Behavioral Medicine Center

 

Faculty:

• Virginia Andersen, PhD, ABPP
• Heather Bruschwein, PsyD, ABPP
• Casey Cavanagh, PhD, ABPP – Assistant Director
• Lauren Ehrlich, PhD
• Brian Ludwin, PhD
• Jaclyn Shepard, PsyD, ABPP – Director
• Joanna Yost, PhD, ABPP

The Behavioral Medicine Center provides outpatient psychological assessment, intervention, and consultation services for a wide variety of patient populations and presenting problems. Referral sources include UVA medical clinics and providers in the community. Patients referred present with psychological factors that impact medical symptoms or conditions, including, but not limited to:

• Insomnia
• Diabetes
• Gastrointestinal conditions
• Obesity
• Cancer
• Chronic pain
• Cardiovascular disease
• Neurological conditions

Common goals for treatment include:

• Improving adjustment to, and coping with, emotional and behavioral demands of acute, chronic, and life-threatening medical problems
• Reducing anxiety and/or improving mood within the context of health
• Increasing adherence to medical regimens
• Improving quality of life as it relates to the patient’s overall health

The Behavioral Medicine Center fosters a collaborative approach to patient care and provides comprehensive assessment and treatment guided by each patient’s presenting concerns and goals for treatment.  Patients’ ages range from early childhood to older adults. Presenting problems are typically treated with evidence-based treatment protocols that are individually-tailored to a patient’s personality and needs. A cognitive-behavioral approach to treatment is typically utilized with the course of treatment averaging between 12-24 sessions.

The Behavioral Medicine Center faculty members have primary responsibility for training postdoctoral fellows and advanced doctoral-level psychology students. These faculty members are also clinical supervisors for psychiatry residents and fellows.

The Behavioral Medicine Center faculty members also engage in research in the areas of: diabetes, pediatric bladder and bowel dysfunction, cystic fibrosis,  cardiology, weight reduction surgery outcomes, and consultation liaison.