Medical Psychology
Safe & effective treatment strategies for healing physically & emotionally
Dr. Sheldon’s Qualifications
Dr. Sheldon is a recognized expert in medical psychology, hypnosis, behavioral medicine & the treatment of stress disorders, since 1985.
He is a licensed Medical & Clinical Psychologist, as well as licensed Hypnotherapist
Lists of & Links to Some of Dr. Sheldon’s Articles about Stress Disorders
Help for Cancer Patients
- Create positive mind-body states
- Reduce stress & anxiety
- Reduce/eliminate pain
- Reduce side-effects
- Positively manage emotions
- Increase self-esteem
- Reduce need for medications
- Improve sleep & relaxation
- Increase motivation for healing
- Increase energy
- Sex therapy & intimacy
- Pre-surgical preparation
- Reduce pain of treatments
- Reduce/cope with symptoms
- Aid in rehabilitation
- Individual psychotherapy
- Couple counseling
Introduction to Medical Psychology
Health, dis-ease and healing are complex processes.
They include many variables – psychology, physiology, nutrition, sociology, endocrinology, immunology, religion, mind-body integration, and more.
There are two main areas in which I work as a medical psychologist:
First, I help patients by treating their medical, psychological, emotional, behavioral and social symptoms using psychological and behavioral tools and interventions.
Second, a person who is experiencing disease or illness is often faced with psychological and emotional difficulties that are specifically related to or caused by the illness. I help these patients to healthfully cope and resolve these difficulties
There are a variety of behavioral tools which I use in treatment.
Although my main specialty for more than 35 years is hypnosis, I am trained and experienced in other behavioral techniques including bio-feedback, psychotherapy, C.B.T., guided imagery, meditation, self-hypnosis, N.L.P., behavior therapy and desensitization, as well as expressive arts therapy (music, art, movement).
Behavioral Medicine techniques and tools can be effectively used to help people in many situations, including: medical issues, psychological, emotional, and learning difficulties, personal growth, and preventive medicine.
Benefits include:
- Short term, effective, efficient & integrative treatment
- Treatment is an interactive and proactive partnership which empowers the patient/client
- Treatment is goal oriented & defined
- The patient can easily assess progress
- There are no dangerous side effects (as with many medications and medical procedures )
- Patients enjoy natural positive side effects (increased relaxation, etc.)
- Patients keep & use new self-help tools – for the rest of their lives
I usually begin the treatment and healing process during the first session.
I prefer to work in a way which is intensive, goal oriented, focused on the real and relevant issues. I am also able to work more slowly and gradually. I do my best to meet the preferences and styles of each of my patients.
I help my clients overcome physiological medical & health difficulties – click on button to see list of diagnoses .
I help my clients overcome psychological & emotional difficulties related to illness
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Crisis
- Trauma
- P.T.S.D.
- Phobias & fears
- Low self esteem
- Low motivation
- Sleep disorders & nightmares
- Relationship difficulties
- Sexual difficulties
- Eating disorders
- Social dysfunction
- O.C.D. (obsessive compulsive)
- Fear of dis-ability
- Financial worry
- Loss & fear of more loss
- Pre-surgery anxiety
- Post-surgery depression
- Procrastination with compliance
- Side-effects of medications
- Side effects of medical procedures
- Existential crisis
- Fear of death
I help my clients acquire and strengthen coping skills
- Strengthen Confidence
- Increase Motivation
- Improve memory
- Increase concentration
- Communicate Effectively
- Increase Awareness
- Reinforce positive attitudes
- Increase Creativity
- Improve coping skills
- Increase stamina
- Reduce Stress
- Relax deeply
- Sleep well
- Enhance health & healing
- Overcome fears
- Eat healthfully
Additional Resources
When you engage in good Behavioral Medicine treatment
You are not only solving an immediate problem
You are preventing future ones
Behavioral & Holistic Treatments
- Hypnosis
- Self-hypnosis
- Bio-feedback
- Psychotherapy
- C.B.T. (cognitive behavioral therapy)
- Guided imagery
- Meditation
- N.L.P. (neurolinguistic programming)
- Behavior therapy
- Desensitization
- Lifestyle coaching
A few of Dr. Sheldon’s Videos.
Behavioral Medicine & Stress Disorders. Dr. Sheldon discusses his work on a television health show. (1988 – 28 minutes)
Dr. Sheldon demonstrates biofeedback on television health show. (1988) (length 12 minutes)
היפנוזה וניהול לחץ – מצגת עבור הפלגות פרינסס – 65 דקות. (English) 1996
Stress & Pain Reduction – Dr. Sheldon presents useful insights regarding the psychological, social & behavioral dynamics of stress & pain & related medical disorders. (1996) (length 57 minutes)
Dr. Sheldon demonstrates biofeedback on television health show. (1988) (length 12 minutes)
Dr. Sheldon discusses his work in Behavioral Medicine and the treatment of Stress Disorders on television health show. (1988) (length 28 minutes)
Hypnosis & Stress Management Dr. Sheldon presents on Princess Cruises (1996) (length 65 minutes)
Stress & Pain Reduction – Dr. Sheldon presents useful insights regarding the psychological, social & behavioral dynamics of stress & pain & related medical disorders. (1996) (length 57 minutes)
Medical Psychotherapy provides patients with relief from Physiological & Medical conditions, including:
Medical Conditions
Gastro-intestinal disorders
Irritable bowel syndrome
Headaches – tension & migraine
Reflux
TMJ & bruxism
Chronic pain
Obesity
Hypertension
Cancer
Asthma
Speech & voice disorders
Muscle spasm
Hyperventilation
Tinnitus & vertigo
Allergic responses
Tachycardia & arrhythmias
Angina
Conversion reaction paralysis
Paresis/paresthesia
Raynaud’s syndrome
Enuresis
Encopresis
Sexual Issues
Premature ejaculation
Erectile dysfunction
Inorgasmia
Embarrassment
Trauma
Herpes
Painful intercourse
Vaginismus
And other conditions
Dental Difficulties
T.M.J. (Joint Pain)
Bruxism
Myofacial pain
Needle phobia
Dental phobia
Allergic to analgesia
Surgery – recovery
Discomfort from braces.
Orthodontic appliances
Eliminate night guards
Orthodontic appliances
Gagging
Eliminate tobacco use
Gynecological/OB
P.M.S.
Pelvic pain
Dyspareunia (painful intercourse)
Dysmenorrhea (painful menstruation)
Vaginismus
Repeated fetal loss
Herpes
Menopausal symptoms
Premature labor
Delayed labor
Prolonged labor
Post-partum depression
Difficult lactation
Psychogenic infertility
Hyperemesis gravidarum (nausea & vomiting during pregnancy)
Oncology
Create positive mind-body states
Reduce stress & anxiety
Reduce/eliminate pain
Reduce side-effects
Positively manage emotions
Increase self-esteem
Reduce need for medications
Improve sleep & relaxation
Increase motivation for healing
Increase energy
Sex therapy & intimacy
Pre-surgical preparation
Reduce pain of treatments
Reduce/cope with symptoms
Aid in rehabilitation
Individual psychotherapy
Couple counseling
Family counseling
Counseling for friends
Feel welcome to discuss with me any questions that you may have regarding
how I can help you
DISCLAIMER:
Of course specific results cannot be guaranteed, and vary from client/patient to client/patient. Motivation and positive participation, as well as suggested homework are required of the patient. The work is a partnership between therapist and client/patient.
I want to give my patients the best treatment I can, and create the best treatment strategy for each patient. To do this, it is important for me to have the necessary information regarding their condition, medical history, and past and concurrent treatment, with other health professionals. I, therefore, request consultation with my patients’ medical doctors, when I treat them for medical or psychiatric diagnoses, or at least a copy of their medical report, so that I can offer the best services possible.
At times hypnosis or another modality of therapy is not recommended or appropriate for a particular client/patient. Whether hypnosis or another modality is utilized in the treatment of my client/patient is determined after consultation and evaluation of the client/patient, the specific issues presented the preference of the client/patient, and the client/patient’s medical history.
Regarding hypnotherapy: Hypnotherapy and hypnosis are usually very good treatment interventions. However, hypnosis is contraindicated under certain circumstances. For example, hypnosis is usually contraindicated for individuals who suffer from severe psychiatric disorders, such as psychoses and schizophrenia.
A proper diagnosis and evaluation of each client/patient must be made before hypnosis is utilized. It is only at the request of the client/patient and at the evaluation and discretion of Dr. Sheldon that hypnosis will be utilized.
Often Dr. Sheldon consults with other physicians treating his client/patient as part of the evaluation and the creation of the proper treatment strategies, as well as to ensure that there is safety, harmony, coordination and consistency among the health professionals treating the client/patient and the treatment modalities utilized. Dr. Sheldon will also ask the client/patient to provide information regarding any medications or other drugs taken.
Regarding Testimonials and Endorsements: Of course
what is written in testimonials and endorsements and professional recommendations represents the author’s experiences and opinions.
All of the above is for the well-being of the client/patient,
and to make sure that all work is done with high ethical and professional standards, legally, effectively. I want to give excellent service and wants each of his clients/patients to be as successful as possible.
If you have any questions, please feel welcome to contact me.