Dr. Julie Myers, Psychologist in San Diego

Listed below are some of the primary conditions I work with and how I typically approach them.  I often see patients with multiple overlapping symptoms and conditions.

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Bipolar disorder

I have specialized in working with bipolar disorder for over 20 years.  I provide psychotherapy alongside medication management. Interpersonal Social Rhythm Therapy (IPSRT) can help stabilize daily routines and sleep and to help detect and avert mood shifts.  Co-occurring disorders are common with Bipolar Disorder, so it is import to examine the whole person thoroughly.  Learn more from our blog:   The Diagnosis of Bipolar II Disorder and How Stress and Bipolar Disorder Interact.

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Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and behavioral issues

OCD is frequently misdiagnosed for years in part because it varies so much from person to person. I use Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), CBT, Inference-Based CBT (I-CBT), ACT, and Metacogntive Therapy (MCT) principles.  Body-focused repetitive behaviors respond best to habit reversal training, and behavioral modification is used for ADHD.   Learn more from our blog: OCD and Depression: Why OCD Is Often Misdiagnosed.

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Depression, including treatment-resistant depression

Depression can be an excruciating condition. There may be underlying conditions along with the depression, such as anxiety or OCD< which has never been adequately addressed. For depression that hasn’t responded to other treatment, my psychopharmacology background helps me to discuss medication options extensively.  For patients who have exhausted conventional approaches, I coordinate with Dr. Papp on the timing of psychotherapy around ketamine treatments.  Learn more from our blog:  Advancing Treatment Approaches for Treatment-Resistant Depression.

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Anxiety

Anxiety disorders are treatable; the mechanisms are well understood and the interventions work.  I treat generalized anxiety, panic, social anxiety, and health anxieties. I draw on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), exposure and response prevention (ERP), self-regulatory techniques, Metacognitive Therapy (MCT), and biofeedback to address both the cognitive and physiological dimensions of anxiety.  I work with parents to help children with anxiety conditions, following the Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions (SPACE) model. 

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Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

ADHD usually responds best to medication, but significant improvement can be made by learning behavioral techniques to improve functioning.  This is often known as executive functioning coaching.  I work particularly with adults who have recently received a diagnosis of ADHD and are wanting to learn new strategies to improve their lives. 

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Trauma, PTSD, and traumatic grief

Trauma treatment requires careful pacing so as not to retraumatize; I won’t ask you to recount your trauma until you’ve learned skills to self-regulate, and even then only with your consent. I am trauma-trained and use trauma-informed therapies and EMDR.  I also treat traumatic grief (particularly suicide loss) and co-authored a book chapter on grief coping strategies with Donald Meichenbaum. 

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Alcohol moderation or abstinence

I have worked with addiction issues since 2003 and have specialized training and credentials in the field.  I work with people across the full range of drinking goals from abstinence to deliberate moderation using CBT and behavioral approaches grounded in science.  Although I encourage patients to include self-help programs, such as AA, SMART Recovery, or Moderation Management, it is not a necessary part of treatment.  I have treated substance abuse of all types for over two decades. Learn more on our blog about the neuroscience of how alcohol affects the reward system.

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Relationship issues, life transitions, and caregiver roles

Sometimes, just having a structured and safe place to work things out can be helpful and is a legitimate reason to come to therapy. When there are clearer patterns to work on, I use social skills training, career counseling (especially for young adults), communication strategies, and couples therapy (primarily the Gottman approach). I have a special interest in supporting those who are in caregiving roles, of any kind.