Resources
Head Health with Dr. Gary McClain
About Gary McClain, PhD
I am a therapist, patient advocate, and author, specializing in helping clients deal with the emotional impact of chronic and life-threatening illnesses. I work with them to understand and cope with their emotions, to learn about their lifestyle and treatment options, to maintain compliance with medical regimens, to communicate effectively with the medical establishment, and to listen to their own inner voice as they make decisions about the future.
I consult with community organizations on the needs of newly diagnosed patients and have spoken on topics such as dealing with a medical diagnosis, being one’s own patient advocate, and communication between patients and family caregivers, for local and national organizations. I conduct training for community agencies volunteers and healthcare professionals on patient advocacy and communications. Additionally, I work with employee assistance companies to provide workshops and counseling in the workplace.
Read more about Dr. McClain
I completed graduate work in Clinical Psychology and Education and hold a Ph.D. from the University of Michigan. I am also a New York State licensed counselor and am active in the HIV and cancer communities in New York City. I was formerly secretary of the board of directors of Miracle House, a non-profit organization that provides temporary housing to patients and caregivers who come to New York City to receive treatment for serious illness. I am active in a variety of professional organizations and served as the President of the Association for Adult Development and Aging. I teach counseling students in two graduate programs in the NYC area.
I have co-authored books including The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Breaking Bad Habits, The Everything Managing People Book, The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Zen Living, and Empowering Your Life with Joy. I wrote a supplementary textbook for nursing and allied healthcare programs, After the Diagnosis: How Patients React and How to Help Them Cope (Delmar, 2010).
I have written for publications that include Body Positive Magazine, Caring for Cancer, Arthritis Self-Management, and Hep C Connection, and write a regular column on mental health issues for HIV Plus Magazine. I maintain a website, www.JustGotDiagnosed.com, with information for patients and caregivers facing chronic and catastrophic illness, which was awarded the Standard of Excellence Award in the Healthcare category in 2008.
Head Health Blog
Worried? 8 Steps Toward Taming Worried Thoughts
“I’m worried.” How often have you said that? Been saying it more recently? Worry is part of life. In fact, I recently read about a study that found that people worry on an average of about one hour a day.
How About Assuming Positive Intent?
“There you go again.” There somebody goes again: Behaving in a way that is unhelpful. That is the last thing you need from them. If that person lives with you, you might be feeling all kinds of emotions.
Flight or Fight: How to Manage Your Body’s Natural Reaction to Stress
Flight? Fight? These are the two ways in which humans react to stressful situations. You have probably heard those terms before.
I will start… tomorrow… Self-Care. Procrastination. What To Do!
It is only human to put off today what we can do tomorrow. Unfortunately, our tendency toward procrastination may extend to our own, or our child’s, self-care.
Something stressing you out? Give it the 4-A test!
Running into a stressful event, or having a stressful event run into us, is part of daily life.
Self-Sabotage: Why We Do It and How to Stop
“I can’t.” “I don’t feel ready yet.” “This won’t work anyway.” Sound familiar at all? If any of these statements are bouncing around in your mind, you may be indulging in what’s called self-sabotage. The basic definition of self-sabotage is holding yourself back,...
Gary McClain, PhD is a recognized expert in understanding emotional reactions to medical diagnosis.
JustGotDiagnosed.com is a website for individuals recently diagnosed with chronic and catastrophic medical conditions, their caregivers, and loved ones. Just Got Diagnosed is focused on emotions, self-image, and spirituality to help them deal with the emotional impact of their diagnosis as a means of being better prepared for making treatment decisions as well as managing their condition in the future.