IT’S A BIG DECISION TO SEEK HELP FOR EMOTIONAL STRUGGLES, AND WE KNOW THIS! WE USE THE MOST UP-TO-DATE, SCIENTIFICALLY SUPPORTED METHODS IN OUR PRACTICE COMBINED WITH A WARM AND EMPATHIC ENVIRONMENT.
OUR TEAM WILL APPROACH YOUR UNIQUE NEEDS THROUGH A COMBINATION OF COGNITIVE BEHAVIORAL THERAPIES, MINDFULNESS STRATEGIES, AND TOOLS TO HELP YOU LIVE A VALUE-BASED LIFE ALL WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF YOUR CHRONIC MEDICAL CONDITION.
WE OFFER INDIVIDUAL THERAPY FOR ADULTS, ADOLESCENTS, AND CHILDREN AS WELL AS COUPLE’S AND FAMILY THERAPY.
ADULT THERAPY
Adult individual therapy is for people age 18 and older who are affected by a chronic illness. Sessions are usually 50-60 minutes long. Treatment focuses on how the illness affects your daily life and how well you are able to manage your condition. Therapy is generally time-limited, although the number of visits will vary by person. On average, most clients find 10 to 20 weekly sessions helpful in meeting their needs from treatment. You and your provider will determine your progress and when it is appropriate to end. Periodic “booster sessions” are available after treatment is complete.
ADOLESCENT THERAPY
Like adult individual therapy, adolescent therapy is designed to assist children ages 12 to 17 cope with living with a chronic illness. We understand that the teenage years can be difficult as it is, and coping with a chronic condition may become much more of a struggle during this time. It is also a time when children are differentiating themselves from their parents, which can create added struggles. We work with you and your teen to determine the best treatment and provide a safe environment where teens feel comfortable sharing their feelings. Some late afternoon and evening appointments are available to accommodate school schedules.
CHILD THERAPY
For children age 5 to 11, your child will first be assessed to identify the best therapeutic approach to meet his or her needs. We often use a combination of individual and family therapy to address issues and concerns. When working with children, our therapists use a variety of approaches based on the needs of your child. These include Prescriptive Play Therapy, Directive Play Therapy, Art Therapy, Bibliotherapy, Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, and other types of therapy that the individual therapist is familiar with and deems to be clinically appropriate. Some late afternoon and evening appointments are available to accommodate school schedules.
MEDICAL HYPNOTHERAPY
Medical hypnotherapy is effective in treating several chronic conditions that may not have good traditional medical options. It has been researched and used in patients with chronic pain conditions, cancer, ulcerative colitis, irritable bowel syndrome, and globus sensation. Medical hypnotherapy is also a viable treatment option for smoking cessation for some people. Typically clients initially come for 4 weekly sessions where they are introduced to hypnosis as a treatment for their symptoms. After the first 4 sessions, clients then come every other week for another 2 to 4 sessions before completing treatment. Medical hypnotherapy is often combined with other treatment approaches like cognitive-behavioral therapy.
WEIGHT & LIFESTYLE
We understand the challenges that come with making lasting healthy lifestyle changes. We will customize your treatment to ensure the greatest success, which will include a detailed assessment of your eating and activity behaviors, the role emotions may play in your eating habits, and what you have tried in the past. If appropriate, medical hypnotherapy for weight loss may be used as well.
Conversely, we know that eating behaviors can become distorted when you’re living with a chronic digestive illness. Maintaining a healthy weight may be difficult due to nausea or pain, and anxiety related to food is not uncommon. We can help with concerns related to eating as well as dietary treatments for conditions like IBS, IBD, EoE, and food allergies.
BARIATRIC SURGERY EVALUATION
Prior to having bariatric surgery, people are required to undergo a psychological evaluation to determine if they are good candidates for these procedures. Often times there are behaviors that can be changed that would help with weight loss and ensure that you will be successful post-surgery. We are qualified to perform a pre-surgical evaluation if you are considering these procedures. We also will work with you to make the lifestyle changes required for successful long-term weight loss. A bariatric surgery evaluation takes approximately 2 hours.
Once you have undergone bariatric surgery, it is important to have continued support and learn strategies to ensure that you are able to keep the weight off that you lose. Recognizing that it can be difficult to change old habits, we work with you to stay on target with changing your eating behaviors, including evaluating and treating any emotional aspects of your eating, so that you have successful post-surgery outcomes.
All bariatric evaluations are done in our Oak Brook office by Dr. Burda.