Judith Bernstein, LCSW

	Joined Jul, 2008 Department: Chronic Pain [Map] Title: Licensed Clinical Social Worker Degree: LCSW Interests: Gardening, art, cooking and crafts Practitioner Homepage
Bio I have recently started working at Kaiser, effective July, 2008. Although I am new to Kaiser as an employee, it is like coming home because I was born and raised on Kaiser health plan. My father was a professor at UC Berkeley at the time of my birth ( I was born at the Oakland hospital) and then he took a job at UCLA and moved the family to Los Angeles. I grew up in Southern California and all those years was a Kaiser patient! I graduated from UCLA, with a degree in art and became an art teacher, working with young people. I realized I enjoyed working closely with people and chose to follow a path in social work. I am a third generation social worker in my family and received my Masters in Social Work from USC. With marriage and a young family, we moved to Santa Rosa in 1992. After working for several different hospitals and health organizations in Sonoma County, I am delighted to be working in the Chronic Pain Program at Kaiser Santa Rosa. Previously, I have worked in both mental health and medical settings. Recently, I managed programs for people with chronic pain, eating disorders, chemical dependency problems and head injuries. I also have worked as a hospital social worker and in home health, visiting home-bound patients. Over the years, I have cherished the breadth and range of my work experience which has included geriatrics, kids, teens in trouble with the law, people with terminal illness and a full range of psychiatric problems, just to mention a few. I have developed a sense of optimism regarding the ability of humans to adapt to all sorts of challenges and conditions.
My Medical Specialty
More details about my specialty: In working with people with chronic pain, I believe in helping people manage their expectations, instilling realistic hope which includes developing steps for positive change, collaborating with patients in the problem solving process and supporting patients to feel more in control of their lives. My approach includes cognitive behavioral therapy, supportive and insight-oriented therapy, lots of education and re-training of habit-based responses. I encourage patients to practice new skills and ways of being, to challenge as well as to accept themselves	Photos from My Training Years or of Practicing Medicine in My Field: Distract yourself with beauty and interests outside yourself More distractions!
Interests
For fun, I love to garden, hike, visit museums, travel and knit. Like many of our patients with chronic pain, I like to push myself with activity and work on a task (even a fun one) through to completion. I practice what I preach, and over the years I have learned the twin skills of pacing myself and alternating vigorous activity with relaxation.	Hobby Photos & Links: Hanging gardens
Family & Friends
People in my life: I live in Santa Rosa with my husband, a photographer, and our almost 18 year old son.	Photos of my Family & Friends: Sunset view, taken by my husband
My pets: We have 3 cats: Chloe, Elektra and Nemo. Chloe is a Maine Coon Cat and the alpha (lead) cat.
Travel
Favorite place in the world: Paris! Why not? It is the best. I really love Venice, Italy, too for the beautiful Mediterrean colors and unique canals. One of my recent trips: We took our first cruise last summer-- to Alaska and British Columbia. Check out some of the towns, icebergs and summer gardens we visited along the way.	Trip Photos: River of ice Alaska-- baby bergs Sitka, Alaska and the islands Alaskan cruise ship Bald eagle rescue center Butchart Gardens, British Columbia Sunken garden Fountains in the quarry