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Stanford Health Care

Conditions Treated

Our Approach to Cardiac Behavioral Therapy 

Certain lifestyle behaviors, such as stress eating, smoking, or substance abuse, can contribute to heart disease. Psychological issues, such as anxiety, depression, or stress, can also have an effect.

At our Cardiac Behavioral Medicine Program, we provide personalized care to help people manage these lifestyle factors. We use the most up-to-date research (some of it pioneered here at Stanford) to help people make small, doable changes for healthy, lifelong habits.

Our highly trained psychologists help you identify thought patterns that may cause unhealthy behaviors. With specialized training in heart disease-related issues, we help you make sustainable modifications.

What We Offer You for Cardiac Behavioral Therapy

  • Advanced expertise of Stanford’s licensed clinical psychologists, who have specialized training in health psychology, biofeedback, and cognitive behavioral therapy. 
  • Team-based planning between experienced psychologists, psychiatrists, cardiologists, surgeons, and dietitians, who work together to create an individualized, tailored approach for you.
  • Individualized care to work with you in the way you feel most comfortable: one-on-one or in small group classes.
  • Robust support services including a support group for women with spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD), meetings with a dietitian, and a mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) class. 
  • Active research program that includes studies on the psychological impact that SCAD has on women and the use of telecommunications to manage hypertension. 

What Is Cardiac Behavioral Therapy?

Conditions Treated with Cardiac Behavioral Therapy

The Cardiac Behavioral Medicine Program looks at all possible psychological and behavioral factors that can contribute to heart disease.

Our experienced behavioral psychologists work with cardiologists, psychiatrists, and dietitians to create a comprehensive care plan to suit your needs.

Risk factors for heart disease

Our providers help you manage chronic conditions that could eventually lead to heart attack or cardiac problems. Our techniques include lifestyle modifications, therapies like biofeedback (therapy to teach people to control normally involuntary bodily actions, such as heart rate), or mindfulness-based techniques. The risk factors we treat include:

  • Excess weight
  • Lifestyle factors that influence heart health:
    • Stress
    • Lack of sleep
    • Insufficient exercise
    • Stress eating
    • Substance abuse
    • Smoking

Our team can also help you manage other conditions that may eventually lead to cardiovascular disease, such as:

Our behavioral psychologists can help with a wide range of cardiovascular conditions including:

Our Clinics

Preventive Cardiology

Our expert cardiologists offer an integrated approach to patient care, including understanding cardiovascular risk factors, developing individualized nutrition plans, and providing lifestyle counseling.

300 Pasteur Drive
2nd Floor, Room A260
 Stanford, CA 94305
Phone: 650-725-5909 Getting Here
Make An Appointment

To schedule an appointment, please call: 650-723-6459