GI Psychology Specialists
Specialized Digestive Health Care for Patients of all Ages
Understanding the
Brain-Gut Connection
Many patients with digestive system issues experience various emotions associated with their condition.
Stress or intense emotions can interfere with digestion and aggravate symptoms. Experiencing GI symptoms can result in distressing thoughts and emotions that increase stress levels and aggravate bothersome symptoms.
Our GI psychology approach focuses on enhancing psychological resources to optimize digestive wellness and strengthen resilience to stress. By identifying modifiable factors that influence the brain-gut connection, we can help develop a personalized treatment plan that is specific to your needs.
Don’t Wait Another Day
If you or a family member is experiencing digestive health concerns, our team of licensed mental health clinicians
is here to develop a personalized treatment plan that is specific to your needs.
Our Role as GI Psychology Specialists
Our team of licensed, mental health clinicians has demonstrated success in treating gastrointestinal disorders. Let us help you too.
Tiffanny Duffing, PhD
Ali Navidi, PsyD
AK Black, PhD
Betsy Gaines, PsyD
Jo Eckler, PsyD
Tina Kavarligos, LPC
We specialize in working with patients of all ages: children, adolescents, and adults who experience conditions related to disorders of the gut-brain interaction and other medical conditions, including chronic pain. Our team’s experience includes working in the best children’s hospitals to provide comprehensive care. Our clinicians have specialized training in health psychology for gastrointestinal disorders and pediatric gastroenterology.
Is Your Child’s Stomach Always Hurting?
It May Be More Than Just Food. We specialize in treating the gut-brain connection with evidence-based gastro psychology.
Chronic stomach pain, nausea, or bathroom issues can take a serious emotional toll—on kids and parents alike. We help families break the cycle of stress and symptoms so your child can thrive.
All our services are fully virtual through secure video conferencing. We offer flexible scheduling including evenings and weekends to accommodate your busy life.
What Our Clients Say
“My therapist was excellent in helping me improve my IBS through hypnotherapy and educating me on techniques to continue improving my overall health through the power of my mind. I realized the power in hypnosis for improvement of health conditions and that I can improve my health on my own by implementing mind over circumstances/symptoms with proper techniques.”
Common Conditions We Address
Our practice routinely works with patients experiencing a variety of GI conditions, including:
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
- Disorders of the Gut-Brain Interaction (DGBI)
- Chronic pain conditions
- Functional dyspepsia
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD, including Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn’s Disease)
- Centrally Mediated Abdominal Pain Syndrome
- Functional abdominal pain/bloating/distension
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
- Anxiety related to digestive symptoms
- Depression
We also address psychological aspects of other conditions including intestinal pain, functional dysphagia, functional constipation, functional diarrhea, and fecal incontinence.
Our Evidence-Based Treatment Approach
Our effective treatment approach emphasizes two scientifically validated therapies that have been shown to create relief for gastrointestinal disorders:
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
CBT is a structured approach that helps identify and change unhelpful thought patterns affecting your gut health.
Clinical Hypnosis
A powerful technique that uses guided relaxation and focused attention to achieve a heightened state of awareness that can positively influence gut function.
Our treatment approaches are tailored to each individual, emphasizing your unique strengths and clearly defined goals. We focus on helping you actively build and practice skills that can be applied in real-life situations as needed
Getting Started With Us
Free Initial Consultation
We offer a free consultation call to discuss your GI health concerns and determine if we are the right fit for you. We will learn more about your needs and thenconnect you with the right licensed clinician for your situation.
Insurance
We are out-of-network providers. Patients pay after each session and receive a superbill with all necessary codes for insurance reimbursement. Many patients qualify for gap exceptions/single case agreements through their insurance company, which can provide in-network coverage reimbursement rates.
Collaborative Care
We believe collaborative specialty care is essential to overall health. Our GI Psychology team collaborates closely with gastroenterologists and other medical providers to provide holistic care addressing both mind and body. We maintain regular communication with your referring providers to ensure coordinated care.
Gastroenterologists, specialty providers, and primary care doctors regularly offer referrals for their patients to our practice. Referring providers can use our Warm Hand Off process, where our staff will follow up directly with the patient, improving follow-through on treatment recommendations.
Ready to Take the First Step?
If you or a family member is experiencing digestive health concerns, our team is here to help. Send us a message or schedule a free consultation call today.