Dr. S. Curtis Takagishi, Ph.D.

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Get to know Psychologist Dr. S. Curtis Takagishi, who serves patients in Tampa, Florida.

A seasoned psychologist, Dr. Takagishi sees patients at his private practice in Tampa, Florida. He specializes in bariatric surgery evaluations, spinal cord stimulator evaluations, and headache management that includes biofeedback sessions.

In regards to his educational background, he received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from the University of Notre Dame in 1987, followed by a Master of Education degree in Counseling Psychology from Boston University in 1988. 

Later, he completed his PhD in Clinical Psychology at Fordham University in 2000, before going on to complete a post-doctoral fellowship at the University of South Florida in 2001.

Throughout his early career in Boston, Dr. Takagishi worked in both a private psychiatric hospital and a psychiatric emergency room, which provided him with a diverse range of encounters with individuals from various walks of life. 

During his time in graduate school, he developed a keen interest in being a psychologist in a medical setting. His experiences at Bellevue Hospital and St. Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospital in New York City exposed him to the emerging field of health psychology. A move to Florida, prompted by personal reasons, led him to complete his training at the University of South Florida.

Since 2002, Dr. Takagishi has maintained a private practice while holding positions at Spectra Healthcare and Tampa General Hospital (TGH). At TGH, he served as the primary burn psychologist, worked in the rehabilitation department, and provided counseling to bariatric surgery patients. He was also one of the original psychologists in the TGH multidisciplinary bariatric surgery evaluation program and has introduced many other psychologists to the area of pre-surgical evaluations. 

Driven by evolving interests, he delved more into the area of health psychology and became an expert in the areas of pain management and biofeedback, leading him to accept a position at the 

James A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital. In this role, he became a headache specialist, offering non-medication-based treatments through cognitive-behavioral therapy. Currently, as the clinical director of a multidisciplinary headache program, he helps individuals successfully cope with their headaches and improve their overall quality of life.
Beyond his professional pursuits, Dr. Takagishi prioritizes supporting his family and is known for his passion as an avid sports fan, especially college football.