{"id":520,"date":"2015-11-04T15:09:55","date_gmt":"2015-11-04T20:09:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/med.virginia.edu\/psychiatry\/?page_id=520"},"modified":"2026-05-11T16:45:26","modified_gmt":"2026-05-11T20:45:26","slug":"behavioral-medicine-center","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/med.virginia.edu\/psychiatry\/sections\/behavioral-medicine-center\/","title":{"rendered":"Behavioral Medicine Center"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"border-float-right\"><\/div>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-4598 size-600x338\" src=\"https:\/\/med.virginia.edu\/psychiatry\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/246\/2024\/11\/image-600x338.png\" alt=\"UVA Health The Behavioral Medicine Center\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" srcset=\"https:\/\/med.virginia.edu\/psychiatry\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/246\/2024\/11\/image-600x338.png 600w, https:\/\/med.virginia.edu\/psychiatry\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/246\/2024\/11\/image-450x253.png 450w, https:\/\/med.virginia.edu\/psychiatry\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/246\/2024\/11\/image-740x416.png 740w, https:\/\/med.virginia.edu\/psychiatry\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/246\/2024\/11\/image-950x534.png 950w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"OYPEnA font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none\">The Behavioral Medicine Center provides <strong>outpatient <\/strong><\/span><strong><span class=\"OYPEnA font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none\">clinical health psychology<\/span><\/strong><span class=\"OYPEnA font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none\"><strong> services<\/strong> to patients across the lifespan experiencing mental health symptoms that are interfering with their medical care. We aim to promote patient\u2019s health and well-being and to prevent, treat, and manage illness and disability.<\/span> Referral sources include UVA medical clinics and providers in the community. <span class=\"OYPEnA font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none\">Common medical conditions our patients are managing include, but are not limited to:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Cancer<\/li>\n<li>Cardiovascular disease<\/li>\n<li>Chronic pain<\/li>\n<li>Diabetes and other endocrine disorders<\/li>\n<li>Gastrointestinal conditions<\/li>\n<li>Insomnia<\/li>\n<li>Neurological conditions<\/li>\n<li>Obesity<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Common goals for treatment include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Improving adjustment to, and coping with, emotional and behavioral demands of acute, chronic, and life-threatening medical problems<\/li>\n<li>Reducing anxiety and\/or improving mood within the context of health<\/li>\n<li>Increasing adherence to medical regimens<\/li>\n<li>Improving quality of life as it relates to the patient&#8217;s overall health<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The Behavioral Medicine Center fosters a collaborative approach to patient care and provides comprehensive assessment and treatment guided by each patient&#8217;s presenting concerns and goals for treatment.\u00a0 Patients&#8217; 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&#8217;s personality and needs. A cognitive-behavioral approach to treatment is typically utilized with the course of treatment averaging between 12-24 sessions.<\/p>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<p>The Behavioral Medicine Center faculty members also engage in research in the areas of: cardiology, consultation liaison, cystic fibrosis, diabetes, pediatric bladder and bowel dysfunction, and weight reduction surgery outcomes.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Faculty:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Heather Bruschwein, PsyD, ABPP<\/li>\n<li>Casey Cavanagh, PhD, ABPP &#8211; Assistant Clinic Director<\/li>\n<li>Lauren Ehrlich, PhD<\/li>\n<li>Karen Ingersoll, PhD, ABPP<\/li>\n<li>Stephen O&#8217;Connor, PhD<\/li>\n<li>Jaclyn Shepard, PsyD, ABPP &#8211; Clinic Director<\/li>\n<li>Samantha Simpson, PhD<\/li>\n<li>Joanna Yost, PhD, ABPP<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"border-float-right\">\n<h4>Location and Contact Information<\/h4>\n<p>Behavioral Medicine Center<br \/>\nPO Box 800223<br \/>\nUniversity of Virginia Health System<br \/>\nCharlottesville, VA 22908<\/p>\n<p>Phone: (434) 924-5314<br \/>\nFax: (434) 924-0185<\/p>\n<p>The Behavioral Medicine Center is located in the UVA West Complex on Jefferson Park Avenue.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Behavioral Medicine Center provides outpatient clinical health psychology services to patients across the lifespan experiencing mental health symptoms that are interfering with their medical care. We aim to promote patient\u2019s health and well-being and to prevent, treat, and manage illness and disability. Referral sources include UVA medical clinics and providers in the community. 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