UF Health Psychology Specialties

UF Health Psychology Specialties provides services in two locations: our Shands Clinic and, in coordination with Neurology, at the Fixel Institute. We provide general mental health services to patients across the lifespan, including children and adults. We offer psychological and neuropsychological assessments, as well as evidence-based treatments in a brief therapy model (10-15 sessions) for a wide range of behavioral concerns and mood disorders. We are a nonprofit practice that serves as a supervised training facility for advanced PhD–level graduate students, predoctoral psychology interns and postdoctoral associates. All patient assessments and treatments are supervised by licensed psychologists, many of whom are board certified. Our team also consists of master’s-prepared mental health counselors and social workers, and trained psychometrists who work together to formulate the best treatment plan for all patients.

UF Health Psychology Specialties does not prescribe medication, provide medical management or medical supervision, after hours emergency appointments, chemical dependency treatment programs, child custody evaluations or crisis intervention for emergency situations.

Services

Health psychology

Psychological evaluation and treatment for sleep difficulties, chronic pain, obesity, smoking cessation, infertility, coping with chronic illness, transplant evaluations and stress management.

General mental health concerns

Children and adults can receive therapy designed especially for, but not limited to, depression, anxiety, trauma related concerns, attentional concerns and associated signs such loss of interest, irritability, troubled sleep and feelings of emptiness and loneliness.

Child/adolescent behavior problems

Treatment for problems including, but not limited to, aggression, noncompliance and difficulty in social and academic performance is available for children and their families. Parent-Child Interaction Therapy for young children and Family Therapy, designed to reduce parent-adolescent conflict, are also available.

Neuropsychological and psychological assessment

Assessments for learning disabilities, academic giftedness, memory, attention and other cognitive complaints, epilepsy, cognitive problems from head injury, effects of medication on cognition, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder or other psychological or memory difficulties in children and adults.

Formulation of differential diagnoses

• Descriptions of the extent and quality of cognitive, emotional, and/or motor dysfunction
• Brain injury
• Provision of estimates of baseline or premorbid levels of cognitive functioning and recommendations for educational, vocational and rehabilitation planning

Forensic neuropsychology

Assessments for disability determination, personal injury, competency and criminal matters, which includes evaluation, deposition and testimony.

Consultation services

Frequently provided to schools, various public and private agencies, and health care providers. At times, UF faculty and trainees will offer workshops to the community or agree to be a guest speaker on areas where they possess particular expertise.

The Psychology Clinic receives consultation requests and referrals from physicians specializing in:

• Adolescent Medicine
• Anesthesiology
• Cardiology
• Endocrinology
• Hematology/Oncology
• Infectious Diseases
• Internal Medicine
• Nephrology
• Neurology
• Neurosurgery
• Ob/Gyn
• Orthopaedics
• Pediatrics
• Psychiatry
• Pulmonology
• Surgery
• Urology

Directions

UF Health Psychology Specialties is located in G-901 (Stop 11) on the West side of the hospital, directly under the UF College of Dentistry.

Enter from the West Entrance, which faces Center Drive. The most convenient parking is the West Visitor Parking. If you have a Disabled Persons Parking Permit, you can park in the parking lot immediately next to the West Entrance.

If you are coming from I-75, follow Archer Road East and turn Left (North) onto Center Drive. Go to the next intersection (3-way stop) and turn Left onto Mowry Road. Take the Left marked West Visitor Parking Garage.

Enter UF Health Shands Hospital via the West Entrance to the hospital/College of Dentistry Tower. When you enter the hospital, you will be in the Dental Wing and will see the College of Dentistry’s Dental Clinics. Walk through the Dental Clinics until you see the Dental Tower Elevators on your Left. Take these elevators to the ground floor.

Exit Left from the Dental Tower Elevators on the ground floor. Next, you will see the tunnel to the VA Hospital. Take a Left before the VA Hospital Tunnel. Follow the signs to the Psychology Clinic (Stop 11) on your right. Turn right at the Psychology Clinic sign. New patients will check in at the desk and return patients will check in at the kiosk on the left past the waiting room. A UF Health parking voucher will be provided.

Recommended parking is available in the West Visitor Parking Garage (near the intersection of Archer Road and Center Drive). Alternative parking is available in the East Visitor Parking Garage (near the intersection of Archer Road and Newell Drive).