Dr. Tina Smith-Bonahue, PHD

Dr. Tina Smith-Bonahue, 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 Gainesville, FL, and is registered with The Florida Board of Medicine, practicing under the Florida Statutes, Title XXXII, Chapter 458 (Medical Practice). Her commitment lies in building resilience and fostering long-term wellness through evidence-based therapies.

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. Tina PHD serves all ages and is committed to a collaborative, evidence-based approach, creating a supportive environment where patients feel empowered to take an active role in their long-term health. Patients should call (352) 332-9015 to confirm if she is currently accepting new patients.

Dr. Tina Smith-Bonahue, PhD is a psychologist in Gainesville, FL, dedicated to preventive mental health. Her approach emphasizes collaboration and evidence-based medicine, ensuring a supportive and empowering experience for every patient. Dr. Tina PHD provides consultations primarily in English.

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

• Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder (OCPD): If you're excessively focused on orderliness and perfection to the point it causes significant distress or difficulty in daily functioning, seeking help for OCPD can significantly prevent burnout and relationship strain.
• Neurosis: Addressing neurotic tendencies early on, through strategies like therapy and stress management techniques, can help build resilience and prevent the development of more serious mental health conditions.
• Substance Use Disorders: Early intervention for substance use is crucial for preventing addiction and its devastating consequences on your mental and physical health.
• Feeding Disorders: Early identification and treatment of feeding disorders in children can prevent long-term nutritional deficiencies and emotional distress, promoting healthy development and overall well-being.
• 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.
• Alzheimer's Disease With Early-Onset: Understanding your family history and adopting a brain-healthy lifestyle can be crucial in reducing your risk of developing early-onset Alzheimer's and maintaining cognitive function for longer.
• Pediatric Behavior Disorders: Investing in early intervention for childhood behavioral issues is crucial for preventing more severe mental health complications and improving overall developmental outcomes.

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

• ADHD Testing: Consider ADHD testing as a preventative step to understand your brain's executive functions; early identification helps you access support and improve your daily life.
• Child Abuse Assessment: Protecting children is vital: this assessment screens for various forms of abuse and neglect, enabling early intervention and preventing lasting trauma.
• Meditation: Boost your emotional resilience and head off future mental health problems by using meditation to develop a calm mind and coping skills, empowering you to face life's stressors.
• Mind-Body Focused Therapy: Mind-Body Focused Therapy offers a proactive path to managing stress, anxiety, and other mental health conditions by focusing on the interplay between your mind and body.
• Marital and Family Psychotherapy: Enhance your family's resilience and improve overall well-being by proactively seeking support to build stronger, healthier relationships through therapy.
• Depression Screening: Protecting your mental well-being starts with a depression screening, a simple tool that helps identify and address depressive symptoms before they worsen.
• 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.

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. Tina 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:

• Recognizing early signs of OCPD tendencies, a patient developed coping mechanisms and strategies to prevent overwhelming perfectionism from impacting their relationships and daily life. This proactive approach fostered a greater sense of well-being and reduced the risk of future distress.
• By proactively addressing potential neurotic tendencies through therapy and stress management, a patient developed coping mechanisms, fostering emotional resilience and preventing future mental health challenges.

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. Tina PHD:

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

Dr. Tina is a doctoral-level expert in mental and emotional health. She provides 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. Tina, 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. A psychologist like Dr. Tina PhD can help everyone, not just those with serious mental illness. Therapy is a valuable tool for managing everyday stress, improving relationships, navigating life transitions, and building skills to prevent more serious issues.

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

Dr. Tina helps build a mental health toolkit by teaching coping skills to manage symptoms, identifying early warning signs of relapse, and addressing the root causes of distress. This proactive approach strengthens your ability to navigate future challenges and prevent your anxiety or depression from worsening.

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/work history, and standardized psychological tests to assess attention, impulsivity, and executive function. This thorough approach ensures an accurate diagnosis and personalized treatment plan.

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. Our team is dedicated to providing support and guidance during this process.

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, in contrast, are typically a gradual buildup of worry in response to a specific stressor and are usually less intense.

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

Dr. Tina 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.

1034 NW 57th St Ste C
Gainesville FL 32605
Phone: (352) 332-9015

Dr. Tina Smith-Bonahue, 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): 1831357763

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. Tina 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.