Life happens: we go through seasons of unexpected change, worry, uncertainty, overwhelm, and sadness that can be brought on by health challenges, grief & loss and other situations outside of our control. As a US-trained and licensed psychologist with numerous years of experience, and as a breast cancer survivor, I am here to help. Working together we will identify areas in your life that are not serving you well and will come up with techniques and strategies to changes those aspects about yourself into something you can co-exist with, accept and even gain strength from. I hold strong to the knowledge expressed in this quote of Viktor E. Frankl, “When we are no longer able to change situation— we are challenged to change ourselves.” My approach to treatment is collaborative and evidence-based. Our work will begin with identifying treatment goals that are important to you and ensuring your comfort in undertaking the work to address them. Making the decision to start therapy is not an easy one and I honor your courage in undertaking it.
My educational background, clinical training, and experience have provided me with the necessary skills to develop effective therapeutic relationships, the ability to identify and utilize the needed therapeutic technique and know how to provide a safe, compassionate, and understanding space that these situations so often call for. I am skilled in using cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT), and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). I am presently taking a course in Dialectic Behavioral Therapy (DBT). I specialize in treating psychological distress related to chronic pain, cancer and major illness. I also have extensive experience in working with individual experiencing grief & loss, anxiety, depression, relationship stress, and coping with major life transitions. I work with both individuals, couples and families.
Qualifications and Experience
- PhD in Clinical Psychology with speciality training in Neuropsychology | University of Houston (USA)
- Postdoctoral Fellowship in Neuro-oncology | MD Anderson Cancer Care Center, Houston, Texas (USA)
- Postdoctoral Fellowship in Rehabilitation & Neuropsychology | TIRR Memorial Hermann Brain Injury Research Center, Houston, Texas (USA)
- MPH in Health Behavior & Health Education | University of Michigan (USA)
- BS in Biopsychology and Cognitive Sciences | University of Michigan (USA)
- Member of the American Psychological Association (USA)
- Licensed Psychologist in the State of Texas (USA)
- Assistant Professor in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (2009-2019) | Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas (USA)
- Psychologist in Solo Private Practice (2024) | The Woodlands, Texas (USA)
- Certificate in Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy | Oxford Mindfulness Centre (UK)
- Certificate in Helping Clients Process Grief and Loss | The National Institute for the Clinical Application of Behavioral Medicine (USA)
- Certificate in the Neurobiology of Attachment | The National Institute for the Clinical Application of Behavioral Medicine (USA)
- Certificate in Radical Self-Compassion | The National Institute for the Clinical Application of Behavioral Medicine (USA)
INVITED LECTURES, PRESENTATIONS, RESEARCH SEMINARS
- Van Veldhoven, L.M. (August 2023). Coping with cancer-related cognitive changes. Invited lecture at Canopy Cancer Survivorship Center at Memorial Hermann, The Woodlands Medical Center, Texas, USA.
- Van Veldhoven, L.M. (May 2023). The psychology of chronic pain. Resident didactic lecture at Baylor College of Medicine, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Houston, Texas, USA.
- Van Veldhoven, L.M. (October 2017). Pre-Implantation psychological screening: Factors that “predict” success or failure. Invited lecture at the Texas Pain Society’s Ninth Annual Scientific Meeting. Dallas, Texas, USA.
- Van Veldhoven, L.M. (February 2017) The role of psychology in the management of chronic pain. Invited Grand Rounds Lecture at Baylor College of Medicine, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Houston, Texas, USA.
- Van Veldhoven, L.M. (June 2011). Manualization of complex interventions: Finding balance between specific and flexible treatment manuals. Presentation at the Third Federal Interagency Conference on Traumatic Brain Injury. Washington, D.C., USA.
- Van Veldhoven, L.M. (April 2011). Memory compensation strategies: Going from the clinic to the community. Presentation at the 27th Brain Injury of Texas Annual Conference. Austin, Texas, USA.
BOOK CHAPTERS
- Van Veldhoven, L.M. & Novy, D.M. (2019). Psychological approaches to the identification and management of cancer pain (Invited chapter). In: A. Gulati, V. Puttanniah, B.M. Bruel, W. Rosenberg, J.C. Hung (Eds.). Essentials of Interventional Cancer Pain Management. New York: Springer.
- Sander, A.M. & Van Veldhoven, L.M. (2014). Rehabilitation of memory problems associated with traumatic brain injury (Invited chapter). In: M. Sherer & A.M. Sander (Eds.). Handbook on Neuropsychology of Traumatic Brain Injury. New York: Springer.
- Novy, D.M. & Van Veldhoven, L.M. (2011). Psychosocial approaches to pain (Invited chapter). In: J.D. Duffy & A.D. Valentine (Eds.) The MD Anderson Manual of Psycho-Social Oncology. McGraw Hill Medical.
RECENT PUBLICATIONS
- Sander, A.M., Clark A.N., Van Veldhoven, L.M., Hanks, R., Hart, T., Leon Novelo, L., Ngan, E., & Arciniegas, D.B. (2018). Factor analysis of everyday memory questionnaire in persons with traumatic brain injury. Clinical Neuropsychologist, 32(3):495-509.
- Maestas, K.L., Sander, A.M., Clark, A.N., van Veldhoven, L.M., Struchen, M.A., Sherer, M. & Hannay, H.J. (2014). Preinjury coping, emotional functioning, and quality of life following uncomplicated and complicated mild traumatic brain injury. Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation, 29(5):407-417.
- Sander, A.M., van Veldhoven, L.M. & Backus, D. (2013). Maximizing usability of evidence in clinical practice: Practical tips for researchers. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 94 (1 Suppl): S43-48.
- Van Veldhoven, L.M., Sander, A.M., Struchen, M.A., Sherer, M., Clark, A.N., Evans, G.H. & Hannay, H. (2011) Predictive ability of pre-injury stressful life events and posttraumatic stress symptoms for outcomes following mild traumatic brain injury: Analysis in a prospective emergency room sample. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry, 82: 782-787.
- Novy, D.M., Ritter, L.M. & McNeill, J. (2008). A primer of ethical issues involving opioid therapy for chronic non-malignant pain in a multidisciplinary setting. Pain Medicine,10: 356-363.