HIPAA Compliant

Dr. Suzanne Mouton-Odum

Specialty Areas

Trichotillomania:

Trichotillomania refers to repetitive pulling of one's own hair to the point that it causes noticeable hair loss and significant problems for an individual. It is estimated that up to 4.5% of the population engages in repetitive hair pulling (11 million people in the United States alone). About 75% of people who pull are women, although many more men may pull, but not seek treatment because it does not cause them significant problems. Hair pulling can begin at a very young age, although most people begin pulling around age 12 years. The treatment of choice for trichotillomania is an expanded version of the cognitive-behavioral treatment called Habit Reversal Training. Therapy involves extensive monitoring of one's pulling to develop a functional analysis of the behavior. After the functional analysis has been developed, sessions are focused on teaching competing responses for the hair pulling behavior and determining what cues trigger hair pulling. Treatment can last from 6-20 weeks. A good source of information is The Trichotillomania Learning Center which can provide referrals in your area. Also, Dr. Mouton-Odum has launched the first on-line, behavioral program for Trichotillomania, www.StopPulling.com.

Self-Injurious Skin Picking:

Self-Injurious Skin Picking (SISP) is a common behavior and can manifest as nail biting, skin-picking, skin scratching, cuticle picking, skin biting, and lip/cheek biting. It is estimated that the incidence of SISP is greater than that of trichotillomania. SISP affects people from all ages and walks of life, and is usually a very hidden and shame-inducing behavior. Treatment for SISP is a variant of Habit Reversal Training and involves teaching a person to recognize when they are having an urge to pick, then teaching them alternative coping strategies or ways to alleviate the urge. Treatment can last from 6-20 weeks. A good source of information is The Trichotillomania Learning Center which can provide referrals in your area. Also, Dr. Mouton-Odum has launched the first on-line, behavioral program for SISP, www.StopPicking.com.

Depression:

Depression is the most common mental health issue in America today. Millions of people in this country suffer from chronic sadness, lethargy, and low self-esteem. In addition, physical symptoms of depression include changes in sleep, appetite, concentration, and memory, feelings of hopelessness and worthlessness, suicidal thoughts or intentions, and overall impairment in functioning. Research identifies that therapy is successful in combating depression. Dr. Mouton-Odum helps individuals to understand situations in their lives that contribute to their depression, as well as thoughts and beliefs that underlie their depressive symptoms.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder:

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is found in both children and adults. The disorder is characterized by repetitive, intrusive thoughts or images that cause a person to feel anxious. In response, the person performs some activity to reduce their anxiety. For example, a common obsession is about feeling dirty or contaminated by some substance or germ. A person might feel anxious about getting sick or infecting someone else with their "germs" and wash their hands or bodies to prevent the harm from coming to themselves or others. Therapy for OCD is called Exposure and Response Prevention and involves helping the person to face their fears (in this case to feel dirty) and not allow them to perform their ritual (not allow them to wash). Soon, their obsessions and rituals go away as they become more comfortable with the feelings of anxiety. An excellent resource for OCD is the Obsessive Compulsive Foundation (www.ocfoundation.org).

Specific Phobias:

There are a variety of different phobias including social phobia, claustrophobia, simple phobias (fears of certain stimuli such as dogs, bugs, elevators), and fear of having a panic attack (Panic Disorder). Dr. Mouton-Odum works with individuals who have specific fears by helping them to face their fears little by little, until they are no longer able to feel anxious in that situation. Therapy for these disorders is active and required that patient to complete between-session homework.