As the demands of our hectic lifestyles are ever-increasing, so is the amount of stress that we are under. Stress is our mind and body’s reaction to tension from daily life as well as past events and future anxieties. The negative impact of stress on our physical and emotional health has been well-documented in recent years. The changes in one’s body caused by psychological stress (e.g. increased heart rate, higher blood pressure and muscle tension) start to take their toll, often leading to mental and physical exhaustion and illness. Too much stress can cause problems that affect our health, careers, relationships and overall quality of life. For example, stress has been found to be a significant factor in obesity, malnutrition, excessive weight loss, ulcers, heart disease, cancer, colds, fatigue, depression, anxiety, overeating, undereating, chronic pain, anger, and headaches.

Furthermore, there is some evidence that chronic stress may accelerate cell aging. A study out of the University of California at San Francisco showed that the immune cells of women under chronic stress displayed chromosomal changes characteristic of increased aging when compared with the cells of women leading calmer lives.

We approach stress management from a wellness lifestyle point of view. In addition to diet, nutrition, and fitness counseling, we offer psychological counseling to facilitate the development of effective coping mechanisms for dealing with psychological stress. We also address issues related to anxiety, depression, eating disorders, and body image concerns.

Services include:

• Comprehensive psychological evaluation to assess current emotional and behavioral functioning.
• Cognitive-Behavioral therapy to help develop the tools to efficiently cope with life stressors.
• Supportive psychotherapy and life coaching to help manage daily challenges.