Isaac Wood
I appreciate how devastating mental illness can be. With that in mind, you will always be treated with sensitivity and kindness. I believe that each of us has a core child that developed when we were young. This core child responds to the environment almost like a knee-jerk reaction, based on inherited biology and coping skills that were appropriate for a young child. However, reactions that were useful, even protective, when we were children may now cause maladaptive responses to situations, leading to problems in personal and professional life. And these maladaptive thoughts always cause an emotional toll. So, we will work together to identify automatic thoughts and explore how they come together to define your core self. We will problem-solve different scenarios from various angles to find what you think is going to be the most productive response in a troublesome situation. I will gently point out what I think you can and cannot change, so you can devote your energy to worthwhile attitudes and behaviors that do not continue to drain your mental and emotional energy. I taught the neuroanatomical, neurophysiological, and neurochemical basis of behavior, health, and illness for over thirty years at the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine. I have an excellent knowledge of medications, and I will listen carefully to every detail of your history to determine what medication intervention is most likely to be successful for you. With every meditation I recommend, I will explain the benefits, risks, and alternative treatments.
First session
During the first visit, I will take a very comprehensive history. I want to know what is currently causing your distress, the specific symptoms you are experiencing (this will help determine the best medication for you), situations that are worsening or helping you live a full life, and what you believe are the obstacles to excellent mental health. I want to get to know you personally (your health history, your family's medical history, and all previous treatments you have received). To best mesh with you, I will ask you questions about your upbringing, school, work experiences, and prior and current relationships. I want to know what social and environmental stressors are contributing to the problems you are experiencing. I will take a very detailed history of health symptoms you are currently experiencing. To have mental health security, I need to also work with you on lifestyle factors that may be deterring from your well-being. After reviewing your history, I will provide a detailed explanation of what I believe is causing your emotional pain. For each factor, we will discuss interventions that can eliminate barriers and create opportunities for well-being. I will always tell you the pros and cons of each intervention, and together we will decide what approaches are going to work best for you given your unique situation. You are always in the driver's seat--autonomy in making your own decisions is extremely important to me. I will answer any questions for you. I may send you educational material if you want to know more details about something we discussed. With each follow-up session, we will discuss each item that we identified as a barrier to your well-being, how well the recommended interventions are working, and where we need to change strategies to optimize success.
Strengths
I try to resonate with each of my patients to actually vicariously experience their symptoms and the antecedents to their emotional distress. I have exceptional expertise in how the brain develops and functions, and how interpersonal experiences shape current functioning. I pay close attention to maladaptive assumptions that pop into your head. These assumptions may have been valid when you were young, but as an adult, they have created angst and emotional turmoil. Triggers push a "go button" in your thinking that then causes maladaptive thoughts and the accompanying feelings. My task is to understand how to retrain the brain, biochemically and through analysis of cognitive "knee-jerk" responses, to allow you to have the healthiest life possible.
Ideal clients
I have almost 40 years of experience treating patients with mental health issues. To be effective, I want to know as much about the patient as I can obtain (developmental issues, family environment when they were growing up, academic history from elementary school to the present; relationship history; satisfaction with current relationships; work history; satisfaction with social situations; use of legal and illegal substances.. I then weave this into an intricate quilt that reflects the current symptoms for which the patient is presenting for help. I then reflect on the patient, how I believe all the factors are integrated, and the areas where clinical focus is needed. I stress two very important points: 1. We are a team working together--I will use my knowledge and training to make recommendations, but ultimately the patient must decide what will work best at this point in their life 2. We diligently work together to improve the quality of life for the patient by addressing any areas that are creating difficulty,
Treatment methods
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
I educate patients about how current emotional reactions come from triggers that elicit an automatic message in their thinking. I explain to them that the message was probably necessary at an early age for emotional health and well-being; however, as adults, the message is no longer accurate. The message elicits emotional responses such as anxiety and depression, thoughts of inadequacy, and feelings of defeat. I work with my patients to; 1. identify the type of triggeres the elicit the automatic thoughts and subsequent feelings; 2. Challenge the validity of the thought and feelings in the here and now; and 3. learn to reprogram the tape into a more adaptive and matures reation that does not elicit emotional angst.
Location
Virtual sessions