She assists IBD patients in coping with the psychological impact of their illness, managing their symptoms and improving their overall quality of life. Although stress does not cause inflammatory bowel disease, mounting evidence indicates that stress it can exacerbate IBD symptoms and trigger flare-ups. Her research interests include the effects of psychological stress on flare-up in IBD as well as the role of coping on IBD. Learn more about counseling services for gastroenterology patients at Rush.