Applying Psychology To Improve Health

We (can) have more influence on health…

We live in these complex, miraculous bodies. A lot depends on our how we care for and use our physical body. Behavioral medicine is the application of psychological science to foster health-related change, protect health or increase follow through with your personal health goals. The same approach can be aligned with a treatment plan developed between you and your physician.

Protecting Health

We have the greatest opportunity to protect our future health when our bodies are still healthy. The activities we pursue, foods we eat, physical activity, chemical exposure, adequate rest, restorative activity and healthy relationships impact our health. Research also demonstrates that psychologically restorative activity plays a role not only in our emotional wellbeing but also effects our physical health.

Chronic Illness

Chronic illness interferes with our comfort, energy and abilities. Conditions such as diabetes, obesity, cardio-vascular disease, and food allergies can limit activity or reduce the quality of our lives. When we suffer chronic medical difficulties, our spouses, children, family and co-workers are often affected.

Economists have demonstrated that chronic illness has not only medical and psychological costs but also economic ones. Family finances can be impacted directly with medical costs or lost work and earning. Business and industry experience reduced employee effectiveness and absenteeism, while nation productivity and health care also reflect the costs.

The impact of chronic illness may not always be immediate as in the case of chronic pain or an acute diabetic crisis. The negative consequences of high blood pressure, cardio vascular disease, diabetes or respiratory disease emerge years later.

Changes, now, can decrease, delay or in some cases reverse a dangerous health condition. You can be helped to make changes to stay well or to recover.

So what is behavioral medicine?

Most of us can think of changes we intended to make that we did not put into practice. The challenge is to make necessary changes going forward. I share my expertise as a behavioral specialist and years as a consultant to prevention specialists to help you develop a realistic plan. I apply the principles of psychological science to your situation and goals. We collaboratively select strategies and conduct experiments.  Then we work together to help you prepare and successfully implement your approaches, monitor and adapt to challenges or obstacles. We revise and revise. And revise to help you get back on track so that you continue to make progress in the direction of your goals.