Prana Mental Health - Heather Abercrombie, PhD

My goal is to work with clients to decrease suffering and enhance well-being. I take a warm and integrative approach that is informed by yoga and neuroscience. An option for therapy is to incorporate mind-body practices into "talk therapy." Examples of such mind-body practices are mindful body awareness, breathwork, movement, exercise, or being in nature. I believe that augmenting psychotherapy with movement, exercise, or body-based "somatic" practices has powerful therapeutic effects on the mind and the brain. Research in many arenas supports this belief. I also provide a variety of empirically supported psychotherapies, including a variety of cognitive behavioral therapies, mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, and exercise for mood and anxiety disorders. The practices and type of therapy we choose depends upon your intentions, goals, and preferences. Within any of the psychotherapy services I provide, we acknowledge and work with difficulties arising from adversities and life stress. While working with these concerns, we also explore transformative practices to access resilience, joy, and purpose in life. Please see below under "How to work with me" for information on how to access appointments. Yoga and Prana: I have found that the practices and principles of yoga support my own mental health. Working with prana is an aspect of yoga I find particularly beneficial. "Prana" is a Sanskrit word referring to the energy or vital life force in the mind and the body. I chose the name "Prana Mental Health" because I believe that embodied practices can powerfully support mental health. "Doing yoga" and discussion of yoga need not be a central part of the therapy I provide. Nonetheless, I consistently consider prana and mind-body wellness as we explore ways to promote mental health. Qualifications and Experience: I am a Licensed Psychologist with extensive experience in mental health and neuroscience. I worked at the University of Wisconsin-Madison (UW-Madison) for twenty years. At UW-Madison, I led research on depression and provided psychotherapy with specializations in mood, anxiety, and trauma-related disorders. I maintain active collaborations with researchers at UW-Madison and other universities. In addition, I completed Advanced Studies in Alignment Yoga in 2017 and am a Registered Yoga Teacher. I am fascinated by the mind and the brain, and I have deep appreciation for yoga practices, traditions, and wisdom. My goal is to bring my experiences and perspectives to provide holistic mental health services informed by both neuroscience and yoga. Payment and Fees: My fees are listed in the "Services" section on my website. Credit card payment is accepted. I am happy to provide referrals to lower cost mental health resources if that is of interest to you. I do not take insurance. However, I can provide a "super bill" for you to submit to your insurance for reimbursement. If you plan to seek reimbursement, please check with your insurance provider to determine whether your plan would cover services with me. How to work with me: I would be delighted to explore the possibility of working together to determine whether my approach is a fit for you. I work with adults of all ages. I am a culturally oriented therapist committed to doing anti-racist and LGBTQIA+ positive work. I am accepting clients for in-person appointments in Madison, Wisconsin. In addition, I offer online virtual telehealth appointments to residents of many states, including Wisconsin. I am authorized for the interjurisdictional practice of telepsychology through PsyPact. I am therefore accepting clients for telehealth psychotherapy from any state where PsyPact legislation has been enacted (https://psypact.org/mpage/psypactmap). I have daytime and limited evening availability. If you have any questions, please feel free to call or email me using the contact icon on my website. Upon request, I am happy to do a free 15-minute consultation. If you are interested in psychotherapy with me, you may schedule a New Client Appointment using the "Request Appointment" button. Thank you!