It used to be that when you found out you needed surgery, you got a date for surgery and nobody told you anything. Then you had your surgery. That was it.

It’s different now. You’re an educated consumer. You want the best care you can get. You want to know how to manage this thing called surgery. That’s where I come in.

I’m a medical professional with 30 years experience as a registered nurse (RN). My work in surgical intensive care gives me firsthand understanding of what you’re going through before your surgery and afterwards, too.

It’s also important for you to know that I’ve been a licensed mental health counselor (LMHC) for 15 years specializing in Behavioral Medicine. While you probably don’t need an explanation of what counseling is, you may not be as familiar with Behavioral Medicine.

Briefly, the field of Behavioral Medicine studies the science of the connection between the mind and body. It used to be believed that the body and mind were separate. Knock out the mind with anesthesia and fix the body with surgery. And the body will heal on its own without any need to consider what is going on in the mind.

Not so anymore. Ground breaking scientific discovery has shown that the mind and body are not separate. They are an interdependent unit. Everything that affects the mind affects the body. And vice versa.

For example: Hearing the words “You need surgery” from your doctor can be hard. These words can make you very anxious, as they do most people. Your mind might shoot off in a million different directions. You may suddenly develop trouble sleeping or have a hard time focusing at work. These are simple examples of the mindbody at work.

If you want to enter surgery feeling less worried and anxious, I can show you how. Not only as a comfort to you but also to help make your surgery go much easier. Moreover, in our work together, I’ll show you how to set the stage for faster healing and less pain and suffering after surgery.

I do this work all the time and I delight in hearing from my clients after their surgery. They repeatedly report the many benefits of having worked with me. A lot of clients find that their surgery was much easier than they first thought it would be. They liked feeling more in control. And more at ease.

And needing less pain medication. That is perhaps one of the best benefits of all.

I look forward to working with you.