In the Office with GI Psychologist
Dr. Meredith Craven

1. When evaluating patients with IBS, GI psychologists employ a biopsychosocial model to understand the biological, psychological, and social factors affecting their condition. This includes reviewing symptom onset and triggers, mental health history—specifically anxiety, depression, and trauma—and the patient's current support system.
2. IBS is a "stress-sensitive syndrome" rather than a direct manifestation of stress or anxiety. Stress impacts the communication between the brain and the gut, which can exacerbate physical gut symptoms.
3. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a potential treatment option for patients experiencing GI symptom-specific anxiety, visceral hypervigilance, and avoidance behaviors. CBT helps patients reframe unhelpful thoughts and encourages them to approach rather than avoid situations, which can improve physical and emotional well-being. Patients often notice improvements in approximately four sessions.
4. Gut-Directed Hypnotherapy is a potential treatment option for patients who experience significant physical symptoms such as pain and urgency, which result in heightened stress, tension, and fatigue. This therapy aims to retrain the brain and gut connection.
5. While GI psychologists may be limited in number or geographically, patients are encouraged to seek help through digital resources, support groups and telehealth.

If you are interested in exploring brain-gut behavior therapy further, we have included a diaphragmatic breathing tutorial with Dr. Craven as part of the course. We discuss diaphragmatic breathing in more detail in Lesson 5 and in the tutorial.

Dr. Meredith Craven is a licensed clinical psychologist with Stanford Health Care. She is also a clinical assistant professor and director of the Gastrointestinal Behavioral Medicine program in the Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at Stanford University School of Medicine.

Dr. Craven specializes in using brain-gut behavior therapies like cognitive behavioral therapy and gut-directed hypnotherapy to improve gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms, quality of life, and resilience in patients. She approaches patient care with her patients' culturally valued practices and individual strengths in mind. She is also interested in the application of complementary and integrative health approaches, given her background in yoga.

Dr. Craven's research interests include the use of mindfulness, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), hypnotherapy, and positive psychology to improve digestive health. She is also interested in identifying and preventing health care disparities and seeking interventions to promote well-being and resilience among patients with digestive disorders.

Dr. Craven has published her research in many peer-reviewed journals, including Gastroenterology, Inflammatory Bowel Diseases, Translational Gastroenterology and Hepatology, and Digestive Diseases and Sciences.

Dr. Craven is a member of the American Gastroenterological Association, the American Neurogastroenterology and Motility Society, the Association for Contextual Behavioral Science, the International Positive Psychology Association, and the Rome Foundation.