Individual Treatment
I have been working with patients with chronic illness for over fifteen years, including in oncology settings such as Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, hospital settings including the UCLA Cystic Fibrosis Program and Weill Cornell Pediatrics, and outpatient settings such as the Weill Cornell Psychiatry Collaborative Care Center.
People with chronic medical illnesses such as cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, diabetes, chronic pain, lupus or cystic fibrosis may be at increased risk for experiencing depression and anxiety compared to their healthy peers. I draw from evidence-based treatments such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to help patients pursue full and meaningful lives in the context of chronic illness.
Group Treatment for Adolescents and Young Adults
Chronic illness can be isolating, especially for adolescents and young adults who may not know other people their age with chronic illness.
I am dedicated to decreasing isolation and promoting the successful transition to adulthood for young people with chronic illness. As an undergraduate at Brown University, I served as one of the original mentors for The Adolescent Leadership Council of Hasbro Children’s Hospital, where I mentored teenagers with chronic illness.
This sparked my initial interest in serving this population. My primary dissertation study was a randomized controlled trial of the impact of CBT groups on the psychological and physical wellbeing of 18-22-year-olds with chronic illness. Participants who completed the groups rated their experience in the group as “very positive” and said that they benefited from engaging with other young adults with chronic illness. They reported increased self-efficacy for managing their illness, increased use of active coping skills, and decreased loneliness.
This research serves as the basis for the Virtual Coping Skills Group for Young Adults with Chronic Illness here at The Health Psychology Center. This 12-week group is offered several times each year. Eligible patients are ages 20 – 39 with a primary diagnosis of a chronic medical illness.
This group will help you…
- Gain a community of young adults with chronic illness and reduce feelings of loneliness
- Increase acceptance of illness
- Learn coping skills to manage challenges that arise from having a chronic illness
- Increase positive emotional experiences related to illness
- Live a full and meaningful life
Contact Dr. Herts for more information and to enroll.
