Our Clinical Work
The Center for Health Outcomes and Interdisciplinary Research (CHOIR) provides integrated clinical care either in person or virtually to patients who:
Are interested in preserving health by developing healthy habits associated with longevity and positive vitality, including adaptive thinking, mindfulness, meditation, healthy eating, exercise, social connectedness, meaning-making and spirituality
Have been diagnosed with a chronic illness and want to learn skills to manage symptoms for optimal health and well-being
Would like to improve their recovery following an acute injury or surgery
The CHOIR also provides services to caregivers for patients facing a chronic illness or recovering from an acute injury or surgery.
My healthy brain
My Healthy Brain is an 8-week group program that teaches specific skills and strategies for optimizing and preserving brain health with aging. Participants learn skills to build cognitive reserves and improve lifestyle behaviors in a small group format, over the course of eight 90-minute group sessions. This program also provides education on the aging brain; what is normal and what is not. Topics covered during the sessions include: building motivation, goal setting, physical activity, nutrition, social relationships, building brain reserve, sleep, and enjoying a healthy life.
Individual clinical program
CHOIR offers multiple different individual clinical programs for patients who have specific goals or concerns that they would like to focus on while working one-on-one with a clinician.
Lifestyle coaching
This service offers 4-6 individual weekly sessions for patients who are interested in working on a specific lifestyle behavior, such as sleep, nutrition or exercise.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Brain Health
This is a 6-8 session individual weekly program for patients who are interested in learning the fundamentals of CBT and applying them to a specific problem, like improving social support, improving mood, decreasing health anxiety, developing organizational skills and more.
Fundamentals of Mindfulness for Brain Health
This is a 6-8 session individual weekly program that teaches mindfulness meditation techniques to improve brain health. This course focuses on the benefits of mindfulness for stress reduction and brain health while guiding patients to develop and sustain a meditation practice that is realistic and fits within the individual’s life context.
Skills for Living Life with Purpose
This is a 6-8 session individual weekly program modeled after Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, which helps individuals identify the most valued aspects of their lives, and then links behaviors to these specific values to help patients find greater meaning in their lives.
Health Related Anxiety Treatment
Fear of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias is widespread and growing. This 6-8 week individual program is designed for patients with acute distress after a neurological consultation or a diagnosis, difficulties with aging adjustment or concerns about cognitive abilities. Patients will learn through basic CBT principles to address these worries related to cognitive decline.