GI Psychology is a group psychotherapy practice whose behavioral health clinicians are experts in effective treatments for gastrointestinal disorders. We are specialists in GI psychology, which is a subspecialty within health psychology that treats the interaction between the mind and the gastrointestinal system.
Currently, it can go by many names such as Gastropsych, Psychogastroenterology, Brain-Gut therapy, and Psychoneurogastroenterology. Each of these names focus on the same thing: the bidirectional interaction between the brain and the gut. We offer individual, couple, and family therapies, as well as skills groups.
Who We Serve
We serve children, adolescents, and adults living with gastrointestinal disorders, chronic pain, and other medically complex conditions that affect both physical health and emotional well-being. We also provide specialized women’s health services.
As a nationwide telehealth practice, we provide secure virtual care to individuals and families in nearly all 50 states. We support patients at every stage of their medical journey and collaborate with healthcare providers for holistic and integrated care.
Children
Our clinicians specialize in treating gastrointestinal conditions in children while also supporting a range of physical and emotional concerns that can affect development and daily life. We help children understand the brain–body connection in ways that feel safe, engaging, and age-appropriate. Treatment uses play, imagination, and skill-building to support symptom regulation and coping. Care is individualized to each child’s needs, symptoms, and developmental level, with parent involvement and education emphasized to reinforce progress outside of sessions.
Adolescents
Our clinicians work closely with adolescents experiencing gastrointestinal symptoms and related physical or emotional concerns that can interfere with school, friends, family, activities, and daily life. We help teens understand the brain–body connection in a clear and developmentally appropriate way that emphasizes empowerment and self-reflection. Treatment focuses on building lifelong skills that support nervous system regulation, stress management, and confidence. Care is tailored to the unique challenges of adolescence while balancing parental involvement to support growing independence.
Adults
Our clinicians specialize in working with gastrointestinal conditions, including disorders of gut–brain interaction (DGBIs) and structural GI conditions such as IBD, while also supporting individuals with other physical and mental health concerns. Whether symptoms have been present for years or are only now becoming clear, we understand how confusing, frustrating, and exhausting it can be to live with ongoing GI symptoms. We help patients make sense of what’s happening in their body in ways that feel validating, understandable, and empowering. Treatment focuses on building practical skills that support symptom relief, greater ease in daily life, and confidence in managing symptoms over time.
Women’s Health
Our clinicians specialize in women’s health related to gastrointestinal, physical, and mental health concerns that often intersect with hormonal changes, reproductive health, life transitions. We understand that women’s symptoms are frequently complex, fluctuating, and sometimes dismissed, and we take a thoughtful, validating approach to care. Treatment helps women understand the brain–body connection in ways that restore trust in their body and provide a clearer path forward. Care focuses on building skills that support symptom improvement, emotional balance, and confidence in daily life. Treatment is individualized and collaborative, with an emphasis on steady progress, realistic goals, and long-term support.
Conditions We Treat
GI Psychology is a team of clinical experts specially trained to facilitate relief in patients experiencing GI disorders, chronic pain, and other medical conditions. We recruit therapists that are highly experienced in treating common psychological conditions and then provide rigorous training in GI and health psychology. Below are the areas we most commonly treat:
| Abdominal Migraines | Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) |
| Anxiety | HypnoBirthing® |
| Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) | Insomnia |
| Celiac Disease | Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) |
| Centrally Mediated Abdominal Pain Syndrome | Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS) |
| Chronic Pain | Medical Trauma |
| Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) | Menstruation |
| Crohn’s Disease (IBD) | Migraines |
| Depression | Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) |
| Disorders of the Gut-Brain Interaction (DGBI) | Panic Attacks/Panic Disorder |
| Ehler’s Danlos Syndrome | Perimenopause/Menopause |
| Endometriosis | Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) |
| Functional Abdominal Bloating/Distension | Postural Tachycardia Syndrome (PoTS) |
| Functional Constipation, Diarrhea, and Fecal Incontinence | Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) |
| Functional Dyspepsia | Ulcerative Colitis (IBD) |
| Functional Dysphagia | Unexplained Infertility/Medically-Assisted Fertility |
| Functional Nausea |
Our Treatment Approach
GI Psychology emphasizes two types of psychological treatments that have been shown to be highly effective in both improving physical symptoms and enhancing psychological coping. We provide individual therapy, couples therapy, family therapy, and parent consultations and can discuss the most appropriate clinician match during your initial consultation.
The combination of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and clinical hypnosis provides physiological relief from uncomfortable symptoms, while also enhancing resilience and coping in the face of discomfort and health challenges.
Clinical hypnosis supports nervous system regulation and overall wellbeing. Our clinicians provide focused applications that directly target the gut–brain connection, promote healthier digestion, and reduce GI symptom severity. Learn more about how clinical hypnosis can help the gut, as well as other medical conditions.
CBT helps individuals identify and shift unhelpful thought patterns to improve mood, coping, and daily functioning. We specialize in CBT tailored to gastrointestinal conditions (CBT for GI), adapting this evidence-based approach to address the unique challenges of gut–brain symptoms and chronic digestive concerns. Learn more about how CBT can help improve quality of life.