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MY APPROACH TO WELLNESS IS DIFFERENT 

HI, I'M DR.TARA GUNTHER

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Most people’s ultimate goal in life is happiness, or, as we in the field call it, psychological health.  And yet, no one ever teaches it to us.  We’ve learned to deal with our psychological health only when it’s an active problem—just as most of us only go to the doctor when we’re sick.  In other words, if you go to the doctor with a cold, they’ll give you a course of treatment.  But if you show up saying, “I’m fine, but I’d like to be extra healthy,” they’ll call in the next patient and send you on your merry way.  Psychological treatment is not much different. The field is focused on treating what’s wrong—depression, pathology, personality disorders-and rarely on getting you past the level of “cured.” My approach is different.
Approach
My practice, grounded in clinical and positive psychological science, is focused on helping you make demonstrable change and take action toward the life you want—the life you really want, not should want.

​Finding the original source of your sticking points is essential, but too often the therapy process stops there.
It doesn’t give you a framework to apply what you’ve learned about your story in order to forge a new and satisfying path.

First, we increase your awareness.  We take time to look at your life from the outside.  Second, we get your emotions under control.  This is imperative to making progress.  Finally, progress demands action.  Make commitments to desired change.
Experience
Always interested in the mind-body connection, my clinical emphasis in graduate school was "health psychology".  I served as Psychology Section Chief  for a safety net hospital in Kansas City for a number of years, focused on program development and clinical services.  I am fascinated by the complex interplay between physical and psychological well-being.  Early in my career, I pioneered integration of behavioral health services into medical specialty clinics and primary care.  I developed expertise medicine specialty settings including Sleep Medicine, Diabetes, and Digestive Health.   My passion for wellness coaching includes an integrative focus on the seven pillars of well-being including sleep, movement, nutrition, relationships, environment, spirituality, and resilience. 

I learned through the years that it matters tremendously what has happened to someone and how past experiences often influence how an individual relates to others as well as their treatment providers.  Unfortunately, many see it through the lens of what is wrong with you rather than what has happened to you.  In this manner, I use evidence-based therapy to address the source of sticking points and action-oriented coaching to guide you toward that satisfying path.  

 

Individual Therapy

Individual therapy is offered to guide a person through the journey of increased self-awareness, getting unmanageable emotions under control, and demonstrated change.  

Bachelor of Arts, Psychology & Anthropology
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Masters of Art, Clinical Psychology
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Doctor of Psychology, Clinical Psychology
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Certificate Program in Primary Behavioral Health
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Leadership Development for Physicians in Academic Health Centers
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Certificate in Physician Leadership Program

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Integrative Health & Wellness Coach

UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON

ILLINOIS SCHOOL OF PROF PSYCHOLOGY  


ILLINOIS SCHOOL OF PROF PSYCHOLOGY


UNIVERSITY MASSACHUSETTS MEDICAL SCHOOL

HARVARD UNIVERSITY

BLOCH SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT, UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI

UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA ANDREW WEIL CENTER FOR INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE
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