Dr. Carrie Cragun-Atchison, PHD

Dr. Carrie Cragun-Atchison, PhD is a Clinical Psychologist (Preventive Mental Health) dedicated to empowering patients with proactive, comprehensive Preventive Mental Health care. As a partner in preventive health featured on weprevent.org, she practices at her clinic in Jacksonville, FL, and is registered with The Florida Board of Medicine, practicing under the Florida Statutes, Title XXXII, Chapter 458 (Medical Practice). She is committed to building resilience and utilizes evidence-based therapies to create long-term wellness plans, coordinating necessary screenings, and serving as a primary partner in proactively safeguarding your mental well-being.

Clinical psychologists specializing in preventive mental health partner with you to build resilience, utilize evidence-based therapies, create long-term wellness plans, coordinate necessary screenings, and serve as your primary partner in proactively safeguarding your mental well-being. Dr. Carrie PHD serves all ages and is dedicated to a collaborative, evidence-based approach, fostering a supportive environment where patients feel empowered to take an active role in their long-term health. As a psychologist in Jacksonville, FL, she is committed to empowering individuals to prioritize their mental health and achieve optimal well-being. Please call (904) 372-8141 to confirm if she is currently accepting new patients. Dr. Carrie PHD provides consultations primarily in English.

A key part of the WePrevent mission is building your personalized prevention roadmap. Dr. Carrie PHD is a vital partner in this journey, focusing on proactive strategies to protect and enhance your long-term health.

By working together, you and Dr. Carrie PHD can create a clear, actionable plan to address your unique risk factors and health goals.

A proactive approach to health involves understanding and managing potential risks. Dr. Carrie PHD provides expert care for a range of conditions, focusing on early detection and effective management to support your long-term wellness. Common areas of focus include:

• Expressive Language Disorder: Addressing expressive language disorder early on can prevent difficulties with schoolwork, friendships, and self-esteem later in life, fostering resilience and overall well-being.
• Autism Spectrum Disorders: Preventive mental health strategies, such as early behavioral interventions for autism, significantly improve a child's long-term well-being and adaptive functioning.
• Fear: While fear is a natural response, unchecked fear can lead to avoidance behaviors and other mental health problems; preventive strategies can help you navigate these emotions.
• Alzheimer's Disease: Understanding your risk factors for Alzheimer's, such as family history and lifestyle choices, allows for proactive steps to potentially delay its onset or lessen its impact.
• Major Depressive Disorder-Related Fibromyalgia: Recognizing the link between depression and fibromyalgia early can help you proactively manage pain and mood, preventing long-term disability and improving your overall well-being.
• Major Affective Disorder 1: Major Affective Disorder 1 is a treatable condition; preventative mental health measures focus on identifying potential risks and employing coping mechanisms, thus mitigating its severity and duration.
• Bipolar VI Disorder: Understanding your risk factors for bipolar VI disorder, even if it's less common, allows for preventative strategies like stress management techniques and consistent mental health check-ups to mitigate potential episodes.

This list highlights some common health concerns and is for informational purposes only. The best way to understand your personal health and create a prevention plan is to schedule a consultation. Accurate diagnosis and personalized treatment plans are developed based on individual patient evaluations.

Taking proactive steps is central to long-term health. Dr. Carrie PHD offers a range of key preventive screenings and services designed to provide crucial insights into your health and support your well-being:

• Eating Disorder Treatment: Don't wait until a crisis develops – proactive eating disorder treatment can help prevent long-term health problems and support sustainable recovery.
• Play Therapy: As a preventative measure, play therapy empowers children to develop healthy communication and emotional regulation skills, potentially heading off future mental health concerns.
• Interpersonal and Social Rhythm Therapy (ISRT): Interpersonal and Social Rhythm Therapy (ISRT) helps you stabilize your daily routines and social interactions to improve your mood and prevent mood swings.
• Relapse Prevention: By learning relapse prevention techniques, you'll build resilience and develop a personalized plan to overcome obstacles and sustain mental health improvements.
• Family Psychotherapy: As a proactive measure for your family's mental health, family psychotherapy can identify and address issues like conflict, communication breakdowns, and trauma's ripple effects.
• Dual Diagnosis Treatment: Early detection of both mental health and substance use disorders is key to effective treatment: dual diagnosis treatment ensures that both conditions are addressed simultaneously.
• Psychological Testing: By undergoing psychological testing, you can gain a clearer understanding of your mental health and develop a tailored plan to enhance your resilience and prevent potential problems.

Service availability can change, and not all services listed may be appropriate for every patient. For a comprehensive understanding of all available services and to create your personalized screening plan, please schedule a consultation.

All medical services are provided in accordance with the standard scope of practice for Clinical Psychologists (Preventive Mental Health) in Florida.

Dr. Carrie PHD is dedicated to partnering with Family Members and Support Systems to achieve their unique health objectives. The following examples illustrate how a proactive approach can make a tangible difference in a Individual's life:

• By proactively addressing potential expressive language delays, a family gained valuable insights into supporting their child's communication development, fostering a more secure and confident future. This proactive approach significantly reduced their child's risk of future challenges in school and social situations.
• A family proactively engaged in early intervention strategies, significantly reducing potential challenges associated with autism spectrum disorders, fostering a positive and supportive environment for their child's development. This proactive approach instilled peace of mind and empowered them to focus on their child's strengths and overall well-being.

These scenarios are illustrative examples of positive health outcomes. Individual results may vary and depend on many factors specific to each patient. She will work with you to define and achieve your personal health goals.

Here are answers to some common questions about proactive Preventive Mental Health care with Dr. Carrie PHD:

What is a Clinical Psychologist, and how can they help me?

A clinical psychologist, like Dr. Carrie, is a doctoral-level expert in mental and emotional health. They provide evidence-based therapy to help you develop coping strategies, build resilience, and prevent challenges from becoming crises.

What is the difference between a Psychologist and a Psychiatrist?

Psychologists, like Dr. Carrie, hold a PhD or PsyD and specialize in psychotherapy and psychological testing. Psychiatrists are medical doctors (MD or DO) who can prescribe medication and also provide therapy. They often collaborate as part of a comprehensive treatment team.

Do I need to have a serious mental illness to see a psychologist?

No. Dr. Carrie PHD's practice focuses on preventive mental health, helping everyone manage everyday stress, improve relationships, navigate life transitions, and build skills to prevent more serious issues.

What is trauma-focused therapy like EMDR?

Trauma-focused therapies, like EMDR, are specialized treatments designed to help the brain process and heal from traumatic memories. EMDR, a structured therapy, helps reduce the distress associated with traumatic events, preventing the long-term effects of PTSD.

How can therapy help prevent my anxiety or depression from getting worse?

Dr. Carrie helps build a mental health toolkit by teaching specific coping skills to manage symptoms, identifying early warning signs of a relapse, and addressing the root causes of distress. This proactive approach empowers you to navigate future challenges effectively.

What is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)?

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a practical, goal-oriented therapy that helps you identify and change unhelpful thinking patterns and behaviors. It's proven effective in preventing the worsening of conditions like anxiety and depression.

What is mindfulness and how is it used in therapy?

Mindfulness is paying attention to the present moment without judgment. In therapy, it's used as a tool to reduce stress, manage difficult emotions, and prevent unhelpful thoughts from becoming overwhelming.

How can therapy support someone in recovery from a substance use disorder?

Therapy is a vital component of long-term recovery from substance use disorder. It helps individuals understand the root causes of their addiction, develop healthy coping mechanisms, and rebuild relationships, all crucial for preventing relapse.

2523 Herschel St
Jacksonville FL 32204
Phone: (904) 372-8141

Dr. Carrie Cragun-Atchison, PHD is regulated by the Florida Statutes, Title XXXII, Chapter 458 (Medical Practice) in Florida and is licensed by The Florida Board of Medicine.

National Provider Identifier (NPI): 1447643648

Registration can typically be verified through The Florida Board of Medicine website or by direct inquiry.

The information on this profile, provided by weprevent.org, is for general informational purposes and to help you connect with preventive health partners. It does not constitute direct medical advice from the physician named. Clinical Psychologists (Preventive Mental Health) like Dr. Carrie PHD are skilled in helping patients create proactive health plans. For urgent or life-threatening emergencies, please call 911 or visit the nearest emergency department. It is always recommended to maintain open communication with your clinical psychologist (preventive mental health) about all aspects of your health and your personalized prevention plan.