Testimonials
Individual Work
"I feel blessed to have found Abby when I did. With her guidance, I was able to sort through issues that were taking a toll on my health, and I emerged with a new, healthy perspective, and a better understanding of myself and the world around me. Abby's calm and caring nature and her understanding of Crohn's disease and its implications made her the perfect mind and body counselor for me."
"When I was diagnosed with acute leukemia, my world turned upside down. I was rushed to the hospital, began chemotherapy immediately. My domestic partner closed down our house and moved herself and our cats into a friend's house near the hospital (we live out of town). My emotions surged and swirled. I was scared, confused, fighting for my life.
At the hospital, I told the social worker that I'd like to speak with a counselor. She suggested I get in touch with Dr. Abby Caplin. Although it would be several months before we met in person, Abby and I immediately began mind-body counseling over the phone. These sessions were invaluable to me in getting through this very difficult period.
Abby's training both as a medical doctor and as a counselor has been a perfect combination for me. She understands my medical condition and the hospital procedures. She has been able to advise me in areas of nutrition and relationships with hospital staff. Most helpful were the guided visualizations that she led me through. Through these visualizations and meditations I gained new abilities to calm myself when anxious or scared. I learned how to help my recovery process by relaxing and visualizing a positive outcome.
Abby also helped me get perspective on my emotions, my relationships, how to cope with my new and changing circumstances. She led me to information about various supplemental treatment modalities. She recommended specific music for relaxation and healing. We delved into core issues of life and death.
The leukemia I was diagnosed with has now been in remission for a number of months. And I have high hopes that it will never reappear again. But I do know that life is full of surprises and unexpected bumps in the road. As a result of my experiences in counseling with Abby, I feel more able to cope with whatever life sends my way."
"Dear Abby,
Thank you for your gentle and beautiful help, and your wonderful guidance. You changed the course of my life. All my best to you."
"Abby has been really important in my life. I can't begin to say how much she has made a difference for me."
Workshops
"The Mind-Body Health Writing workshop gave me the relief of being able to talk with people who understand. It was moving, inspiring and healing. Abby's soothing, serene and kind manner made the workshop a comforting respite. The exercises were thought-provoking and healing."
"The workshop helped me see that there are more ways I could be taking care of myself, helped me realize that the isolation I feel is not at all unusual in my situation, has encouraged me to be more open and to disclose my 'invisible illness' to more people in my life, has helped me realize I am handling things much better than I give myself credit for. I am hoping this will help me lighten up on myself."
"I have already recommended this workshop to a friend. I told her it was a place she could be totally open about how she felt, without being judged, and that she would gain a lot of insight into how she handles her illness."
"All exercises were helpful. There was a lovely atmosphere of thoughtful care in the workshop."
"I liked when we wrote about topics that arose during the group. I feel less isolated and also feel this time is part of the quality of my life. I'd like people to know that this workshop is a safe place to look within and share difficult feelings, that the amount of written work is not any greater than a person desires it to be."
"In this group, in just a few meetings, we were able to share about our concerns, hurts, fears and questions concerning illness and how it affected our lives. Abby is a gentle and caring facilitator who brings her own hard-earned wisdom to the group, which benefits from it."
"Dr. Abby's ability to help me focus on other aspects of my illness, such as how illness was and is perceived in my natal family; how anger and depression are frequently lingering on the edges of myself; and how illness has engendered guilt, has given me insight into my ability to help myself. I hope to continue to write and reflect. Kind of dusted off my mind."
"All of the exercises were helpful in some way. I learned more about my need to share who I am and discover who I am through writing. I didn’t realize how much I missed myself. I expected a writing class. I received a class that mirrors my entire life. Abby Caplin gives all of her experience, all of her compassion, and all of her writing skill. She is a rare and gifted teacher."
"Jump started me to thinking about my illness differently. Yes, would recommend this class. Abby provides the atmosphere for words to flow, connecting with self and others."
"All exercises seemed on target, even the ones I found difficult were revealing. I learned that I seem to keep a lot to myself. Opening up has seemed unsafe. I felt safe here. The seminar gave me tools to deal with my health. I grew here. Abby created a safe and supportive environment."
"I was surprised how easy it was for me to compose poems. Exercises that examined what was under the surface were helpful in making things make sense."
"I would recommend the workshop to anyone interested. My friends from the clinic were very interested in my experience in the class. I learned that I should keep writing, that it does not matter about what. Just start writing. It is a beginning."
"I would definitely recommend the workshop. It caused things to move for me — more dreams, more intense dreams, things bubbling to the surface, connections made between my past, my mother’s death and more. The class helped me feel better, picked up my attitude and made me feel better about myself and my life experiences."
"I have learned a lot about what keeps me from writing and the workshop has let me feel accepted by a lovely group of intelligent, creative people."
"I found these classes helped me deal with the emotional side of my illness in a far more positive way than I would have thought possible. To find my voice has kept panic and self-pity at bay."
Professional
"While there are many studies indicating a strong link between stress and physical illness, there is a remarkable lack of therapeutic intervention in this area. Dr. Caplin is a true pioneer in this emerging field."
– S.H., Physician, Petaluma
"When a person is facing both physical and emotional debility or illness, Abby's perspective is invaluable."
– E.N., Psychotherapist, San Francisco
"Dr. Abby Caplin is a sensitive, caring person who is a valuable resource to anyone dealing with a chronic illness or pain."
– M.R., Psychotherapist, Mill Valley
"Abby offers patients with complicated medical problems a set of new tools to help cope with their health issues. In almost every instance, I have watched their attitude change during their work with Abby to the point where they become proactive about their care."
– D.M., Physician, San Francisco
"Dr. Caplin is an amazing resource for anyone with a medical condition or illness. Her expertise in mind-body medicine, combining degrees in both medicine and counseling psychology, is rare and valuable. She helps patients harness their own healing capacities. I feel very good about referring to Abby and would send my own family members to her."
– J.P., Psychotherapist, San Francisco