Jill T. Levitt, Ph.D.

Home

2008-03-11T11:50:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the web site for S.F. Bay Area Therapy, the therapy practice of Jill T. Levitt, Ph.D.

I am a licensed clinical psychologist practicing in Los Altos, CA, specializing in cognitive behavioral therapy. In my work as a psychologist, I assist adults and adolescents who seek help in overcoming anxiety, stress, depression, and relationship problems.

I have received extensive training in cognitive behavioral therapy, a form of psychotherapy that focuses on helping people modify their thoughts and behaviors in order to bring about meaningful change.

Cognitive behavioral therapy is rooted in the "here and now." It is a goal-directed approach that is collaborative between client and therapist. This type of therapy is widely regarded as an effective and efficient form of psychotherapy. In particular, cognitive behavioral therapy is the most effective treatment for many forms of anxiety and depression.

In my experience as a therapist I have seen that anxiety and mood disorders are very treatable. Often people experience significant relief from symptoms and meaningful improvements in the quality of their lives in just a few months.

I hope you find this site to be a helpful resource. Please call me at (650) 468-6646 to learn more about my practice or to set up an initial consultation.

Bio

2008-03-10T21:52:00.000-07:00

I am a licensed clinical psychologist (CA license PSY 21706). I have been conducting therapy sessions for over a decade, both during my academic training and in private practice.

Experience

After several years in private practice in New York City, I recently relocated to the Bay Area. In private practice I have helped clients live happier and more fulfilling lives by overcoming social anxiety, panic attacks, worrying, stress, OCD, depression, relationship problems, and other common challenges.

Prior to opening my practice in New York, I worked for 2 years at NYU in the department of medicine at the Institute for Trauma and Stress. In the years following 9/11, I received extensive training in cutting edge treatments for posttraumatic stress disorder, and was then selected to train hundreds of community clinicians in treatments for anxiety related to 9/11. I also directed a study on posttraumatic stress disorder treatment, and was responsible for training and supervising other therapists.

Education

I received a B.A. in Psychology with honors from the University of Pennsylvania, and earned my M.A. and Ph.D. from Boston University, where I conducted clinical research on cognitive behavioral therapy for panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and social anxiety at the Center for Anxiety and Related Disorders.

I then completed an internship in New York at Weill Cornell Medical College, Payne Whitney Clinic, focusing on further training in cognitive behavioral therapy and treatment of anxiety disorders. Finally, I completed a 2 year post-doctoral fellowship at NYU, focusing on anxiety and trauma treatment.

Research

I have published research on treatment for panic disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, and posttraumatic stress disorder.

Click here to see my abbreviated CV, including a list of my publications.

Clinical Specialties

2008-03-09T21:52:00.000-07:00

I have been treating clients for over a decade, providing therapy both in private practice and in academic research settings. My approach is active, collaborative, and results-oriented. While I typically challenge clients to overcome their fears in order to live a more satisfying and meaningful life, I try to do so in a way that is warm, supportive and encouraging.

I work with clients with a variety of concerns and specialize in treating:
    - anxiety problems
    - panic disorder/panic attacks
    - social anxiety/shyness
    - generalized anxiety/excessive worry
    - obsessive-compulsive disorder
    - specific fears/phobias
    - posttraumatic stress disorder
    - depression
    - stress
    - relationship or interpersonal problems

While every individual and situation is different, my work usually entails teaching skills and techniques aimed at reducing distress and improving quality of life, and encouraging between-session practice of skills.

Getting Started

2008-03-08T21:59:00.000-08:00

Psychotherapy varies a great deal depending on the nature of the issues for which you seek help, and the orientation and style of the therapist. It is important that you find a therapist that suits your needs and your personality.

Initial Meeting / Treatment Plan

I normally conduct an initial evaluation that will last approximately 2 sessions. At the end of the evaluation we will discuss my treatment recommendations and how I expect to help you meet your treatment goals. During these initial sessions, we can both decide if I am the best person to provide the services you need. If not, I will refer you to a more appropriate therapist.

Once therapy begins, we will usually schedule one 50-minute session per week at a time we agree on. Throughout therapy we will continue to assess and revise your treatment goals and the focus of our work together, so that you continue to make progress on the issues that are most important to you.

Fees/Insurance

My fee for psychotherapy is $200 per 50-minute session. Payment is due at the time of the therapy session. You may pay by check or cash.

If you have a health insurance policy, it will usually provide some coverage for mental health treatment. I will be considered an “out-of-network” provider, which means that your insurance company may reimburse you directly for some portion of the fees you have paid to me. I will provide you with a receipt and whatever assistance I can in helping you receive the benefits to which you are entitled; however, you (not your insurance company) are responsible for full payment of fees. If you intend to use your insurance, I recommend that you contact your plan prior to our first session to ask about your psychotherapy benefits.

Forms

In order to complete a comprehensive evaluation in a relatively short amount of time, it is helpful for you to complete some paperwork prior to your first visit.

If you are a new client, please print and complete these items and bring them to your first session. If you do not have access to this paperwork, please arrive at least 30 minutes early to your first session so that I can give you the paperwork to complete before our first meeting.

Treatment contract

Client information form

Release of information (to allow me to consult with your other providers)

HIPAA notice of privacy practices (informational only)

Note: to print these documents, simply print from your web browser or press Control and P at the same time.

Map & Directions

2008-03-07T21:20:00.000-08:00

My office is located in the Los Altos Office Plaza at 4966 El Camino Real, near the intersection of El Camino Real and San Antonio Road.

Directions from 101:
Exit San Antonio Road and take San Antonio South to El Camino Real. Turn left on El Camino Real. Turn right at Ortega, which will lead you into the parking lot for the Los Altos Office Plaza. My office is located in building 4966, Suite 119.

Directions from 280, driving north from San Jose:
Take 280 North to Highway 85. Merge onto 85 North toward Mountain View. Exit El Camino Real (82 North) to Mountain View. After passing Rengstorff, turn left at Ortega, which will lead you into the parking lot for the Los Altos Office Plaza. My office is located in building 4966, Suite 119.

Map:

View Larger Map

Get driving directions to my office using:
Mapquest
Yahoo! Maps
Google Maps

Resources

2008-03-06T21:54:00.000-08:00

Additional information can be found below:

American Psychological Association

Anxiety Disorders Association of America

Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies

California Psychological Association

National Institute of Mental Health

Santa Clara County Psychological Association

Curriculum Vitae - Jill T. Levitt, Ph.D.

2008-03-05T22:43:00.000-08:00

EDUCATION

Postdoctoral Fellow, 2002-2003
New York University School of Medicine
NYU Child Study Center, The Institute for Trauma and Stress

Psychology Intern, 2001-2002
New York Presbyterian Hospital-Weill Cornell Medical Center, Payne Whitney Clinic

Doctorate in Clinical Psychology, 2002
Master of Arts in Psychology, 1998
Boston University, Center for Anxiety and Related Disorders
Mentor: David H. Barlow, Ph.D., ABPP
Dissertation research: "The Effects of Acceptance Versus Suppression of Emotion on Subjective and Psychophysiological Response to Carbon Dioxide Challenge in Patients with Panic Disorder"
Masters research: "Does Dependency Moderate the Relationship Between Cognitive Appraisal and Agoraphobic Avoidance?"

Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with Honors, 1996
University of Pennsylvania
Senior Honors Thesis: "Early Predictors of Symptom Change in Cognitive Therapy for Depression."

HONORS/AWARDS

American Psychological Foundation Graduate Research Scholarship, 2002

Association for the Advancement of Behavior Therapy Virginia Roswell Student Dissertation Award, 2001

Boston University Clara Mayo Award for Dissertation Research, 2001

PUBLICATIONS

Barlow, D.H., Levitt, J.T., & Bufka, L.F. (1999). The dissemination of empirically supported treatments: A view to the future. Behavior Research and Therapy, 37, S147-S162.

Bufka, L.F., Crawford, J.I., & Levitt, J.T. (2001). Brief screening assessments for managed care and primary care. In M.M. Antony & D.H. Barlow (Eds.), Handbook of Assessment and Treatment Planning for Psychological Disorders. New York, NY: Guilford Press.

Cloitre, M., Stovall-McClough, K.C., & Levitt, J.T. (2004). Treating life-impairing problems beyond PTSD: Reply to Cahill, Zoellner, Feeny, and Riggs. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 72, 549-551.

Franklin, M.E., Abramowitz, J.S., Kozak, M.J., Levitt, J.T., & Foa, E.B. (2000). Effectiveness of exposure and ritual prevention for obsessive-compulsive disorder: Randomized compared with nonrandomized samples. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 68, 594-602.

Hoffman, E.C., Levitt, J.T., & Barlow, D.H. (2002). Brief Psychosocial Treatments for Panic Disorder. In J. Zeig (Ed.), Brief Therapy: Lasting Impressions. Phoenix, AZ: Zeig, Tucker, & Co.

Hofmann, S.G., Levitt, J.T., Hoffman, E.C., Greene, K., Litz, B.T., &Barlow, D.H. (2000). Potentially traumatizing events in panic disorder and other anxiety disorders. Depression and Anxiety, 13, 101-102.

Levitt, J.T., Brown, T.A., Orsillo, S.M., & Barlow, D.H. (2004). The effects of acceptance versus suppression of emotion on subjective and psychophysiological response to carbon dioxide challenge in patients with panic disorder. Behavior Therapy, 35, 747-766.

Levitt, J.T., & Cloitre, M. (2005). A clinician’s guide to STAIR/MPE: Treatment for PTSD related to childhood abuse. Cognitive and Behavioral Practice, 12, 40-52.

Levitt, J.T., Hoffman, E.C., Grisham, J.R., & Barlow, D.H. (2001). Empirically supported treatments for panic disorder. Psychiatric Annals, 31, 478-487.

Levitt, J.T., & Karekla, M. (2005). The use of acceptance and mindfulness in the treatment of panic disorder. In S. Orsillo & L. Roemer (Eds.), Acceptance and Mindfulness-Based Approaches to Anxiety: Conceptualization and Treatment. Springer Publishers.

Levitt, J.T., Malta, L.S., Martin, A., Davis, L., Cloitre, M. (2007). The flexible application of a manualized treatment for PTSD symptoms and functional impairment related to the 9/11 World Trade Center attack. Behavior Research and Therapy, 45(7), 1419-1433.

Luborsky, L., Rosenthal, R., Diguer, L., Andrusyna, T.P., Berman, J.S., Levitt, J.T., Seligman, D.A., & Krause, E.D. (2002). The Dodo Bird Verdict is alive and well – mostly. Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice, 9, 2-12.

Luborsky, L., Rosenthal, R., Diguer, L., Andrusyna, T.P., Levitt, J.T., Seligman, D.A., Berman, J.S., & Krause, E.D. (2003). Are some psychotherapies much more effective than others? Journal of Applied Psychoanalytic Studies, 5, 455-460.

Malta, L.S., Levitt, J.T., Martin, A., Davis, L., Cloitre, M. (in press). Correlates of functional impairment in treatment-seeking survivors of mass terrorism. Behavior Therapy.

National Child Traumatic Stress Network Taskforce on Complex PTSD. (2003). Complex PTSD White Paper.

Silva, R.R., Cloitre, M.C., Davis, L., Levitt, J., Gomez, S., Ngai, I., & Brown, E. (2003). Early intervention with traumatized children, Psychiatric Quarterly, 74, 333-347.

MANUALS

Cloitre, M., Davis, L., Mirvis, S., & Levitt, J.T. STAIR-NST: A Phase-Based Treatment for Traumatized Adolescents. New York University School of Medicine.

Cloitre, M., Davis, L., & Levitt, J.T. STAIR-A: CBT for Multiply Traumatized Adolescents. Self Report Therapist Adherence Manual. New York University School of Medicine.

WORKSHOP PRESENTATIONS/ TEACHING EXPERIENCE

Invited Presentation, March 2004, New York, NY
Harris Rothenberg International, lunchtime lecture series
“Assessment and Treatment of PTSD”

Master Clinician Seminar, Nov 2003, Boston, MA
Association for the Advancement of Behavior Therapy 37th Annual Convention
“Emotion Regulation and Interpersonal Skills Training for Chronic Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Related to Childhood Abuse and Multiple Traumatization”

Invited Presentation, June 2003, New York, NY
The Jewish Board of Family and Children’s Services
“Skills Training in Affective and Interpersonal Regulation. An Evidence-Based Treatment for Sexually Abused Girls”

Workshop Presenter, Feb 2003, New York, NY
The Institute for Trauma and Stress at the NYU Child Study Center
“Skills Training in Affective and Interpersonal Regulation. Treatment for the Multiply Traumatized Client: When the Violence of 9/11 is Only One of Many”

Workshop Presenter, Dec 2002, New York, NY
The Institute for Trauma and Stress at the NYU Child Study Center
“Skills Training in Affective and Interpersonal Regulation. Treatment for the Multiply Traumatized Client: When the Violence of 9/11 is Only One of Many”

Workshop Presenter, Oct 2002, New York, NY
The Institute for Trauma and Stress at the NYU Child Study Center
“Skills Training in Affective and Interpersonal Regulation. Treatment for the Multiply Traumatized Client: When the Violence of 9/11 is Only One of Many”

Workshop Presenter, Sept 2002, New York, NY
The Institute for Trauma and Stress at the NYU Child Study Center
“Skills Training in Affective and Interpersonal Regulation. Treatment for the Multiply Traumatized Client: When the Violence of 9/11 is Only One of Many”

Guest Lecturer, Aug 2002, New York, NY
New York Presbyterian Hospital, Cornell Cognitive Therapy Clinic
“Cognitive behavioral therapy for panic disorder”

Psychiatry Grand Rounds Presentation, May 2002, New York, NY
New York Presbyterian Hospital, Payne Whitney Clinic
“The effects of acceptance versus suppression of emotion on subjective and psychophysiological response to carbon dioxide challenge in patients with panic disorder”