Lindsey Duca, PsyD
Education
Fellowship in Rehabilitation Psychology, VA Palo Alto Health Care System
Internship in Clinical Health Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Doctorate of Clinical Psychology (PsyD), PGSP-Stanford PsyD Consortium
Masters of Clinical Psychology (MS), PGSP-Stanford PsyD Consortium
Bachelor of Arts (BA), International Relations & Italian, Stanford University
Lindsey Duca, PsyD
My career has been dedicated to providing psychological support to adults with new and chronic health concerns.
Before returning to my native Santa Barbara, I was the lead Psychologist at the University of Wisconsin Rehabilitation Hospital. My expertise focused on helping hospitalized adults and their families optimize adjustment to the emotional, physical, and cognitive effects of catastrophic injuries such as stroke, traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, amputation, extended hospitalization, or metastatic disease. In addition, I was an Assistant Adjunct Clinical Professor at UW-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health.
Prior, I was a Health Psychologist at Unity-Point Health Meriter, a community hospital and clinics system in Madison, WI, working with adults living with a range of chronic health conditions, including diabetes, gastrointestinal disorders, cardiac and pulmonary disease, persons with progressive or life limiting diagnoses, and family caregivers.
My clinical training included rotations in rehabilitation and health psychology clinics at VA Palo Alto Health Care System and Stanford University School of Medicine, primarily with adults undergoing intensive rehabilitation related to acquired physical disabilities including traumatic brain injury (TBI), spinal cord injury, stroke, visual impairment, and traumatic orthopedic injuries.
In all of my positions I have had the privilege of training advanced psychology students, medical interns and residents, and medical staff members in the provision of psychologically-informed patient care. I have also published academic articles and book chapters, and provided community presentations and trainings on topics related to the intersection of emotional and physical well-being.
Therapeutic Approach
It is important for psychotherapy to be grounded in best practices. My treatment philosophy is consistent with an ever-evolving medical and psychological literature on the powerful relationship between mind and body.
However, being scientifically-minded should not lead to rigid or impersonal treatment. We are working together to find the best treatment for you. Your body and its history, your cultural background and spiritual beliefs, your skills and strengths, your life experiences and goals, and the challenges you face are unique. No-one else in the world is living in your body or living your life. Your treatment must be individualized to meet your unique needs, goals, and values.
When you are living with a chronic illness or making sense of a new diagnosis, there are some aspects of your situation that are not controllable by you. Our job together will be to turn our attention and energy to those areas over which you have the most influence. My orientation, which is grounded in cognitive behavioral theory, focuses on the role of thoughts, emotions, and behaviors on emotional and physical well-being, and on your ability to influence and adapt patterns of thinking and behavior to help you cope most effectively with the challenges your health status presents. We will pay particular attention to the bi-directional relationship between the stress response and physical symptoms of illness. This practice is sometimes called “mind-body medicine”.
What to Expect
Psychotherapy can and should be a supportive, collaborative, exploratory, and ultimately empowering relationship. You can expect me to be empathic and curious about you and your perspective on the difficulties you’re facing regarding your health. I will point out strengths and successes, especially when you are having a hard time recognizing them in yourself. We will work together to help you explore stuck points.
You will find me active in the therapy room. I will ask you to be creative and open-minded in your approach to improving your health and emotional well-being, and to be open and honest about your goals and expectations for our work together.
Our mutual goal will be to create a safe space where we focus together on improving your health and your emotional resilience.
My hope is that you will find our collaboration gives you confidence in navigating whatever physical challenges you may face, and trust in your ability to be resilient— to bend without breaking— when future challenges arise.
