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Lisa A. Napolitano, Ph.D., is Founder and Director of CBT/DBT Associates.
Under the leadership of Lisa A. Napolitano, Ph.D., CBT/DBT Associates provides the highest quality cognitive behavioral and dialectical behavior therapy to individuals in the New York area. As Owner and Director of the private psychology practice, Lisa Napolitano, Ph.D., uses the most advanced research and state-of-the-art treatments to help patients with a range of problems, including anxiety, borderline personality disorder, eating disorders, hypochondria, impulsivity, obsessive compulsive disorder,and irrational or uncontrollable worries.
Lisa Napolitano, Ph.D., and CBT/DBT Associates primarily focus on two areas of treatment: cognitive behavioral therapy and dialectical behavior therapy. Under the assumption that beliefs, behaviors, and emotions are interrelated, Lisa Napolitano, Ph.D., and the cognitive behavior therapists at CBT/DBT Associates collaborate with clients to single-out problematic behaviors, thought patterns, and emotions, and teach skills to improve functioning. Dialectical behavior therapists implement the standard change strategies of cognitive behavior therapy and balance them with the acceptance strategies found in the practice of Zen in order to help patients better regulate their emotions, control their impulses, tolerate stress, and boost confidence.
Lisa Napolitano, Ph.D., currently holds membership in numerous illustrious organizations, including the Academy of Cognitive Therapy; the American Psychological Association; the Anxiety Disorders Association of America; the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies; the Society for the Exploration of Psychotherapy Integration; and Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society. Lisa Napolitano, Ph.D., served as the Founding Fellow of NYC-CBT, Co-Director of CBT Training for the Beijing Suicide Prevention Project and Former Chair of the Training Committee of The International Association for Cognitive Psychotherapy. Before opening CBT/DBT Associates, Lisa Napolitano, Ph.D., operated as Founder and Director of the Dialectical Behavior Therapy Program at The American Institute for Cognitive Therapy.
Lisa Napolitano's Schools
Lisa Napolitano's Publications
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Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: Symptoms and Treatment, by Lisa Napolitano
October, 2011
It seems that every generation in this country has faced a war, and with the return of soldiers this time from the Middle East, we are once again experiencing an increase in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in the United States population. Though it is commonly associated with war, one may suffer from PTSD as the result of any number of traumatic events, from automobile crashes and the death of a loved one to such crimes as rape, kidnapping, and assault.
There are 17 symptoms of PTSD that are grouped into 3 categories, according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. The first category, re-experiencing symptoms, involves invasive and frequent thoughts about the event, recurrent nightmares, and increased physical responsiveness when faced with a memory of the event. Avoidance and numbing, the second category, includes behaviors such as withdrawal from society, difficulty with positive feelings, and avoiding people and places associated with the event. The third category, hyperarousal symptoms, includes a jumpy temperament and difficulty concentrating.
Studies have shown that the earlier an individual seeks help for PTSD symptoms, the easier the symptoms are to come to grips with and eventually overcome. There are a number of treatment options that depend on both the therapist and the individual. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) involves altering irrational thoughts related to the event alongside simultaneous exposure to stimuli that serve as reminders of the traumatic event. Many therapists choose to prescribe medicine, such as antidepressants, in conjunction with therapy. An important component of numerous PTSD treatment regiments is family therapy, in which a therapist helps facilitate communications between a patient and his or her family. This process assists in increasing mutual understanding and helping to alleviate medical problems.
About the author: Lisa Napolitano, a New York City-based psychologist with her own private practice, specializes in CBT that has been proven successful in PTSD treatment. She has also attended clinical training workshops on the treatment of trauma by Edna Foa and Patricia Resick, both leaders in the field.
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