Treatments: CBT and ACT.] | |
| More information: Fact Sheets on
Trauma and
PTSD. APA Help Center on
Trauma and
PTSD. Information from the National Center for PTSD.
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| Veterans' Issues and Adjusting to Post-Military Life | |
| [Treatments: CBT and ACT, Behavioral Couples Therapy (BCT)] | |
| Information from the
Department of Veterans Affairs.
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| Substance Abuse, Addictions, Other Compulsive Behaviors | |
Substance
Abuse and Dependence. People struggle with many
different substances, from alcohol, to prescription pills,
heroin and other opiates, cocaine, amphetamines (speed), and
multiple substances. Alcohol is the substance most
commonly reported by individuals seeking help in my office,
though I have experience working with most substances of abuse.
Unfortunately, many people never present for help and remain
stuck in patterns of problematic drinking or using because they
ask themselves the wrong opening question: "Am I an alcoholic
(or addict)?" While this question may ultimately be
important, it is too overwhelming for most people considering
change. Most decide that they differ in some important
ways from "true" alcoholics/addicts. Many see their
drinking/using as on par with the drinking of their peers.
Others simply believe that an admission of alcoholism or
addiction would be too difficult and carry too many
burdens--best to simply put the question out of mind for a while
longer. A better set of questions than the one above would
be:
If any of these questions leads to a "yes"
answer, change may be worth making. This change may, in
fact, require major lifestyle changes. However, it is
possible that the needed change may be less severe and more
manageable than you currently believe. The good news is
that there are evidence-based strategies to help you make these
changes. [Treatments:
Specialized Help for Substance Abuse and
Addictions,
Behavioral Couples Therapy (BCT)] |
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Addictions/Addictive Behaviors. Problem gambling
appears to respond to strategies similar to those employed with
the chemical addictions. Please call for details.
[Treatments:
Specialized Help for Substance Abuse and
Addictions,
Behavioral Couples Therapy (BCT)] |
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Other Compulsive Behaviors.
Internet and pornography use can evolve into fixed and
problematic patterns that strongly resemble the patterns
demonstrated by people struggling with the more typical
addictions, such as to alcohol or illicit drugs. Some
individuals report a sense of "loss of control." Others
become dishonest with their families, hiding the behaviors to
avert their sense of shame. Many report failed attempts to
curb the behavior on their own. Whether we think of these
behaviors as "addictions" in the traditional use of this term is
secondary to a more pressing issue: for some individuals, these
behaviors become problematic and are often difficult to change
simply through wanting or intending to change, or through
application of will power. When working with these sorts
of compulsive behaviors, I use cognitive-behavioral strategies
similar to those I use with persons with chemical addictions.
These strategies are rooted in strong basic behavioral science
and appear to have broad applicability. While researchers
work to identify the most effective strategies, these
approaches offer hope for change now. I would be glad to
talk with you about these approaches.* (Additional information
available in my
Client Brochure.) [Treatments:
Specialized Help for Substance Abuse and
Addictions,
Behavioral Couples Therapy (BCT)] |
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*Note: Most insurance and managed care plans do not cover treatment for compulsive internet or pornography use. As such, payment for therapy will be self-pay or "out of pocket." (See the FAQs section about this.) Please be sure you understand this issue prior to our first session--If you do not, please ask. |
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In addition to these specific issues, I have experience treating individuals struggling with multiple problems, such as anxiety or mood problems co-occurring with alcohol or substance abuse.
Additional information on specific problems will be posted soon. Please check back.
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Office Location & Mailing Address 25 Middle Street Portland, ME 04101 joel@whitepinepsych.com |
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Phone: 207-272-8500 Fax: 207-773-7386
Copyright 2006 |
