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Welcome to Better Health Psychology Services Home Page!

My name is Dr. Dona Zimmerman. I am licensed as a psychologist (License # PSY14862) in the state of California. I am a member of the California Psychological Association (http://www.cpapsych.org) and have been a past member of the American Psychological Association and the American College of Forensic Examiners. I hold a doctorate degree in clinical psychology and specialize in health psychology. This means that I have a particular interest in the connection between the mind and the body or how mental well-being and health are connected (or the opposite – how stress or poor health habits and some mental illnesses and physical illnesses are connected).

Chronic pain and stress-related illnesses affect millions of people, (http://pain.about.com) about 76 million Americans or one in ten people. If you are one of them, you know how debilitating these conditions can be and how costly and frustrating it can be to try treat your health problems with traditional Western medicine alone. Unfortunately, no one can see your pain the way you feel it. Health conditions that cannot be seen readily are those that typically receive less research funding and less attention by the medical community. In fact, only 2 % of the National Institute of Health's (NIH's) research funding is spent on pain studies even though the cost in medical care and lost productivity each year in the US is about $100 billion. Also, conditions that sometimes result in other problems such as alcohol or drug abuse, family or relationship problems, complaining or frequent office visits are written off as “just in the person's head” or as a low priority because they can't be dealt with easily with surgery or medication. In fact, according to the American Pain Foundation physicians receive about one hour of training devoted to pain management during medical school – pain that can derail your life! (http://chronicfatigue.about.com/b/2008/11/02/the-sad-state-of-pain-management.htm)
The American College of Rheumatology estimates that millions of Americans suffer from fibromyalgia (http://www.lyrica.com/fibromyalgia_possible_causes.aspx), a medical condition characterized by soreness of the muscles, general fatigue and poor sleep, with 80 to 90 percent being women. Although the exact causes of fibromyalgia are yet unknown, the most likely causes are thought to be injury or bacterial or viral infection in the central nervous system, or severe stress. Men often struggle with chronic pain from injuries sustained on the job or incorrect workouts. People who have experienced intense trauma usually develop medical conditions and suffer from chronic health conditions as a result of nerve damage in the central nervous system.

Are you sick and tired of being sick and tired? Have you suffered long enough with chronic pain? Are you turning to alcohol or street drugs to cope with your health problems and the problems your health problems have caused? If the answer is yes to any of these questions, take five minutes and get some information, consider your options, and make a decision about your future.
The mind-body connection is well recognized as the cornerstone of health. Your body responds to the way you think, feel and behave. When you are stressed, your body lets you know that something isn't right. Some common signs that emotional health may be out of balance are back pain, chest pain, constipation, diarrhea, high blood pressure, stiff neck, upset stomach and insomnia. On the other hand, chronic medical conditions or chronic pain may result in depression and/or an overly sensitive nervous system (anxiety). We now know that trauma has lasting effects on the brain and central nervous system if not treated immediately and properly. Poor health weakens the body's immune system, making you more likely to become ill.

The good news is that you can improve your overall health and wellbeing and stop an endless cycle of frustration about your health and not reaching your life goals by doing the following:
  • Learning to live in a more balanced way
  • Expressing your feelings in appropriate ways
  • Learning to develop resilience
  • Calming your mind and body, and
  • Taking care of yourself
Learning to: identify stress triggers and how to invoke a relaxation response; better communicate; get support you need; prioritize and organize daily tasks; or change daily habits can improve your overall health and happiness. Learning these skills may be accomplished in a brief period of time. These skills are easy to learn when you are taught how to do them in therapy and practice them each time you have a therapy session. That's what Better Health Psychology Services is all about.
There are several helpful treatments for chronic health conditions that help you with relief from discomfort and that can give you a sense of control over the condition and foster a sense of better control in your life. Some of the treatments recognized to be beneficial for people with ongoing illnesses, stress, and pain are massage therapy, acupuncture, chiropractic treatment, nutritional counseling, and psychotherapy or mental health treatment. Some types of mental health treatment now appear to be more effective than others for persons with serious health problems. These treatments focus on helping your brain give your body messages that promote health and wellbeing and directly linking emotional factors with physical symptoms and using reprogramming methods to break the link and change problematic thinking and release emotions that may be associated with certain diseases. Psychotherapy is widely recognized as an integral part of medical care. If you have been struggling with pain or illness, brief and focused psychotherapy may enhance your overall treatment results.

Disclaimer

If you think you have a medical or psychiatric emergency, call 9-1-1 immediately or go to the nearest hospital. Do not attempt to access emergency or immediate care through this web site or via the contact information given on this web site. THIS WEBITE IS NOT INTENDED TO PROVIDE TREATMENT OR ADVICE. If you have a condition that seriously impairs your ability to function, or are experiencing acute symptoms such as severe pain that could indicate the need for immediate medical attention, contact your health care provider or get medical attention immediately.

This web site contains links to other sites outside of the control of Dona C. Zimmerman, Ph.D. She is not responsible for the content or the availability of these sites, or for the privacy practices of these sites. These links are provided as educational tools and should not be relied upon for self-diagnosis or treatment. A reference to a web site does not constitute an endorsement of the site or its contents. Information you receive from this web site, linked sites or your personal concerns should be discussed with your health care providers who have appropriate education and training to best assist you with your health care needs.