Dr. Larry Berkelhammer is a retired mind-body medicine psychologist. He has lived well with several chronic medical conditions since childhood. For decades he endured the frustration of not knowing the causes of his physical problems. Then, well into adulthood, he was diagnosed with two autoimmune diseases and a primary immunodeficiency disease. At the same time, he was told there were no known cures for any of them and that pharmacological treatment for some would make others worse. A long-time mindfulness and internal martial arts practitioner faced with this reality, Dr. Berkelhammer became curious about the power of those practices to improve health and well-being. He trained with several world leaders in psychooncology, psychophysiology, psychoneuroimmunology. He also trained for many years in the internal martial art of tai chi chuan under T.T. Liang and later under William C.C. Chen. Since the spring of 2018 he has been training in internal wing chun within the Chu Shong Tin lineage under Sifu Nima King at Mindful Wing Chun.
After treating patients for 19 years in private practice, Dr. Berkelhammer retired and spent his time writing, teaching and serving non-profit organizations that serve people with chronic medical conditions. Dr. Berkelhammer’s teaching appears in his two books: In Your Own Hands: New Hope for People with Chronic Medical Conditions (Self-Efficacy Press Jan. 2014, 98-0991243709) and Doctor’s Partner: The Self-Empowered Patient (Self-Efficacy Press Dec 2020).
Doctor’s Partner: The Self-Empowered Patient serves as a guide in how to take charge of your medical care. This book describes all the things that the most savvy medical patients do to receive optimal care.
Several years of presentations, interviews, and articles are available on his extensive website: https://larryberkelhammer.com.
After a few incidents of falling through the cracks, being incorrectly diagnosed, and having contraindicated medications prescribed for me, I realized that, as patients, our health is truly in our own hands. If you do not hear from your doctor…
https://larryberkelhammer.com/wp-content/images/2021/05/2105-lbphd_logo.png00Larry Berkelhammerhttps://larryberkelhammer.com/wp-content/images/2021/05/2105-lbphd_logo.pngLarry Berkelhammer2015-01-13 09:00:102015-01-14 13:41:01Video: Falling Through The Cracks
Reach out to the patient support association that represents people with your particular diagnosis. In addition to being a great source of information, they also provide emotional support if needed. These associations can also provide you with…
https://larryberkelhammer.com/wp-content/images/2021/05/2105-lbphd_logo.png00Larry Berkelhammerhttps://larryberkelhammer.com/wp-content/images/2021/05/2105-lbphd_logo.pngLarry Berkelhammer2014-12-31 09:00:292014-12-31 20:31:09Video: Patient Support Associations
Ever since managed care began to take over in the mid 1980s, most of us had complained about how hard it had become to get ahold of our doctors on the phone. If we were lucky, the doctor would call us at the end of the day. Email is not used…
Empowered patients learn everything they can about their diagnoses. To a certain extent, the degree of your medical knowledge will be commensurate with the quality of care you receive. The more you know about your particular diagnoses, the greater…
https://larryberkelhammer.com/wp-content/images/2021/05/2105-lbphd_logo.png00Larry Berkelhammerhttps://larryberkelhammer.com/wp-content/images/2021/05/2105-lbphd_logo.pngLarry Berkelhammer2014-12-17 06:00:132014-12-12 15:35:05Video: Become an Expert on Your Particular Medical Conditions
Ask your doctor for permission to record, and then take notes later. I record on my iPhone and while it’s recording, I refer to all my questions, which I keep on Notes on my iPhone. By recording the entire consult, you will have far more information…
https://larryberkelhammer.com/wp-content/images/2021/05/2105-lbphd_logo.png00Larry Berkelhammerhttps://larryberkelhammer.com/wp-content/images/2021/05/2105-lbphd_logo.pngLarry Berkelhammer2014-12-10 09:00:542014-12-10 13:11:39Video: How to Maintain Good Notes on Your Medical Appointments
Your doctor is the medical expert. But, in between appointments, your self-care is in your own hands. It is up to you what to eat, how much sleep and rest to get, what type and how much daily exercise to get, how to manage stress, and it is…
https://larryberkelhammer.com/wp-content/images/2021/05/2105-lbphd_logo.png00Larry Berkelhammerhttps://larryberkelhammer.com/wp-content/images/2021/05/2105-lbphd_logo.pngLarry Berkelhammer2014-12-03 09:00:062014-12-02 19:23:13Video: In Between Medical Appointments
As an empowered patient, you need to make sure the prescribing doctor is aware of medications you are already on that could alter the effects of the new medication. Also, make sure the prescribing doctor is aware of any conditions you have that…
https://larryberkelhammer.com/wp-content/images/2021/05/2105-lbphd_logo.png00Larry Berkelhammerhttps://larryberkelhammer.com/wp-content/images/2021/05/2105-lbphd_logo.pngLarry Berkelhammer2014-11-26 09:00:032014-11-25 18:42:50Video: Protect Yourself From Harm
When your doctors are not able to figure out what may be causing your symptoms, or when treatments are not helping, you can sometimes help in finding the right diagnosis by asking these three questions.
What else could it be?
Is there…
https://larryberkelhammer.com/wp-content/images/2021/05/2105-lbphd_logo.png00Larry Berkelhammerhttps://larryberkelhammer.com/wp-content/images/2021/05/2105-lbphd_logo.pngLarry Berkelhammer2014-11-19 09:00:032014-11-19 15:30:41Video: Three Questions To Ask Your Doctor
The more curious you are in office appointments, the better you will be at asking good questions. You be better able to collaborate with your doctors. Vigilance and curiosity are at the heart of medical self-efficacy. With anything you don’t…
https://larryberkelhammer.com/wp-content/images/2021/05/2105-lbphd_logo.png00Larry Berkelhammerhttps://larryberkelhammer.com/wp-content/images/2021/05/2105-lbphd_logo.pngLarry Berkelhammer2014-11-12 09:00:022014-11-07 16:17:34Video: Be Curious at Your Medical Appointments
