Dr. Stephanie Renfrow-Santiso, PHD

Dr. Stephanie Renfrow-Santiso, PhD is a Clinical Psychologist (Preventive Mental Health) dedicated to empowering patients with proactive, comprehensive care. As a partner in preventive health featured on weprevent.org, she practices at her clinic in Boca Raton, FL, and is committed to building resilience and long-term wellness. Registered with The Florida Board of Medicine and practicing under the Florida Statutes, Title XXXII, Chapter 458 (Medical Practice), she utilizes evidence-based therapies and creates personalized wellness plans to proactively safeguard 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. Stephanie PHD is dedicated to collaborative, evidence-based medicine, fostering a supportive environment where you feel empowered to take an active role in your long-term health. She serves all ages. Please call (919) 272-3618 to confirm if she is currently accepting new patients.

Dr. Stephanie Renfrow-Santiso, PhD is a psychologist in Boca Raton, FL, dedicated to preventive mental health. She emphasizes proactive care and a collaborative approach to support long-term well-being. She prioritizes creating a supportive and empowering environment for her patients, encouraging them to actively participate in their mental health journey. Dr. Stephanie PHD provides consultations primarily in English.

A key part of the WePrevent mission is building your personalized prevention roadmap. Dr. Stephanie 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. Stephanie 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. Stephanie 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:

• Phobia: Understanding and managing phobias through preventative strategies like exposure therapy can significantly improve your quality of life and avoid the development of more complex anxiety disorders.
• Intellectual Functioning Disabilities: By recognizing and addressing intellectual functioning disabilities early on, we can prevent secondary complications such as social isolation and low self-esteem, fostering greater life satisfaction.
• Mood Disorders: Preventing mood disorders involves recognizing early warning signs like persistent sadness or irritability, seeking help promptly to reduce the risk of long-term complications.
• Nondependent Drug and Alcohol Abuse: Taking steps to manage drug and alcohol use before it becomes a major problem protects your overall well-being and prevents serious consequences later on.
• Developmental Coordination Disorder: Addressing DCD's impact on a child's physical abilities prevents difficulties in school, social life, and self-perception, fostering positive self-image and preventing long-term emotional problems.
• Psychosexual Dysfunction: Addressing psychosexual dysfunction early can prevent relationship strain and improve overall well-being, fostering a stronger sense of self and resilience.
• Organic Mood Syndrome: Organic Mood Syndrome emphasizes the connection between physical and mental health; proactive monitoring of your overall health is key to preventing mood disturbances related to underlying medical conditions.

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. Stephanie PHD offers a range of key preventive screenings and services designed to provide crucial insights into your health and support your well-being:

• Integrated Yoga Therapy: Integrate yoga therapy into your wellness routine to proactively manage stress, improve emotional regulation, and build resilience against mental health challenges.
• Pain Management (Psychological aspects): Proactively address the emotional and psychological aspects of pain to better manage your condition and improve your overall well-being.
• Personality Testing: A personality assessment can serve as an early warning system, highlighting tendencies that might contribute to mental health issues, allowing for timely support.
• Mind-Body Focused Therapy: Strengthen your resilience and prevent future mental health challenges by engaging in Mind-Body Focused Therapy; it teaches you techniques to cope with stress and improve your mind-body connection.
• 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.
• Cognitive Function Testing: As part of your overall wellness plan, consider cognitive function testing to gain insights into your brain's performance and take steps towards maintaining cognitive health.
• Sexual Assault Therapy: Proactively address the aftermath of sexual assault through specialized therapy, which helps you reclaim your sense of safety and control.

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. Stephanie 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:

• A patient, through proactive exposure therapy sessions, gained a greater understanding of their phobia, reducing anxiety and improving their overall well-being. This proactive approach prevented the phobia from escalating into a more significant anxiety disorder.
• By proactively addressing potential intellectual functioning challenges early on, a family gained valuable insights and strategies for supporting their child's development, fostering a more secure and fulfilling future. This proactive approach significantly reduced the risk of secondary issues like social isolation and low self-esteem.

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. Stephanie PHD:

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

A clinical psychologist 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 life's challenges from becoming mental health crises.

What is the difference between a Psychologist and a Psychiatrist?

Psychologists, like Dr. Stephanie, 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. Seeing a psychologist like Dr. Stephanie PhD is beneficial for everyone, not just those with serious mental illness. Therapy can help manage everyday stress, improve relationships, navigate life transitions, and build skills to prevent more serious issues from developing.

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

Dr. Stephanie 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 and prevent your anxiety or depression from worsening.

What is the difference between a panic attack and an anxiety attack?

Panic attacks are sudden, intense surges of fear with physical symptoms, often unexpected. Anxiety attacks, on the other hand, are usually a gradual build-up of worry in response to a specific stressor and are typically less intense.

What is an assessment for ADHD like?

A comprehensive ADHD evaluation involves more than just a questionnaire. It includes a detailed clinical interview, review of school or work history, and standardized psychological tests to assess attention, impulsivity, and executive function. This thorough approach ensures an accurate diagnosis.

How do you help people cope with the stress of a chronic medical illness?

Dr. Stephanie provides a supportive space to process the emotional impact of a chronic illness and teaches practical coping strategies to manage pain, fatigue, and stress, helping to prevent the illness from leading to depression or anxiety.

How can couples counseling or family therapy help prevent problems?

Couples and family therapy provide a safe space to improve communication, learn conflict-resolution skills, and navigate life transitions together. This strengthens bonds and prevents future relationship difficulties, making it a valuable investment in healthy relationships.

7100 Camino Real Ste 302
Boca Raton FL 33433
Phone: (919) 272-3618

Dr. Stephanie Renfrow-Santiso, 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): 1699049916

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. Stephanie 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.