Dr. Naomi T. Jacobs, PhD
Psychologist | Clinical
100 Executive Way 207 Ponte Vedra Beach FL, 32082About
Dr. Naomi Jacobs is a psychologist practicing in Ponte Vedra Beach, FL. Dr. Jacobs specializes in the treatment of mental health problems, and helps people to cope with their mental illnesses. As a psychologist, Dr. Jacobs evaluates and treats patients through a variety of methods, most typically being psychotherapy or talk therapy. Patients usually visit Dr. Jacobs because they have been experiencing depression, anxiety, stress or anger for a significant period of time and are seeking help. Psychologists may perform a variety of exams and assessments to diagnose a mental condition. Learn more about Dr. Jacobs by visiting her website psychologistpontevedrabeach.com
Education and Training
Northwestern University Medical School Ph.D. Clinical Psychology 1997
Provider Details
Dr. Naomi T. Jacobs, PhD's Expert Contributions
How can I possibly console my son?
I recommend your son meet with his pediatrician who can inform him of normal penis size variation at his age and what physical changes he can expect as he continues to go through puberty into his teenage years. If this issue persists, he would also benefit from meeting with a mental health professional who can help him: 1) learn to challenge his irrational critical thoughts and replace them with rationale supportive alternatives; 2) increase his self esteem by helping him identify aspects about himself that he or other people value and that contribute far more to defining him than his penis size. READ MORE
How can I help my daughter recover from accident trauma?
She needs support from family and friends and a safe environment where she finds demands familiar and predictable. She may benefit from psychotropic medication to reduce reactivity and hyperarousal. Meditation, visualization, and yoga can decrease anxiety and depression and calm the mind and body. Physical exercise can help release stress. She should give herself opportunities to feel and express the emotional pain associated with the accident and the loss of her friends. Constructive outlets include creating art, writing in a journal, talking to a person she trusts, or simply crying someplace she feels safe. Over time, this process leads to acceptance of what she cannot change in the past and increased ability to focus on the positive aspects of her current life and what she can enjoy and accomplish now. READ MORE
Can weight loss become an obsession?
Your daughter shows signs of developing an eating disorder where weight loss or restricting food intake leads to increased self-worth, control in one's life, a distracting purpose, or decreased anxiety, even when it adversely affects one's emotional and physical well-being. You should seek treatment for her with a mental health professional, preferably one who specializes in treating eating disorders. Treatment goals include: 1) increasing her willingness and ability to use constructive means to maintain a healthy weight, 2) replacing irrational thoughts with rationale alternatives, 3) identifying and resolving underlying issues contributing to her behavior. READ MORE
Do antipsychotic medicines cause weight gain?
Taking some medications often results in weight gain. You should meet with her doctor and discuss what alternative medications she could try that decrease the likelihood of weight gain. You can also seek out a second opinion by meeting with another doctor. READ MORE
Is OCD a disease or a habit?
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) consist of obsessions and compulsions that cause significant distress or functional impairment. Similar to other mental disorders, causes of OCD include a biological predisposition, environmental factors, and flawed thought patterns. Treatment consists of meeting with a specialist for therapy with or without the use of medication. Prescribed psychotropic medication often successfully decreases the severity of symptoms. A mental health provider who specializes in treating OCD uses a combination of mindfulness, cognitive therapy, and behavioral therapy to help most people who suffer from OCD successfully overcome it. READ MORE
How can I stop nightmares about an event from my childhood?
Years after the danger has passed, traumatic memories can spontaneously return into consciousness, both as flashbacks during waking states and as traumatic nightmares during sleep. Minor, seemingly insignificant reminders can also trigger these memories, which often return with all the vividness and emotional impact of the original event. In addition, nightmares of the traumatic event can represent incomplete healing of the past trauma. To decrease the likelihood of reminders and foster healing, you can work on establishing safety in your environment and relationships and make conscious efforts to distinguish the past from the present. You would benefit from meeting with a mental health professional who can help you establish safety in your life and help you more thoroughly process the past trauma to decrease the likelihood of re-experiencing it during sleep. READ MORE
What is the effect of antidepressants on a baby in the womb?
Medications vary in their risk of birth defects at different stages of pregnancy. I recommend that you and your wife meet with her doctor to discuss your concerns. READ MORE
Can kidney disease cause depression?
Chronic illness can adversely affect a person's quality of life, identity, and expectations for the future precipitating sadness, hopelessness, poor self-worth, and other symptoms of depression. Because stress and depression can suppress the immune system, a person's medical condition can become worse. People with chronic illness benefit from a willingness to adjust to challenging circumstances and live the best that they can given their limitations, consistent efforts to identify positive aspects of themselves and their lives, having or developing a purpose in their lives, and spiritual beliefs that can provide them with a different perspective and add meaning, purpose, and hope to their lives. READ MORE
What are the best ways to overcome negative thoughts?
You can make a habit of identifying positive aspects of yourself, other people, or circumstances. When you have negative thoughts, you can stop yourself and reframe them in a more positive manner. However, you should allow yourself opportunities to constructively express sadness, hurt, anger or fear which everyone experiences when dealing with adversity or loss. Then, transitioning to a hopeful and positive attitude can help one persevere, cope, problem solve and move on. READ MORE
Should I take my son to a psychologist to remove the fear of exams from his mind?
Yes. A psychologist could serve as another supportive, encouraging adult in his life and help him: 1) identify irrational fears or negative thoughts and replace them with rational, positive alternatives, 2) develop coping skills to deal with symptoms of anxiety that he finds distressing and interfere with him demonstrating his potential, 3) understand how to more effectively prepare for exams to increase successful performance on them, 4) resolve any underlying issues contributing to his current difficulties. READ MORE
I am unable to manage my stress. How can I help myself?
Use a planner or calendar to write down how you can realistically use each hour of each day to meet your deadlines. Include blocks of time to exercise, relax, pursue hobbies or spend time with family or friends to the extent that doing so is possible given your deadlines. Having outlets, balance in your life, or something to look forward to can help one work efficiently and promote good mental health. Finally, you can remind yourself that despite your worry, you always come through. Or, if you don't come through, you can remind yourself that you are making changes to insure that you will. You can ask yourself what is the worst thing that can happen? Is it catastrophic or can it be handled? You can also take a moment to gain perspective, reminding yourself of all the things going right and that you feel grateful for in your life. READ MORE
I have extreme mood swings.. Could it be due to my thyroid levels?
It is always helpful to rule out a medical condition. Hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism are good examples of medical conditions that can mimic symptoms of depression, anxiety or mania. Once you have treated any underlying medical condition, you can consider whether or not you need additional help from a mental health professional. READ MORE
My 14-year-old daughter exhibits extremely moody behavior. Is this normal?
While her age makes her more prone to such behavior, you could consider counseling to 1) foster communication and understanding of what each of you needs from the other and 2) determine if she needs help coping with various stressors in her life. READ MORE
My brother's illness bothers me a lot. I am deprived of sleep. Please help.
You should support and encourage him to meet with a mental health professional for an initial evaluation If possible, you should accompany him to explain your observations and concerns. He will likely benefit from a combination of psychotropic medication typically prescribed by a psychiatrist and psychotherapy where he will generally meet with a psychologist. If he is a danger to himself or others, you can get immediate help by encouraging him to admit himself to an inpatient treatment facility. As a last resort, if he is a danger to himself or others, you can contact the police who will escort him to a mental health facility to keep him safe and to start treatment. It is generally a better experience for the patent when he voluntarily seeks treatment and helps choose the place where treatment occurs. As for yourself, you should make a point to exhibit good self-care and potentially meet with a mental health provider for support and guidance with your specific circumstances. READ MORE
What causes my brain to think negatively most of the time?
Negative thinking is characteristic of those suffering from depression. You can also learn negative thinking from those in your environment. Or for some people, it represents the accumulation of difficulties they have experienced in their lives. For starters, you can try to stop yourself and replace a negative thought with a more positive, rationale one. However, if you are suffering from symptoms of depression (such as sad most days, loss of interest in activities you once enjoyed, poor self-esteem, impaired concentration, interrupted sleep), you should seek treatment from a mental health professional. READ MORE
Is forgetfulness a mental illness?
People do exhibit poor concentration, difficulty thinking, or forgetfulness when they are depressed, anxious, stressed or highly preoccupied with something. If this is the case, you can make efforts to alleviate those issues or seek additional help from a mental health professional. Also, keep in mind that if you respond to forgetfulness with anxiety or worry, you will likely find yourself exhibiting more forgetfulness. Perhaps give yourself a break from the worry for 2 weeks. Tell yourself you will re-assess how you are doing then. If no improvement has occurred, meet with a specialist, i.e., a neurologist, to rule out any serious problem. Naomi Jacobs, Ph.D. READ MORE
I feel hungry all the time. Is it a psychological problem?
You should meet with your doctor to rule out an underlying medical problem that causes increased appetite and also rule out side effects from medications you may take. Once you and your doctor eliminate those possibilities, it does appear that your increased appetite is psychological. Perhaps you are using food to comfort or distract yourself or fill a void in your life, and this means of coping is escalating and becoming habitual. It would likely benefit you to explore this possibility with a mental health professional who can help you develop alternative constructive ways to cope. Naomi Jacobs, Ph.D. READ MORE
What could be the reason for my anxiety?
If you suspect an underlying medical problem, you should meet with your doctor to rule that out. Otherwise, consider situations or difficulties in your life that precipitate anxiety. If you can identify solutions, you should proceed to take steps to alleviate the root cause. If you cannot identify a root cause or need help knowing how to problem solve or cope with it, you should consider meeting with a mental health professional. Please know that the symptoms of anxiety, i.e., feeling on edge, racing heart, shortness of breath, may feel uncomfortable but will not hurt you. Some people experience symptoms of anxiety or panic attacks for no obvious reason. It helps to respond to these symptoms in a detached manner. If you respond with fear or panic, the symptoms will become worse. Once you accept and allow the symptoms to occur, you should then become involved in an activity, thought process or conversation that serves to divert your attention. The goal is not necessarily to get rid of the symptoms but rather live your life simultaneously. With this approach, though, not only will the symptoms become less apparent, they will likely decrease significantly. Naomi Jacobs, Ph.D. READ MORE
Are certain mental illness treatments more effective than others?
Psychotropic medication and psychotherapy are the primary methods to treat mental disorders. Medication can dramatically alleviate symptoms in people struggling with mental illness that surface from changes in their brain chemistry. But such people often had stressful circumstances which contributed to changes in brain chemistry or find life circumstances challenging because of the presence of a mental disorder. Psychotherapy can help significantly in these cases. For example, it can help increase a person's constructive coping skills, self-esteem, effective communication, and insight into and self-awareness of internal conflicts or unresolved issues contributing to current difficulties. If psychotherapy is utilized early enough, it can help someone manage life stressors and exhibit increased resilience to developing mental illness. All in all, for different individuals the importance and impact of these two treatments vary. For most people, a combination of both treatments can lead to the fastest resolution. READ MORE
How do I get over the loss of my father?
You should allow yourself to feel the pain that you are experiencing and find constructive outlets for it. This includes physical activities, artistic or creative expression, writing in a journal, talking to a person you trust, or simply crying somewhere you feel safe. Eventually, a sense of acceptance will increasingly accompany your pain and prevail. You will often think of your father and miss him. Although I do not know him or your relationship with him, I expect he would want you to still feel happiness when remembering the good times and meaningful moments you shared. He would want you to recall his love for you and the positive ways he impacted you. He would want you to know that he will be with you even if he is not physically present. He appreciates you honoring him through your grieving but also would want you to eventually move on by attending to other people, experiences or opportunities in your life. It is helpful to have faith you will ultimately reconnect again. READ MORE
Dr. Naomi T. Jacobs, PhD's Practice location
Practice At 482 Jacksonville Dr
482 Jacksonville Dr -Jacksonville Beach, FL 32250Get Direction
Ron Kirsner, MD
9822 Tapestry Park Circle Suite 206 -Jacksonville, FL 32246Get Direction
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