HealingForUs
The Invitation to Wholeness: A Psychological Response to Disease
A Clinical Program of Bethesda-Chevy Chase Counseling & Consulting
Serious Medical Illness often leads to emotional distress for the patient and the patient’s family, friends, and caregivers.
Physical symptoms threaten the patient’s ability to function, and ambiguities regarding vital decisions about the future cause emotional and psychological stress.
Common Patient Questions Include:
- Why is this happening to me?
- What can I control?
- Why do they assume that?
- Can they really understand what I’m going through?
Patients’ Emotional Responses Include:
- Fear
- Anger
- Grief
- Hatred of their circumstances
Friends and Family Members Ask Questions Like:
- Am I being caring or overprotective?
- How can I help?
- What can I say?
- What about my needs--how could I think about my needs at a time like this?
- Is it wrong for me to feel irritated?
Our Mission is to help patients, their caregivers, family and friends to deal safely and effectively with these and other psychological issues.
- Individual Psychotherapy: for the medical ill patient or caregiver who wants to deal with the psychological effects of these challenges in an intensive way.
- Couples Therapy: for couples who want to continue to develop their bonds of love and emotional intimacy, learn how to talk about and cope with the effects of medical illness.
- Family Therapy: for families who want a safe and nurturing environment in which to explore the impact of the medical illness on their family life and tools with which to communicate and address their myriad emotions.
- Care for the Caregivers: a weekly psychotherapy group designed to support the caregivers, e.g. spouses, adult children, of patients with life threatening or chronic disease.
- Individual, Couples, and Family Services are offered by appointment in our offices in downtown Bethesda. Both Dr. John Becker and Carol Sprang, RNC, LCPC, are available to provide these services.
- Home Visits are also available if needed, including family therapy in the home. This specialized service is provided by Carol.
In addition, we continue to offer a range of psychotherapy and counseling services for all individuals, couples and families.
- This program is available either in a group setting or individually.
- It is also available by telephone or teleconference.
- We are also happy to speak to your medical or other group about our services.
Carol Sprang, RNC, LCPC is an experienced Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor and a Certified Psychiatric Nurse. Prior to coming to Washington, D.C., she spearheaded the Depression Disease Management Program at the University of Pennsylvania. Carol is the clinical coordinator for The Center: Post Traumatic Disorders Program at The Psychiatric Institute of Washington and has also served as its Director of Staff Development. She has over ten years experiences as a psychotherapist. Carol is also a Certified Imago Relationship Therapist.
John Becker, PhD. is a licensed psychologist and psychotherapist with 35 years postdoctoral clinical experience. He has dealt personally with the impact of profound medical illness both in his family of origin and in his marriage to Dr. Harriet Kramer Becker, who died of ovarian cancer in 2002. He has advanced training in palliative care and behavioral medicine. He is also a Certified Imago Relationship Therapist.
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Page Last Updated: 12/1/2004
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