Depression comes in many forms, some long-lasting and others situational. Some of the common features of depression include persistent low mood (including sadness, anger, or feelings of emptiness), disturbed sleep or appetite, social withdrawal, thoughts of death, and a loss of interest in things that used to be pleasurable. There are many effective forms of treatment for depression, including exercise, psychotherapy, and medication. Patients often benefit from a mix of various treatments, and Cognizant Mental Health can help determine the most effective individualized treatment plan for each patient.

Like depression, anxiety comes in different forms. Anxiety often manifests as symptoms related to irrational fear and excessive dread, and many anxious people experience distressing physical symptoms including heart palpitations or shortness of breath. Anxiety disorders often co-occur with other mental health problems or substance abuse. At Cognizant Mental Health, we use evidence-based practices, including cognitive behavioral therapy, mindfulness, and grounding techniques to help patients reduce anxiety.

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is an anxiety disorder in which patients have an uncontrollable need to perform routines or check things constantly and repeatedly. Cognizant Mental Health uses cognitive behavioral therapy to reduce symptoms of OCD and to help patients improve awareness of obsessive thinking and compulsive behaviors and master skills for reducing them.

A type of anxiety disorder, PTSD or Posttraumatic Stress Disorder can develop after a traumatic event (or multiple events, including abuse) that involved the threat of death or physical injury. PTSD symptoms can include disturbing memories or intrusive thoughts of the event, and efforts to avoid places or people that are reminders of the event. By incorporating psychotherapy, Cognizant Mental Health helps reduce symptoms of PTSD and helps patients learn skills to reduce distressing symptoms and better cope with their feelings.

Personality disorders begin in early adulthood and manifest as an enduring, inflexible, and pervasive pattern of inner experience and behavior that cause significant impairment and distress in multiple domains. People with personality disorders often have difficulty regulating their emotions and connecting with others. Cognizant Mental Health provides psychotherapy to reduce mood and anxiety symptoms associated with personality disorders. by helping patients develop insight into maladaptive personality traits and better regulate their emotions.

Grief is the response to loss, particularly to the loss of someone or some living thing that has died, to which a bond or affection was formed. Although conventionally focused on the emotional response to loss, grief also has physical, cognitive, behavioral, social, cultural, spiritual, and philosophical dimensions. Cognizant Mental Health utilizes grief therapy to help clients create a safe space to heal and process the loss, feel all the emotions associated with bereavement in a supported environment, learn coping skills for tolerating the distressing emotions, discover how to regulate their body and respond to feelings without bypassing them, and find meaning and purpose that honors their loved one.

Eating disorders are behavioral conditions characterized by severe and persistent disturbance in eating behaviors and associated distressing thoughts and emotions. They can be very serious conditions affecting physical, psychological, and social function. Mindful eating focuses on eating experiences, body-related sensations, and thoughts and feelings about food, with heightened awareness and without judgment.