Other Services
Sports Psychology
I use CBT and Sports psychology to teach cognitive and behavioral strategies to help athletes improve their experiences, athletic performance, and mental wellness when participating in sports. I assist with performance enhancement, motivation, stress management, anxiety control, or mental toughness. I also help with injury rehabilitation, team building, burnout, or career transitioning.
I don’t just work with athletes. I can work with coaches, parents, administrators, fitness professionals, performers, organizations, or everyday exercises to demonstrate how we can utilize exercise, sport, and athletics to enhance our lives and psychological development.
The field of sport and performance psychology focuses on providing every performer the resources to power their inner edge by strengthening the ability to perform, as well as the ability to thrive.
I assist in helping athletes and performers reduce performance anxiety, improve concentration and communication, build confidence, and set goals.
Dr. G has worked with athletes from the NBA, MLB, NFL, PGA. He also works with collegiate and high school athletes.
- Sport Psychology Helps You Understand Yourself As An Athlete.You need to have mental strategies for learning, practice and performance factors.
- Sport Psychology Helps You Work Better With Your Parents.Your parents should be part of your success team, at least at some level.
- Sport Psychology Helps You Work Better With Your Coaches.
- Sport Psychology Helps You Navigate Your Sport Career.
- Sport Psychology Helps You Prepare Your Mind.It is critical that you know how to prepare mentally and emotionally for lessons, practices and performances.
- Sport Psychology Helps You Concentrate So You Can Enter The Zone
- Sport Psychology Helps You Bounce Back From Set-Backs.It is critical that you become resilient to the inevitable problems and set-backs that competitive sport brings. You need solid mental toughness that helps you refocus, reset and re-energize for what is to come.
- Sport Psychology Helps You Increase Motivation And Drive.
- Sport Psychology Helps You Handle Stress and Pressure.One of the major ways sport psychology helps you is through stress reduction in learning and performance.
- Sport Psychology Helps You Handle The Paradox Of Success.
Coaching
Coaching psychology is a distinct branch of academic and applied psychology that focuses on the enhancement of performance, development, and well-being in both work and personal domains
Coaching can be used to assist the individual to reach Self-actualization, which is the complete realization of one’s potential, and the full development of one’s abilities and appreciation for life. Self-actualized people have an acceptance of who they are despite their faults and limitations and experience to drive to be creative in all aspects of their lives. Kurt Goldstein highlighted the holistic nature of self-actualization, encompassing physical, psychological, and social well-being.
Dr. G teaches his clients to view self-actualization as the continuous lifelong process whereby an individual’s self-concept is maintained and enhanced via reflection and the reinterpretation of various experiences, which enable the individual to recover, change and develop (Rogers, 1951).
Individuals will discover that achieving an inner level of acknowledgment is needed to obtain their goals whether it be happiness with oneself, a healthy relationship, career satisfaction, goal attainment, and more. One must learn to accept who they are in relation to their strengths and weaknesses and learn to take responsibility and actively take control of their life.
Dr. G has worked with persons at various stages of their life to teach them how to actualize and succeed in their endeavors.
Consultation
Dr. Giaquinto provides consultative services for:
Psychologists & Clinicians: He teaches other professionals in the field of psychology how to conduct and provide TRUE Cognitive Behavioral Therapy that is a thorough and encompasses all the effective fundamentals for success in treating their clients.
Testing/Evaluations/Assessments: Dr. G educates other psychologists how to thoroughly conduct evaluations and provide reports that are highly detailed and specific of the highest quality.
Hospitals/Treatment Facilities: Dr. G has been sought after by various institutions to educate and train staff ow to better manage patients with specific conditions/disorders.
Program Creation: Dr. G has created Partial Hospitalization Programs (PHP), Out Patient Clinics, and Multi-Specialty Clinics in the state of California and Florida.
Spectrum Disorders
What Is Autism Spectrum Disorder?
Autism is a group of developmental brain disorders, collectively called autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The term “spectrum” refers to the wide range of symptoms, skills, and levels of impairment, or disability, that children with ASD can have. Some children are mildly impaired by their symptoms, but others are severely disabled.
ASD is diagnosed according to guidelines listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition – Text Revision (DSM-IV-TR). The manual currently defines five disorders, sometimes called pervasive developmental disorders (PDDs), as ASD:
- Autistic disorder (classic autism)
- Asperger’s disorder (Asperger syndrome)
- Pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS)
- Rett’s disorder (Rett syndrome)
- Childhood disintegrative disorder (CDD).
Signs & Symptoms
Symptoms of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) vary from one child to the next, but in general, they fall into three areas:
- Social impairment
- Communication difficulties
- Repetitive and stereotyped behaviors.
What are some other conditions that children with ASD may have?
- Sensory problems
- Emotional difficulties
- Sleep problems
- Intellectual disability
- Seizures
- Fragile X syndrome
- Tuberous sclerosis
- Gastrointestinal problems
- Co-occurring mental disorders
ADD / ADHD
What is attention deficit hyperactivity disorder?
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common childhood disorders and can continue through adolescence and adulthood. Symptoms include difficulty staying focused and paying attention, difficulty controlling behavior, and hyperactivity (over-activity).
ADHD has three subtypes:
- Predominantly hyperactive-impulsive
- Predominantly inattentive
- Combined hyperactive-impulsive and inattentive
Weight Loss
For 25 years Dr. G specialized in treating those who were hospitalized due to their severe eating disorder. He also assists others who wish to lose weight but are discouraged and think that it is not possible. CBT has recently gained its recognition for its effectiveness in weight loss.
Common thoughts that prevent one from trying to lose weight:
“I have too much to lose and it will take too long.”
“I won’t be able to lose the weight.”
“I’ve tried many times and I can’t stick to it.”
“It’s too hard.”
“I’ve tried countless diets.”
“I hate the gym.”
Faulty Assumptions:
“If I want to lose weight then I will have to go on some crazy diet.”
“If I skip meals then I will lose weight.”
“If I try and stick to a plan then I will give up like I always do.”
“I’m upset right now, so I am going to eat (junk food/unhealthy food) to feel better.”
CBT teaches the individual to effectively manage stress which leads to emotional eating. You will learn how to be: disciplined and consistent; create healthy statement that lead to healthy behaviors; increase your belief in yourself that you can achieve each goal that is realistically set. Losing weight is not as difficult as you think!!!
Troublesome Thoughts
Anxiety
What If Statements: What if…..
“What if I drive on the freeway and have a panic attack?” “What if I am out in public and start to feel really anxious?” “What if I introduce myself and people make fun of me?”
Future Predictions
“My heart is beating fast; I am having a heart attack.” “Something bad is going to happen.” “I will make a fool of myself.” “I don’t have what it takes to cope with this.”
Depression
Negative View of Self, People, The World and The Future:
“No one loves me.” “The world is a hostile place.” “Things will never change.” “This is hopeless.” “I feel helpless.” “I feel like a failure.” “I’ll never find another one to love me.” “I can’t do this.” “My unhappiness will continue forever.” “I am defective or inadequate.”
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD):
If, then… Statements & Magical Thinking
“If I don’t check the stove 4 times, then something bad may happen.” “If I touch this object 3 times, then I will pass my test or get the job.”
Future Predictions
“I need to check the door lock again because maybe I did not secure it correctly the first time.” “I need to wash my hands every time I touch a door knob or I could catch a disease.”