Welcome to Finding Light
Psychological Services
Mind-Body psychotherapy for chronic pain, anxiety, and stress-related illness
Calm the Mind, Heal the Body, and Get Back to Living
Serving Boston Metro-West Area
Telehealth Therapy Also Available
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Reduce or eliminate physical and psychological pain
Get back to the activities that bring you joy and fulfillment
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Quiet your inner critic and learn to embrace your true self
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Jessica Leavell, Ph.D.
Licensed Clinical Psychologist
Certified Pain Reprocessing Psychotherapist
I specialize in the psychotherapeutic treatment of chronic pain and other chronic physical conditions as well as anxiety/stress reduction and depression. My psychological approach integrates the latest evidence-based therapies proven to provide relief from painful conditions once thought to be untreatable.
I am certified in Pain Reprocessing Therapy. I also integrate Emotional Awareness and Expression Therapy, mindfulness, and cognitive-behavioral techniques proven effective for mind-body conditions. I also have specialized post-doctoral training in neuropsychology.
Mind-body conditions (MBC) are very real, chronic and debilitating
emotional and physical symptoms that develop due to stress, trauma, and
other psychological causes.
Our internal stress response system creates pain, anxiety, and other physical symptoms to alert us to danger. Breakthroughs in neuroscience have taught us that the brain interprets internal, emotional distress in the same way as external physical threats. When we experience long-term emotional distress, the brain stays in danger mode and symptoms become chronic.
Learn More About:
Mind-Body Therapy is a group of healing techniques that focus on the interactions between the mind, body, and behavior. When properly exercised these therapies use the body to positively affect the mind and the mind to help heal the body. This approach can include breathing exercises, body movements, meditation, and self compassionate cognitive behavioral therapy. Dr. Leavell can assist you in developing a set of techniques to further enhance your overall life. Click here to learn more.
A Link Between Pain and the Brain... Recent advances in pain neuroscience suggest that many painful physical conditions can exist without actual tissue damage and result from a hypersensitized central nervous system. Innovative evidence-based psychological therapies have been developed to address the root causes of chronic pain and reduce or eliminate previously considered incurable symptoms. Click here to learn more.
Wondering if mind-body therapy is right for you?
Doctor Leavell offers a variety of treatments to Massachusetts with anxiety, depression, and chronic pain and a variety of stress related health conditions. She employs a range of therapeutic techniques tailored to each person's unique needs. Furthermore Dr. Leavell has specialized certification in Pain Reprocessing Therapy and also employs cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) techniques to identify and reframe negative thought patterns surrounding pain, anxiety, and depression.
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Have your symptoms lasted for months or years without improvement?
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Have medical providers been unable to find concrete answers or offer vague explanations?
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Do you have symptoms throughout your body or, have they worsened, moved, or spread over time?
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Did symptoms begin during a stressful time, with no obvious physical trigger, or persisted beyond expected healing time for an injury?
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Are you in a constant state of hypervigilance or avoid activities due to fear of triggering your symptoms?
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Do you have a history of early childhood adversity, trauma, chronic long-term stress, or perfectionism?
If this resonates with you, healing is within reach. We will work together to break the thinking, emotional, and behavioral patterns that keep your brain on high alert. You will learn brain retraining strategies to calm anxiety, break the pain-fear cycle and assess uncomfortable sensations and feared activities through a lens of safety.
I understand your struggle
because I’ve been there.
I believe in mind-body psychotherapy because it healed my pain
This psychological approach has been found effective for:
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Back, neck, or shoulder pain
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Migraine
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Some forms of arthritis
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Pain lingering after a physical injury has fully healed
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Fibromyalgia
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Facial and occipital neuralgias
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Irritable bowel syndrome
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Chronic fatigue
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Pelvic pain
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Anxiety
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Depression
Reducing Sadness and Depression As Cold Weather Comes
In this post I dive deeper into how people in New England area experience changes in mood during the colder months, commonly known as SAD, Seasonal Affective Disorder. Plus I compare the difference between SAD and the "winter blues" and evaluate different options that may help you cope with these mood changes.
Finding the Right Therapist in Busy Boston Article
I invite you to read my latest post titled "Finding the Right Therapist in Busy Boston." If you are just starting your journey and want to learn how to find the right therapist then this is a great guide for you! This article will equip you with valuable guidelines, helping you understand what to look for, which questions to ask, where to seek assistance, and much more. Click here to read on how to find the right therapist for busy Boston people. Feel free to contact me and learn more about my therapy services here.
Important Information
All psychotherapy sessions are completed remotely through a HIPAA compliant medical record system.
Due to Massachusetts psychology licensing restrictions you must be present in the state at the time of our session.