Dr. Richard A. Zimmer, PhD is a psychologist in Santa Rosa, CA specializing in psychology. Dr. Richard A. Zimmer, PhD is affiliated with Providence, Petaluma Valley Hospital and Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital.
Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital
Connecting with a therapist can be difficult. BetterHelp can help with that. They have an online network of licensed and accredited psychologists, marriage and family therapists, clinical social workers, and counselors. You can connect with their therapists via online video, phone, real-time chat, or asynchronous messaging. Easily switch therapists until you find one that fits you. Sign up through DocSpot for a discount on your first month's subscription.
Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD/ADHD)
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, or ADHD, is one of the most common disorders diagnosed in children. Nine percent of children in the USA have been diagnosed with ADHD. Symptoms, which include hyperactivity and difficulty maintaining focus or paying attention, can last into adulthood for some patients. Boys are four times as likely to be diagnosed as girls, although experts don't know why this is.
There are three main types of ADHD:
When diagnosing ADHD, it is important to rule out other issues that may be causing the symptoms. Seizure disorders, hearing loss, anxiety, and domestic problems are some examples of problems that can cause behaviors similar to those seen with ADHD.
Treatment can include stimulant medications, behavioral therapy to teach patients ways to navigate their world and control symptoms better, and accommodations at school or work. A structured environment (with lots of organization and well-defined rules) seems to help most kids with ADHD function at their best.
ADHD is mainly thought of as a disorder that affects children, but symptoms can last into adulthood for a third to half of those diagnosed. In adults, ADHD has similar symptoms as when it is seen in children: impulsive behavior, difficulty maintaining focus, being easily distracted, or a tendency to fidget. These symptoms can cause problems in a patient's careers and relationships. Additionally, adults with ADHD are at increased risk for substance abuse. Medications can be an important part of treatment for adults, as well as stress reduction techniques and organization skills training. Specialized ADHD coaches can help adults with ADHD manage their symptoms and succeed in all areas of their life.
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Cognitive-behavioral therapy, or CBT, is a form of psychotherapy or treatment for mental illness. It comes in a variety of methods, but the basic concept behind all CBT is the same -- thoughts cause feelings, which cause actions. If someone wishes to change problematic behaviors or emotions in their lives, they need to start by changing their thoughts. CBT examines ideas and looks for patterns that may be causing harmful actions. The therapist helps patients modify those thought patterns and, in doing so, helps them feel better and cope more effectively.
CBT is one of the most widely studied forms of psychotherapy, and it has been shown to be extremely effective for a variety of mental illnesses. Some of the issues that respond well to CBT include mood disorders, personality disorders, eating disorders, substance abuse, sleep disorders, and psychotic disorders. In some cases, CBT has been shown to be as effective or even more effective than medication. One of the interesting things that the scientific study of CBT has shown is that CBT actually changes the way the brain works, physically improving its function.
CBT differs from traditional psychotherapy in a few key ways. One of the most important distinctions is the emphasis on the power and responsibility of the patient in CBT. The patient will be encouraged to be the one asking the questions in CBT therapy, and most patients are assigned homework to complete outside of therapy sessions. There is a concept in CBT that everyone has power the power to change how they feel, even if they cannot control the situation, and this can be very empowering for patients. Because of this power shift, the therapist-client relationship is not as critical to success in CBT as it is in other modes of therapy. Patients should still get along well with their therapists, but they do not need a deep, dependent emotional connection to them. Finally, because CBT often treats a specific issue or problem, it is usually shorter in duration than traditional therapy. While some therapies may continue for years, CBT lasts on average just 16 sessions.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health disorder that people may develop after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event. PTSD causes recurring nightmares, flashbacks, and disturbing memories about the traumatic event. It is frequently triggered by particularly intense and life-threatening incidents. For example, someone involved in a serious car accident may have severe anxiety about the accident months or even years later. War veterans and people involved in armed conflict are particularly prone to developing PTSD. In decades past, PTSD was called shellshock and was used to describe the negative emotions that soldiers endured from war. Today, medical professionals who treat PTSD recognize that it can occur in all types of people and can result from all types of traumatic incidents. It is not known exactly why some people develop PTSD, although PTSD frequently arises from:
People who have experienced significant and repeated trauma are more likely to develop PTSD. Those who have disorders like depression or a family history of depression may also be more prone to PTSD. PTSD symptoms typically begin one month to one year following the traumatic event. There are four main categories of PTSD symptoms:
The intensity and frequency of these symptoms can vary over time. PTSD symptoms may suddenly return after disappearing for years. Many PTSD patients find treatment helps to gradually reduce their symptoms over time.
The most common treatments for PTSD are psychotherapy and oral medications. Psychotherapy for PTSD can include cognitive therapy (therapy to change thought patterns), exposure therapy (therapy to confront memories of the traumatic incident) and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy (EMDR). EMDR integrates exposure therapy with guided eye movements to help patients confront and process their trauma. Certain oral medications may help with PTSD, such as antidepressants and anti-anxiety medications. Self-care, support groups, and relaxation may also benefit those with PTSD.
The path to overcoming PTSD can be long and challenging and people with PTSD can benefit greatly by seeking professional treatment from a mental health care provider. Treatment can reduce PTSD symptoms, provide essential coping strategies, and improve one's quality of life.
The top procedures that Dr. Richard A. Zimmer, PhD treated as a psychologist in Santa Rosa, CA during 2013 were mental health therapy.
Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Richard A. Zimmer, PhD for Medicare patients.
| mental health therapy | 112 |
|---|
The top procedures that Dr. Richard A. Zimmer, PhD treated as a psychologist in Santa Rosa, CA during 2014 were mental health therapy.
Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Richard A. Zimmer, PhD for Medicare patients.
| mental health therapy | 114 |
|---|
The top procedures that Dr. Richard A. Zimmer, PhD treated as a psychologist in Santa Rosa, CA during 2015 were mental health therapy.
Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Richard A. Zimmer, PhD for Medicare patients.
| mental health therapy | 106 |
|---|
The most common conditions of Medicare patients that Dr. Richard A. Zimmer, PhD treated during 2015 were depression.
| Hypertension | |
|---|---|
| High Cholesterol | |
| Stroke | |
| Ischemic Heart Disease | |
| Depression | |
| Chronic Kidney Disease | |
| Asthma | |
| Osteoperosis | |
| Atrial Fibrilation | |
| Heart Failure | |
| Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease | |
| Diabetes | |
| Dementia | |
| Cancer |
The top procedures that Dr. Richard A. Zimmer, PhD treated as a psychologist in Santa Rosa, CA during 2016 were mental health therapy.
Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Richard A. Zimmer, PhD for Medicare patients.
| mental health therapy | 114 |
|---|
The most common conditions of Medicare patients that Dr. Richard A. Zimmer, PhD treated during 2016 were depression.
| Hypertension | |
|---|---|
| High Cholesterol | |
| Stroke | |
| Ischemic Heart Disease | |
| Depression | |
| Chronic Kidney Disease | |
| Asthma | |
| Osteoperosis | |
| Atrial Fibrilation | |
| Heart Failure | |
| Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease | |
| Diabetes | |
| Dementia | |
| Cancer |
The top procedures that Dr. Richard A. Zimmer, PhD treated as a psychologist in Santa Rosa, CA during 2017 were mental health therapy.
Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Richard A. Zimmer, PhD for Medicare patients.
| mental health therapy | 85 |
|---|
The top procedures that Dr. Richard A. Zimmer, PhD treated as a psychologist in Santa Rosa, CA during 2022 were mental health therapy.
Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Richard A. Zimmer, PhD for Medicare patients.
| mental health therapy | 37 |
|---|
Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Richard A. Zimmer, PhD for Medicare patients.
The highest averages for the top procedures that Dr. Richard A. Zimmer, PhD treated as a psychologist in Santa Rosa, CA were mental health therapy.
| mental health therapy | 94 |
|---|
The highest averages of the most common conditions of Medicare patients that Dr. Richard A. Zimmer, PhD treated were depression.
| Hypertension | |
|---|---|
| High Cholesterol | |
| Stroke | |
| Ischemic Heart Disease | |
| Depression | |
| Chronic Kidney Disease | |
| Asthma | |
| Osteoporosis | |
| Heart Failure | |
| Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease | |
| Diabetes | |
| Atrial Fibrillation | |
| Cancer | |
| Dementia |
He has a state license in California.
Licensed In: California
Dr. Richard A. Zimmer, PhD is associated with these hospitals and organizations:
Dr. Richard A. Zimmer, PhD appears to accept the following insurance providers: Aetna, Coventry, Blue California, CIGNA PPO, OptumHealth Behavioral Solutions (United Behavioral Health), United Healthcare, Coventry PPO, Medicare, Medicaid and AETNA Inc. (Open Choice).
According to our sources, Dr. Richard A. Zimmer, PhD accepts the following insurance providers:
Dr. Richard A. Zimmer, PhD does not have any reviews yet, be the first to leave a review of Dr. Richard A. Zimmer, PhD here: Leave a Review
Dr. Richard Zimmer's area of specialization is psychology. He is conversant in French. Clinical interests for Dr. Zimmer include psychoeducation, behavioral therapy, and attention deficit disorder (ADD/ADHD). Dr. Zimmer is affiliated with Providence. He accepts Blue California, Coventry, Coventry Health Care Plans, and more.
