Weight Loss and Healthy Living for Adults

Do you have one or more of the following feelings?

I feel unattractive
I am worried about my health
Painfully self conscious
I feel ashamed of my body
Wanting to tone up to feel better about myself

At Potomac Psychiatry, we understand the hardship you face in trying to find a scientifically proven and effective program for weight reduction. Based upon our knowledge of scientifically validated methods we develop a customizable plan that will address each individual’s needs to reach his or her weight reduction goals to achieve a healthy lifestyle.

Potomac Psychiatry has a menu approach to helping you. We do a comprehensive initial assessment of:

Your coping skills (your emotions);
Cognitions around food & body weight;
Stress management skills;

Your intimate relationships & support structure;
Your control (or feelings of lack of control) around food;
Your lifestyle behaviors (diet & exercise);

Past history & family history;
Satisfaction with work & leisure activities;
Current life goals; and
Other relevant information that can inform our treatment plan.

At Potomac Psychiatry we provide an individualized approach to obesity treatment that can range from weekly individual cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), that focuses on changing your thoughts and behaviors to effect positive change in your life; all the way through arranging for a comprehensive team that will help you achieve your goals (including personal training, nutrition planning, medical management, CBT, and family support).

We also offer group therapy centered around obesity reduction, healthy lifestyle behaviors, and cognition & behavior change around food and body weight.

We also offer psycho-educational packages where you can learn from our ”CliffsNotes” of the latest research in:

Best practices for weight reduction and healthy living;
Top strategies for relaxation and/or stress management;
Cognitive strategies for dealing with feelings around food and exercise;
Behavioral strategies for how to structure your day for optimal success;
How to learn to self-assess and plan ahead for your ‘weakest’ moments and possible times for sabotaging your plans;
The neurophysiology of food and exercise and how it affects your mood
Learning how to create supportive relationships in your life for optimal success.

Family add-on information: if you have children and want to teach them how to have healthy lives, these psycho-educational package programs (as well as the healthy lifestyle therapy mentioned above) can also be tailored for families. Since we know that children learn many of their behaviors from their parents, this package program teaches parents the evidence- based information for how to talk to their children about body weight and the importance of a healthy lifestyle – while giving parents the information that they can use to enhance their own healthy living. Additionally, children can receive age-appropriate information and experiences (physical activity and food tastings) for what a healthy lifestyle means to them and what they can do to maintain it. This psycho-educational information can be taught and discussed through individualized therapy as well. However you learn best!

Tackling high body fat and becoming healthier requires a holistic approach – as well as a lot of support. Potomac Psychiatry will work with you to achieve your weight loss goals, mindful of your financial resources, and respectful of your limited time, to create a realistic therapy program that works for you.

Meet Dr. Liz Pollock

Potomac Psychiatry's weight loss and healthy living program is directed by Dr. Liz Davenport Pollock. Dr. Pollock received her Ph.D. in Family Science from the School of Public Health at the University of Maryland. Dr. Pollock is passionate about helping people lose weight, gain body image, and become the healthiest they can be. Her compassionate, accepting yet challenging approach sets the tone for the program – each client’s needs and goals are her priority and she helps develop plans that are motivational, manageable and can be maintained over the long run. There is no "one size fits all" approach and each meeting is specially designed to help you move closer to your goals. Additionally, she is a certified personal trainer with the American Council on Exercise and understands how to motivate individuals to achieve their goals.

(View complete curriculum vitae for Liz Davenport Pollock, Ph.D., MS, LCMFT, ACE-PT)

Click here for information on our child and adolescent weight loss and healthy living program.

Call us at 301.984.9791 to discuss your needs or to schedule an appointment.

Potomac Psychiatry is conveniently located in Rockville MD, near the intersection of Rockville Pike (MD 355) and Montrose Road. We are walking distance from the White Flint Metro Rail Station (Red Line). We serve the Suburban Maryland, Washington DC and Northern Virginia area.

Our offices are conveniently accessible from the following communities:

Maryland (MD):

Bethesda 20814 - Bethesda 20816 - Bethesda 20817 - Chevy Chase 20815 - Colesville 20904 - Cabin John 20815 - Glen Echo 20812 - Gaithersburg 20855 - Gaithersburg 20877- Gaithersburg 20878 - Gaithersburg 20879 - Garrett Park 20896 - Kensington 20895 - Montgomery Village 20886 - Olney 20830 - Olney 20832 - Potomac 20854 - Potomac 20859 - Rockville 20850 - Rockville 20852 - Rockville 20853 - Silver Spring 20903 - Silver Spring 20905 - Silver Spring 20906 - Silver Spring 20910 - Takoma Park 20912 - Wheaton 20902

Washington DC:

Crestwood 20011- North Capitol Hill 20002 - Cathedral Heights 20016 - American University Park 20016 - Columbia Heights 20010 - Mount Pleasant 20010 - Downtown 20036 - Dupont Circle 20009 - Logan Circle 20005- Adams Morgan 20009 - Chevy Chase 20015 - Georgetown 20007 - Cleveland Park 20008 - Foggy Bottom 20037 - Rock Creek Park - Woodley Park 20008 - Tenleytown 20016

Northern Virginia:
McLean 22101- McLean 22102 - McLean 22106 - Great Falls 22066 - Arlington 22201 - Arlington 22202 - Arlington 22203 - Arlington 22205 - Falls Church 22041 - Vienna 22181 - Alexandria 22314