Dr. Aurelie Lucette - Miami Psychologist

10/13/2022

CBT for Irritable Bowel Syndrome can help improve patients' quality of life and decrease the severity of stress and physical symptoms.

Therapy for Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy can help provide relief from stress and anxiety, and alleviate physical symptoms. A Miami health psychologist discussed the benefits of CBT for IBS.

08/03/2022

Did you know that could help in the management of physical symptoms? As a , I'm excited to integrate it into treatment to help support my patients cope with a range of medical issues, including , and improve their quality of life.

Gut-directed hypnotherapy or hypnosis for IBS is a treatment that has proved beneficial to alleviate GI discomfort and improve overall wellbeing. Dr. Lucette, a GI psychologist in Miami, discusses the benefits of seeking therapy to manage your IBS symptoms through clinical hypnosis.

05/10/2022

Can you imagine the guilt, the unimaginable guilt of feeling anxious when you've been told by so many that "anxiety is not good for you", that "it will make your symptoms worse", or that "you will make your ibs flare up."

Can you imagine living with a diagnosis challenging beyond words, navigating chronic pain and uncertainty, and being constantly reminded that anxiety is not good for you?

Feeling anxious, when chronically ill, can be interpreted as a failure. I've heard it from so many of my patients. "I've made myself worse because of my anxiety", "My IBS is flaring and it’s my fault, I’m too anxious”, "I'm so worried and I know it's not good for me, but I don't know what to do."

While I do agree that anxiety can impact symptoms severity and can contribute to disease flare up, I also believe that we are responsible for using our words wisely when discussing anxiety with our patients.

In addition to providing psychoeducation on the impact of anxiety, we are responsible for providing empathy. That can sound like:

“It makes sense that you’re feeling anxious, you are dealing with a challenging diagnosis. How can I help you cope right now?”

“I can see that you’re going through a difficult time right now. How can we support you?"

"Your [diagnosis] isn't your fault. I know you're worried about the anxiety impacting your symptoms. What's the most challenging right now and what support do you need to cope?"

05/02/2022

You need an elevator pitch for your chronic illness!

Have you ever come out of a doctor's appointment feeling defeated, knowing you didn't discuss some important aspects of your health history or that you wish you had said presented differently?

Or maybe you've felt awkward when people have asked about your health, not knowing what to say on the spot and ended up sharing more than you would have wanted to?

You need an elevator pitch for your chronic illness!

In a medical setting, it can help you organize your thoughts and important health information you want a new provider to understand as they help make decisions for your care.

In a social setting, it can remove some of the anxiety and awkwardness of discussing your health by making you feel empowered to share only what you want, without having to figure it out on the fly.

As you come up with your elevator pitch, think about these different talking points:
- Your health issues (you can share your diagnosis with a medical provider or just describe relevant symptoms to an acquaintance or co-worker)
- How it impacts your day-to-day functioning (this part can be tailored based on whether you are speaking to a medical provider or your boss)
- What type of support or resources can help improve your care or quality of life
- Anything else that is relevant and that YOU want others to know

03/31/2022

"You need to accept your diagnosis"

Most patients living with , , or other chronic GI issues have heard this more than once on their medical journey. Yet, while they may want nothing more than to find their way toward feeling more at peace with the reality of their illness, knowing what "acceptance" really looks like can feel challenging.

Taking the time to reflect on what acceptance means to them (not their doctor, partner, or therapist!) is something I like to work on with my patients, always emphasizing that it isn't a linear journey, nor it is a box that they can check once and for all.

When living with IBS or IBD, acceptance might look like:

- Finally making plans to visit a friend who lives out-of-state after years of dreading the long drive
- Trying new foods
- Not feeling a need to justify yourself when you have a good... or a bad day
- Letting go of the expectations that every single person you cross paths with can understand your diagnosis
- Ditching a goal of going “back to a pre-flare normal” and figuring out a more helpful way of living with GI symptoms
- Making a medical appointment you've avoided for some time
- No longer waiting to be completely symptom-free to start dating
- Building in more time for rest into your schedule
- Not letting bloating dictates when you can go out with friends

What does accepting your diagnosis mean to you or your patients?

03/15/2022

I'm excited to share that I am now licensed to practice psychology in the state of New York in addition to Florida. I look forward to working with clients in both of these states!

01/27/2022

How are you preparing for ? What boxes do you need to check to feel ready for your surgery and the recovery ahead? So much more goes into getting ready for surgery than getting pre-authorization from your insurance and getting clearance from your P*P.
What is your plan to manage leading up to the surgery? What support do you have in place to be as healthy as you can prior to the procedure? Who can you lean on for emotional support or help with day-to-day activities during recovery?
Having a plan for surgery is an important part of the process and can help mitigate post-operative issues such as pain severity or emotional distress.

01/10/2022

If you or a loved one lives with or , you're probably familiar with the emotional rollercoaster of navigating flare ups and the that often comes along. Up to 30% of adults living with IBD experience anxiety, and this number goes up when symptoms flare. In this article, I discuss 4 tips to help you cope with flare ups:

1. Reach out to others for support
2. Pace yourself to manage pain, fatigue, and other difficult symptoms that may drain you physically and emotionally
3. Focus on strategies that have helped you manage stress in the past
4. Identify helpful coping statements and speak kindly to yourself!

I am Dr. Aurelie Lucette, a clinical health psychologist who provides individual therapy in Miami (in-person) and online for Florida residents. I specialize in therapy for adults living with cancer or other chronic illnesses. I also work with caregivers and loved ones.

01/06/2021

Do you ever feel the pressure to set new goals or make a list resolutions when a new year rolls in?
If setting new goals for the new year energizes you, it’s amazing! Go for it. If it only adds stress or makes you feel inadequate, skip it!
Setting goals should always remain flexible and self-driven. When it comes to setting goals or intentions, you should follow your own timeline!
Share below what works best for you when it comes to setting goals!

01/04/2021

Happy new year! Wishing you health and a renewed sense of hope in 2021 💫
I’ve never been big on new year resolutions, but I enjoy setting an intention at the start of each new year. I don’t always have a clear idea of what it will mean or what I will accomplish, but it helps me reconnect with my core values and feel grounded as I tackle a new year.
Last year, my intention was to step out of my comfort zone. I wanted to be able to do things that were meaningful and fun without being held back by fear. And I did just that in small and big ways. I started my private practice, which I love and feel very proud of, I showed up on video, I did some public speaking, I borrowed my husband’s longboard and asked him to teach me how to ride it (it’s so much fun!), I cooked new recipes and had fun in the kitchen. And I don’t regret taking any of these risks.
My intention for 2021 is to continue to step out of my comfort zone. Yup, nothing groundbreaking here, but there shouldn’t be any expectations to come up with new goals or intentions every year. It’s fine if you do... and if you don’t! This intention still feels very relevant and meaningful to me right now. And in a few months I might want to set up another intention, and that’s okay to.
Did you set any goals/intentions for 2021? Share below!

12/21/2020

Whether becoming a caregiver was a choice or not, it can often be taxing, both emotionally and physically. Caregivers deserve their own support as well!

Being a caregiver can be a rewarding experience. It offers quality time with loved ones and family. Many times in their last living years.

It can help quell loneliness for both parties or offer a sense of gratitude for being in each other's lives.

It can also become stressful to constantly feel on-call. This is where caregiver stress comes in.

According to an APA study, "More than half (55 percent) of caregivers report that they feel overwhelmed by the amount of care their aging or
chronically ill family member requires."

If you feel like you or a friend are experiencing this- make sure to check our stories today for a super affordable resource!