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RISA E. NEWELL, Ph.D., L.L.C.
LICENSED CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST
Symptoms Treated
I work with adults individually to treat the following problem areas:
Depression, Anxiety, Mood Swings, Trauma and Abuse, Grief and Loss, Health Concerns, Relationship Challenges, Work Difficulties and Life Transitions.
Depression
If you’ve experienced 5 or more of these symptoms below for 2 weeks or more, you may be depressed and benefit from psychotherapy:
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Sad, irritable, or negative mood
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Feeling discouraged or hopeless
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A sense of guilt or worthlessness
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Low self-esteem or lack of confidence
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Lack of interest in activities or social isolation
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Decreased energy, moving more slowly
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Difficulty concentrating or making decisions
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Sleep changes (too little or too much)
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Change in appetite
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Thoughts of death or suicide
Anxiety
There are several different types of anxiety. If you have been suffering with a number of the symptoms below for some time, you may have an anxiety disorder and benefit from psychotherapy:
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Excessive worry about a number of things
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Feeling restless, tense, irritable
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Difficulty focusing, mind going blank
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Sleep problems and restlessness
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Pounding heartbeat, sweating, shaking (not medical)
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Feelings of losing control or impending doom
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Excessive fear and avoidance of a situation (like flying, animals, or injections)
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Intense fear of social or performance situations
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Excessive discomfort being in a crowd or in open spaces
Mood Swings
Bipolar Disorder (also known as manic-depressive illness) causes unusual shifts (up and down) in mood, activity, and energy and can greatly impair functioning. If you have been suffering with several of the following manic symptoms for a period of time, alternating or mixed with depression, you may have a mood disorder and benefit from psychotherapy:
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Feeling very up or wired or jumpy
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Racing thoughts
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Having excessive energy, more active than usual
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Trouble sleeping
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Talking really fast about lots of different things
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Easily irritated or agitated
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Taking greater risks, such as with money or sex
Psychological trauma refers to an overwhelming experience that is physically and/or emotionally painful, distressing or shocking, and which can have lasting effects. Trauma can include exposure to violence, physical or sexual abuse, or an unexpected death or loss. A certain percentage of people exposed to trauma can develop Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). If you have experienced trauma and have been suffering a number of these symptoms listed below for over a month, you may have PTSD and benefit from psychotherapy:
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Intrusive memories, nightmares or flashbacks
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Physically and emotionally upset if reminded of trauma
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Avoid thoughts or reminders of trauma
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Difficulty remembering certain aspects of the trauma
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Negative thoughts, blaming self
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Feel isolated and detached
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Hypervigilant, easily startled
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Difficulty concentrating
Trauma and Abuse
Grief and Loss
Grief is a normal and healthy response to a loss. Sometimes, however, the grieving process can become overwhelming and ongoing, making it difficult to function. In addition to the death of a loved one, loss can include a beloved pet, a friendship, and a relationship, among other things. If you have experienced a significant loss and, after a period of time, are struggling with some of the following symptoms, you may benefit from psychotherapy:
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Preoccupation with the loss
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Detachment
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Increased irritability and bitterness
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Inability to experience joy
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Social avoidance and isolation
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Symptoms of depression
Health Concerns
It is common to feel sad, frustrated or discouraged after a major medical incident, serious diagnosis, or when managing chronic pain. Temporary feelings of sadness are expected, but if they last longer than a couple of weeks, you may be depressed, which can interfere with your functioning and your treatment. Depression, anxiety and/or anger can occur with the following medical issues, along with a number of other conditions, where psychotherapy may be helpful:
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Cancer
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Coronary Artery Disease
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Multiple Sclerosis
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HIV/AIDS
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Alzheimer’s Disease
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Rheumatoid Arthritis
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Major surgeries
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Chronic pain
Relationship Challenges
Recognizing and changing unhealthy relationship patterns is achievable through psychotherapy. While couples therapy is recommended when both parties want to work on relationship dynamics, individual psychotherapy is indicated when recurrent difficulties with communication, conflict, security and commitment become apparent. Problems may be evident with family, friends, coworkers or a partner and likely reflect an attachment style. If you recognize an unhealthy relationship pattern with the dynamics below, psychotherapy may be helpful:
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Anxious, needy, clingy or insecure with others
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Emotionally distant, avoidant or detached
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Controlling or inflexible with others
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Caretaking or wanting to be taken care of
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Ambivalent, push-pull, or unpredictable
Work Difficulties
Do thoughts of work cause excessive anxiety, interrupt sleep or negatively impact your personal relationships? A number of jobs can be stressful, either due to workplace demands, relationships or the environment, or because of personal struggles with inattention, emotional stability, or unhealthy coping. The workplace can present unique challenges with high performance expectations, different personalities, and conflicting worldviews, while excessive work stress can lead to problems with mental health and physical well-being. Following are some common work difficulties which may benefit from therapeutic interventions:
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Performance issues
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Problems with motivation
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Difficulties with attention and organization
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Communication problems
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Interpersonal conflict
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Bullying or discrimination
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Burnout or poor job fit
Life Transitions
Adjusting to major changes – even if they’re positive – may benefit from therapeutic support and guidance. Facing major life transitions, whether of loss or gain, force us to confront the unknown and leave the familiar, an inherently difficult and often frightening experience. Whether positive or negative, planned or unexpected, significant changes can cause upheaval and leave us feeling overwhelmed, unprepared, doubtful, and in a state of shock. While transitions ultimately lead to growth, sometimes psychotherapy can help with successful adjustment to major life events, such as:
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Getting married
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Having a baby
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Serious illness
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Leaving for college
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Starting a career
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Significant loss
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Buying a house
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Getting divorced
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Retirement