Lauren Cunningham, PhD—Psychologist

phone: 608-255-9330 x 2

email:  LCunninghamPhD@gmail.com

Human beings are delightfully resilient creatures.  People may face very painful feelings, thoughts, and experiences, yet be determined to work through and move beyond them.  I feel privileged to witness such courage and determination in my clients.  

I work collaboratively with my clients.  The expert on you is you!  I bring my training, experience, and knowledge of psychological principles and treatments as tools to help you meet your goals for yourself.  Often a balanced approach is helpful, developing practical strategies as well as identifying underlying issues contributing to your present-day problems.  Some clients prefer to emphasize one approach over another; I aim to be responsive to your needs.  With compassion and humor, I can help you:

     Overcome worry and anxiety

     Lift mood

     Develop healthy eating behaviors

     Make peace with your body

     Adjust to trying circumstances

     Prioritize your life

     Live according to your values and priorities

     Accept yourself

     Let go of perfectionism

     Reconnect with your spouse

     Deepen relationships

     Relax

     Free yourself from fears of what others think

     Move beyond a hurtful past

     Cope more effectively

     Develop a healthy self-confidence

     Discover the power of your mind

     Enjoy personal growth

In more clinical terms, I have expertise in eating disorders, anxiety, depression, adjusting to illness/injury, grief & loss, trauma, relationship difficulties, life transitions, habit change, hypnosis, and other issues.  I work with adults, adolescents, and children.  If you aren’t sure if my expertise fits your needs, please contact me by phone (608-255-9330 x2) or email (LCunninghamPhD@gmail.com); I would be happy to discuss it with you.

If you have eating difficulties, I understand you may have mixed feelings about seeking help.  In fact, you may only be interested in seeking help because others have encouraged you to do so.  Most likely, however, you know that unhealthy habits related to food or placing undue importance on food is interfering with your ability to enjoy life.  I will work sensitively with you to help you gradually incorporate healthier eating habits into your life.

If you have eating or health problems of any kind, I will work collaboratively with your physician, nutritionist, and any other health professionals as needed to provide the comprehensive level of care you need. 

I believe faith and spirituality are rich resources that can be a vital part of healing.  If you believe this plays an important role in the healing process for you, I will work with you to determine how to take fullest advantage of them.  I am also willing to consult with your clergy to discuss what spiritual disciplines and perspectives may be especially helpful in your healing. 

Are you curious about hypnosis?  It can be an incredibly useful tool for weight control, quitting smoking, reducing anxiety, controlling phobias, improving performance and concentration, and managing health difficulties such as gastrointestinal disorders, skin disorders, pain (including childbirth), and nausea.  My training is through the American Society of Clinical Hypnosis, a society of health care professionals.  Please be aware that treatment by hypnosis alone cannot be billed to insurance companies, but might be if it is used as a tool in the context of psychotherapy.  You are also welcome to pay out of pocket for hypnosis; three to five sessions is often all that is needed to determine its effectiveness for you.  If you’d like to learn more about hypnosis, please contact me or check the ASCH website:  http://asch.net/genpubinfo.htm

Education:

Internship and Postdoctoral Fellowship, Health Psychology, University of Wisconsin Hospital & Clinics

PhD, Clinical Psychology, University of Kentucky

Certificate in Medical Behavioral Science, University of Kentucky College of Medicine

BS, Psychology, Abilene Christian University

Other Professional Experience:

·      work part time for the Health Psychology consultation service at  
          University of Wisconsin Hospital

·      facilitate Instant Sisters, a monthly support group for women with
          advanced or metastatic breast cancer

·      make presentations at other area support groups for people with
          chronic/terminal illness

·      regularly present seminars to psychology interns at area training sites

·      taught in the Department of Psychology at
          University of  Wisconsin-Madison

·      serve on advisory committee to Department of Psychology at
          Abilene Christian University