Psychologist/Personal Trainer Provides Therapy and “Dose” of Exercise

As both a clinical psychologist and certified personal trainer, Dr. Joel B. Ingersoll knows that regular exercise can curb depression, reduce anxiety and improve overall mood. He has integrated personal training and exercise into his new psychotherapy center, creating an innovative practice available by only a handful of the nation’spsychologists.

Patients at the Center for Psychological Health & Fitness in Oradell sit in a traditional officefor their psychotherapy session. They can then add a 15, 30, or 45 minute session of personal training in the center’s two fitness rooms.

Dr. Ingersoll joins a growing movement among some psychotherapists and physicians who view exercise as a critical part of treatment, and they prescribe exercise as they would a medication. But Dr. Ingersoll goes one step further and actually motivates, guides and monitors patients prescribed the “medicine” of training and fitness.

“Many of my patients wanted to be more physically fit. But either they were too busy, or just could not get motivated. Some felt uncomfortable in a large gym. I thought, ‘How can I help these people within the confines of my office space and offer them something they cannot get from other therapists?’” Dr. Ingersoll recalled.

Dr. Ingersoll holds a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Fairleigh Dickinson University. He also is a Personal Fitness Trainer certified by the National Academy of Sports Medicine.

He has used fitness training to help patients such as those recovering from addictions, women suffering from post-partum depression, or those diagnosed with depressive and anxiety disorders. For instance, he said, some patients recovering from addiction can benefit from integrating afitness routine into their lifestyle. He also helps motivate and guide people struggling with issues related to obesity, weight loss and body image.

“I also see patients who have unhealthy exercise routines, some of them with eating disorders or exercise bulimia. I help them develop healthy ways to train,” Dr. Ingersoll said. As a psychologist with more than a decade of experience in college counseling, he helps many teenagers and young adults.

“I find the adolescents are especially intrigued with the fitness center. They think it’s cool,” he said.

Research has shown that exercise can ease depression by releasing feel-good brain chemicals, such as endorphins, and by reducing immune system chemicals that can worsen depression. Exercise also can help people gain strength and confidence.

“I had one patient who never exercised before. I got him into training as part of our therapy sessions. Now he has a fitness routine he does at home. This is a lifestyle change for him, something he had never done before,” Dr. Ingersoll said. “For some patients, exercise can be a prescription for their problem.”

The Center for Psychological Health and Fitness is located at 617 Oradell Avenue, Suite 2 in Oradell and can be contacted by calling 908-447-7752 or emailing Dr. Ingersoll at ingersolljb@yahoo.com.