Tag: Boca Raton psychologist

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Hypnotherapy Can Help Smokers Stop Smoking for Good | Delray Beach, FL

Nicotine addiction is a very real physical and mental need people who smoke cigarettes or vape nicotine develop. Moving away from nicotine becomes more difficult the longer you smoke. Why? You form an oral fixation on the act of smoking and become neurologically dependent on the way nicotine helps you deal with stress and ward off withdrawal symptoms. In fact, the withdrawal alone will halt people in their tracks when it comes to quitting cigarettes or vaping.

Hypnotherapy may not be the first method of quitting you consider, but it can be a powerful tool to overcome your addiction. If you have tried nicotine patches, going cold turkey, cutting back off the amount you smoke, or any other means and failed, it may be time to try hypnotherapy. In fact, if you have tried these methods, you have already recognized that you need help to stop smoking. 

Our habits are controlled by the subconscious mind, and hypnotherapy taps into your subconscious to unlock lasting change. When your conscious and unconscious mind begins to interact and cooperate through hypnotherapy, it will be easier to stop smoking because you will feel less stress, and experience little to no withdrawal symptoms.

Dr. Eimer has been working with cigarette-dependent patients for years and has developed a means of helping you to kick your habit in one visit. He feels the following are essential to the process and are what anyone who really wants to quit smoking needs.

  • A compelling, emotionally valid reason
  • An understanding of the effects of cigarettes on your health
  • Recognizing the consequences of continuing the habit
  • Understanding the benefits of being a non-smoker
  • A way to manage the stress of quitting the habit

The best results come from having a powerful individualized live session, however, Dr. Eimer authored the Best Stop Smoking With Hypnosis Program available for purchase here. 

If you would like to learn more about this practice or would like to schedule a free consultation appointment, visit us online or call our office today at (561) 377-1039.

Dr. Eimer proudly serves patients in West Pam Beach, Wellington, Lake Worth, Boynton Beach, Delray Beach, Boca Raton, Deerfield Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Miami, and surrounding areas.

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Pain Relief

Say Goodbye to Pain Through Hypnosis | Delray Beach, FL

Chronic pain is an affliction many people struggle with every day, often for years without relief and no end in sight. While the right medications often can help, we have seen the use of opioids destroy individuals, and plague communities. The fact is that medication is not a stand-alone solution and I would encourage you to seek out alternatives. There is a range of care options to help you get pain relief. One of those options is hypnotherapy. For over 30 years, I have been using hypnosis for pain management to improve the lives of people suffering from chronic pain. 

Hypnosis is a technique that involves inducing a trance-like state in which a person becomes highly relaxed and focused, with an increased ability to concentrate and respond to suggestions effortlessly. Hypnosis is highly effective as a tool for facilitating pain relief for both acute and chronic pain. While the exact mechanisms behind how hypnosis relieves pain are still not fully understood, there are several theories that suggest how it may work.

One theory suggests that hypnosis can alter a person’s perception of pain by changing the way the brain processes and interprets pain signals. The brain has the ability to modulate pain signals, and hypnosis may help activate this mechanism. There are multiple ways to activate this pain modulation mechanism. 

1. One method is a distraction. During hypnosis, a person may be guided to imagine themselves in a pleasant or relaxing setting, which can help distract them from the pain they are experiencing. 

2. Another method is developing direct awareness. Hypnosis can help a person become more mindful and aware of their thoughts and emotions, which can help them develop a better coping strategy for managing pain.

3. A third method is learning how to distort the pain signal itself. Hypnosis can help a person transform their perception of pain.

There are additional hypnotic strategies that can work effectively but the key to their effectiveness is to thoroughly evaluate the patient’s personality and coping style and to match the methods to the patient. 

Another theory about how hypnosis works for creating pain relief suggests that hypnosis may help regulate the release of certain neurotransmitters and hormones in the body, such as endorphins and cortisol, which can help reduce pain and stress levels. Endorphins are natural painkillers that the body produces, and hypnosis may help stimulate the production of these chemicals. Cortisol is a stress hormone that can increase inflammation and pain, and hypnosis may help lower cortisol levels, which can lead to decreased pain.

Overall, while the exact mechanisms behind how hypnosis relieves pain are still not fully understood, there is solid evidence that hypnosis can be an effective complementary therapy for managing pain, especially when used in conjunction with other treatments. It is important to note that hypnosis should always be performed by a trained professional and should never be used as a substitute for medical treatment.

Please Note: Pain Control Hypnosis is NOT a substitute for appropriate medical evaluation, treatment, and care. Clinical Hypnosis can serve as a powerful supplement or complementary method to your ongoing medical care.

For over 30 years, I have helped thousands of patients who suffered from persistent pain syndromes get pain relief and lead more fulfilling lives. If you would like to learn more about my practice or would like to schedule a free consultation appointment, visit us online or call our office today at (561) 377-1039.

Dr. Eimer proudly serves patients in West Pam Beach, Wellington, Lake Worth, Boynton Beach, Delray Beach, Boca Raton, Deerfield Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Miami, and surrounding areas.

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Hypnotherapy and Panic Disorder | Boca Raton, FL

More often than not, when people consider panic, it’s in regard to stimuli that result in a physical reaction, such as a panic attack. Many people experience at least one panic attack during their life, but panic disorder is a prolonged experience.

According to the Mayo Clinic, “A panic attack is a sudden episode of intense fear that triggers severe physical reactions when there is no real danger or apparent cause… if you’ve had recurrent, unexpected panic attacks and spent long periods in constant fear of another attack, you may have a condition called panic disorder.”

Symptoms

The symptoms of a panic attack include but are not limited to shaking, feeling disorientated, nausea, rapid heartbeats, dry mouth, breathlessness, and sweating. At the moment that this occurs, a panic attack can be alleviated through slow, deep breaths in through the nose and out through the mouth. As noted above, many people are likely to experience this sensation, but it’s the prolonged experience of living in fear of another attack that defines panic disorder. Panic disorder, unfortunately, cannot necessarily be alleviated in this way. That’s where hypnotherapy can help.

How hypnotherapy can help

Hypnotherapy works to reduce the likelihood that an individual may experience a panic attack by addressing the subconscious reasons why it may occur in the first place. I work with you to understand the unique behavioral patterns and triggers that are stimulated when your mind is under stress. Once that has been assessed, we can begin to replace these with more appropriate responses, allowing you to regain control of your reactions. In time, stressors will begin to feel less overwhelming, you will be able to practice these methods in your daily life, and begin to avert panic attacks altogether.

For 30 years, I have helped thousands of patients who struggle with panic disorder overcome their symptoms, and begin to live a life free of the symptoms they experience. If you would like to learn more about this practice or would like to schedule a free consultation appointment, visit us online or call our office today at (561) 377-1039.

Dr. Eimer proudly serves patients in Boca Raton, Deerfield Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Miami, West Palm Beach, and surrounding areas.

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PTSD

PTSD and Its Link to Chronic Pain | Boca Raton, FL

One might not consider that Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and chronic pain can be directly correlated with one another. Yet, according to Psychiatric Times, “Many individuals with chronic pain suffer from PTSD due to the incidents that caused trauma-related distress, but chronic pain is also commonly found in individuals with PTSD as their primary disorder. Hence, a better understanding of this comorbidity may be important for the treatment of both disorders.”

According to the studies examined in the full Psychiatric Times article above, there are three potential explanations as to why the two may not only coexist but negatively enhance one another. Here is a breakdown of these potential explanations, and how hypnotherapy can work to alleviate both PTSD and chronic pain for individuals who experience one or both of these life-altering conditions.

One study found “that underlying predisposing factors or traits cause the development of both PTSD and chronic pain. In particular, anxiety sensitivity may amplify the intensity of the initial emotional response to a traumatic event, thereby increasing the risk of developing either condition.” This is referred to as shared vulnerabilities and is one of the potential reasons why PTSD and chronic pain may coexist for someone.

An individual’s sensitivity to pain can also be traced to PTSD as traumatic events may heighten or decrease one’s sensitivity to pain. According to the research, PTSD from combat-related incidents increases a person’s pain threshold, meaning these individuals develop a greater tolerance to sensations of pain. Yet, for those whose PTSD is not combat-related, disassociation can actually increase someone’s bias towards the sensation of pain resulting in a lower threshold for withstanding pain.

The third link, mutual maintenance, refers to the seven means by which PTSD and chronic pain work to negatively enhance one another. Essentially, the researchers uncovered seven different ways an individual may begin to experience “heightened expectations, overestimations, and selective and negative interpretations of both pain-evoking and fear-evoking stimuli… evoking fear and PTSD intrusion and hyperarousal… physical deconditioning, inactivity, disability… limited capacity to employ adaptive coping strategies.”

How Hypnotherapy Can Help

This is a lot for any individual to manage; either disorder is likely to shake one’s ability to move through life, and both may leave someone feeling hopeless. Thankfully, strategically formulated hypnotherapy can address and resolve the underlying conflicts that keep a person from functioning well and getting the most out of life. 

As a licensed clinical psychologist, psychotherapist, and hypnotherapist, I can work with you to formulate an individualized program to address your pain and teach you how to tame it. I can help you to safely access your memories, examine and reprocess them, and better understand your feelings about the trauma you carry. 

Together, we can begin to reduce the negative impressions fixed in your subconscious by your traumatic experience and help you gain control over and reduce your pain. Relief is possible, and if you have tried other interventions without success, hypnotherapy may be the solution you have been looking for.

For 30 years, I have helped thousands of patients who struggle with PTSD and chronic pain overcome their symptoms and begin to live a life free of the symptoms they experience. If you would like to learn more about my practice or would like to schedule a free consultation appointment, visit us online or call our office today at (561) 377-1039.

Dr. Eimer proudly serves patients in Delray Beach, Boynton Beach, Wellington, Lake Worth, Boca Raton, Deerfield Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Miami, West Palm Beach, and surrounding areas.

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Anxiety

Hypnotherapy to Treat Generalized Anxiety Disorder | Boca Raton, FL

Life during covid-19 pandemic. Portrait of stressed stylish woman in blue blouse with medical mask outdoors on the city street.

Persistent anxiety associated with pervasive worrying, apprehension, and nervousness is called generalized anxiety disorder. Symptoms of this disorder also include restlessness, feelings of panic or dread, rapid breathing, trembling or muscle twitching, difficulty focusing, and an obsession or preoccupation with the inability to prevent bad things from happening. 

Anyone can experience anxiety when external factors make us fearful, nervous, or tense, but it’s when we feel this way consistently that it starts to become a diagnosable issue. In fact, a generalized anxiety disorder can seriously impact our ability to work, be social, and wind down when it is appropriate to do so. Individuals with generalized anxiety disorder remain wound up most of the time. This degrades a person’s quality of life and can lead to dependence or addiction to tranquilizers, sedatives, or pain pills.

According to the Mayo Clinic, “generalized anxiety disorder includes persistent and excessive anxiety and worry about activities or events — even ordinary, routine issues. The worry is out of proportion to the actual circumstance, is difficult to control, and affects how you feel physically. It often occurs along with other anxiety disorders or depression.” In fact, untreated generalized anxiety disorder often gives rise to clinical depression as persistent feelings of helplessness eventually turn into hopelessness. 

Hypnotherapy is a commonly overlooked solution to generalized anxiety. It is a powerful tool for treating the symptoms of anxiety and for finding the underlying causes and resolving them. However, as with any tool, hypnosis is effective if it is employed by a trained and experienced professional therapist. In the wrong hands, a tool can be ineffective or worse, cause damage. Therefore, in searching for a therapist to help you overcome generalized anxiety, it is important to do your homework. Your best bet is a licensed mental health professional with an appropriate graduate degree (e.g., Ph.D., Psy.D., MD, DO, LCSW, LMFT) who has the requisite education and experience. And you need to feel comfortable honestly confiding in this person for therapy to work!

In my practice, I employ an evidence-based approach that combines cognitive-behavioral therapy, mindfulness, and clinical hypnosis techniques. When we work together, you will learn how to relax and reevaluate external triggers, as well as develop coping mechanisms and problem-solving skills that work for your anxiety. Over time, as we work together and you begin to apply these methods in your daily life, you will respond differently to the situations that used to trigger you. You will build your self-confidence and achieve freedom from debilitating anxiety.

If you have tried and exhausted multiple treatment options without finding relief, hypnotherapy may be the solution you have been seeking. 

For 30 years, I have helped thousands of patients who struggle with generalized anxiety disorder overcome their symptoms, and begin to live a life free of anxiety. If you would like to learn more about my practice or would like to schedule a free consultation appointment, visit us online or call our office today at (561) 377-1039.

Dr. Eimer proudly serves patients in West Palm Beach, Lake Worth, Wellington, Boynton Beach, Delray Beach, Boca Raton, Deerfield Beach, Pompano Beach, Parkland, Coral Springs, Hallandale, Fort Lauderdale, Miami, and surrounding areas.

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PTSD

Hypnotherapy for PTSD | Boca Raton, FL

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a mental health disorder commonly associated with military veterans, but anyone who has experienced a traumatic event can struggle with symptoms of PTSD. While many people can overcome their experience through coping mechanisms, time, and self-care, sometimes symptoms can get worse and last much longer than anticipated. When symptoms last for months or years and begin to interfere with daily functioning, you may have PTSD.

According to the Mayo Clinic, symptoms of PTSD include but are not limited to recurrent, unwanted, and distressing memories, intrusive flashbacks of the traumatic experience, avoidance, negative thoughts or mood, physical or emotional reactions, and an increase in the intensity of symptoms over time. There are several ways individuals dealing with PTSD can begin to overcome their symptoms. Typically, it is necessary to work with a therapist who has skills and experience in helping people recover from PTSD. 

A PTSD therapist should have an appropriate graduate degree (e.g., MD, DO, Ph.D., Psy.D., MSW, MSN) and be licensed in a mental health profession (e.g., psychology, clinical social work, psychiatry). Said therapist should have appropriate training, education, and skills using appropriate therapeutic modalities (e.g., psychotherapy, hypnotherapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy, EMDR, medications, etc.). The therapist should have an ample amount of experience treating people with PTSD. Last and not least you should be comfortable with your potential therapist. Run from therapists with whom you feel uncomfortable, as you are unlikely to be able to develop the necessary trust in such a person. 

Psychotherapy provides the individual a safe space to express himself or herself and learn coping techniques to employ when needed. Hypnotherapy helps make psychotherapy both deeper and briefer and more effective. 

As a licensed clinical psychologist, psychotherapist and hypnotherapist, I can help you safely access your memories, examine and reprocess them, and better understand your feelings about the trauma you carry. I can help you identify your triggers and work with you to mitigate your reactions and feelings toward them. The work helps to reduce and prevent unhealthy disassociation and reduce anxiety as you reframe your memories and feelings surrounding past traumatic experiences. The ultimate goal is to help you recover control over your life.

Keep in mind that the motto is SAFETY FIRST. Once we establish a safe place in which to work, the first order of business is to make sure we establish stability. This is because you have to be stable to examine past traumatic memories. We help you build resources so that you have the stability and strength to do the harder work of therapy. The harder work of therapy is reprocessing the traumatic memories. In tandem with the reprocessing work, we are always staying practical and grounded. That means we are always working on maintaining stability and practicing coping skills. 

For over 30 years, I have helped thousands of patients who struggled with PTSD recover so they could eventually live a more symptom-free life. If you would like to learn more about my practice or would like to schedule a free consultation appointment, visit us online or call our office today at (561) 377-1039.

Dr. Eimer proudly serves patients in West Palm Beach, Lake Worth, Wellington, Boynton Beach, Delray Beach, Boca Raton, Deerfield Beach, Pompano Beach, Parkland, Coral Springs, Hallandale, Fort Lauderdale, Miami, and surrounding areas.

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Depression

How Hypnosis can Help with Depression| Boca Raton

Life during covid-19 pandemic. Portrait of stressed stylish woman in blue blouse with medical mask outdoors on the city street.

If you experience persistent feelings of dejection, that your energy is depleted, you don’t take joy in your day or social interactions, or your thinking patterns have become less positive than normal, these are all signs you may be suffering from depression.

Depression impacts your life beyond your mental state. Remaining in a persistent depressive state can begin to impact restorative sleep, appetite, energy, concentration, daily behavior, and self-esteem. Each of these can spiral into cyclical loops that ultimately deteriorate your ability to function in general, let alone at a high level to keep up with your peers. Over time, these symptoms which may not seem like a big deal can have serious repercussions on every area of your life.

It’s important to recognize these warning signs and seek solutions before they get out of control. I believe depression is best treated in a multimodal manner, meaning that one form of intervention may not address all the elements contributing to the way you feel. Diving into the behavioral, sensory, cognitive, social, and interpersonal reasons why you feel depressed will work to address the things drugs alone will never be able to. Through my hypnosis techniques, we can work through the different areas of your human experience that contribute to your depressive state.

For 30 years, I have helped thousands of patients who suffered from depression get relief and lead more fulfilling lives. If you would like to learn more about this practice or would like to schedule a free consultation appointment, visit us online or call our office today at (561) 377-1039.

I proudly serve patients in and around Boca Raton, Delray Beach, Boynton Beach, Lake Worth, Wellington, West Palm Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, Jupiter, Deerfield Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Miami, and surrounding areas.

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Pain Relief

Understanding Pain and Hypnosis | Boca Raton

To understand if hypnosis for pain is right for you, it’s important to first dissect the type of pain you feel, and if there are any other underlying feelings affecting your ability to cope. First and foremost, all pain is real and valid. The difference lies in whether what you are experiencing is acute or chronic pain.

Acute pain can be caused by injury, surgery, illness, trauma, or painful medical procedures or serve as a warning of disease or a threat to the body. It generally lasts for a short period of time and is typically alleviated when the underlying cause has been treated or has healed. Chronic pain on the other hand may be caused by a variety of factors but is characterized by persistent pain that lasts weeks to years. Depending on what is causing the pain, there are a variety of methods that can be explored to alleviate it.

Hypnosis for acute pain comes into play when there is no identifiable or treatable cause. In this case, we must address the patient’s anxiety. It has been said that the fear of pain is often worse than the pain, and in turn, fear can make the pain worse. For chronic pain, there is almost always old emotional baggage that needs to be released. Living with unrelenting chronic pain makes most people experience some level of depression, making the pain worse. Successful employment of hypnotic techniques involves altering pain sensations and distracting the client from their preoccupations with the pain.

If you are a health professional or hypnotherapist interested in learning more about the use of hypnotherapy for pain, I offer intensive one-day, two-day, and three-day fundamental and advanced Pain Control Hypnosis Practitioner courses. These courses are designed for professional practitioners who see patients with severe acute and chronic pain in their respective fields and are in a position to offer precise hypnotic pain relief. These courses will provide a fundamental understanding of the intersection of hypnosis and pain, as well as the skills necessary to implement this technique in your practice.

In short, a Pain Control Hypnosis Practitioner’s job is to help patients with pain build ego strength, self-confidence, and self-love, find faith, develop curiosity, and mobilize courage in order to be able to learn new pain coping skills.

For 30 years, I have helped thousands of patients who suffered from persistent pain get relief and lead more fulfilling lives. If you would like to learn more about this practice or would like to schedule a free consultation appointment, visit us online or call our office today at (561) 377-1039.

I proudly serve patients in and around Boca Raton, Delray Beach, Boynton Beach, Lake Worth, Wellington, West Palm Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, Jupiter, Deerfield Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Miami, and surrounding areas.

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Weight Management Hypnosis | Boca Raton, FL

Hypnosis for weight management may seem like an odd concept, but my methods are designed to retrain the unconscious mind. Our unconscious mind is what drives our habitual, imagined, and desired actions. If you have tried alternative methods to help reduce your weight or stop habitually eating the foods you crave but need to limit, hypnosis may be a valuable tool for you.

It is important to understand why retraining the unconscious mind works to actively change your desires, imagination and habits for long lasting effects. The following is a breakdown of the rationale behind the use of hypnosis to reduce cravings. 

If you struggle with your weight, it’s likely your willpower in the present is at odds with your imagination. When our perspective is centered around “I can’t eat this”, it actually fuels your desire for that food – it intensifies desire which feeds the imagination. And reciprocally, the imagination fuels desire. The unconscious mind does not distinguish between desire and action.

One of principles of Habit Change is that when the willpower is contested with the imagination, imagination always wins the contest. So, the key is to change your unconscious mind’s perspective – to shift it from “I can’t eat this unhealthy food” to “I want this healthy food”. 

My Weight Reduction Hypnosis Program is designed to make it easy for you to replace your unhealthy food cravings with healthy eating habits. The program is effective because the hypnotic suggestions I prepare for you are in the precise language your unconscious understands. I give you these individualized suggestions while you are “in hypnosis” and when you are “out of hypnosis” (in a slightly different form). Your unconscious then recognizes these suggestions as being fitting and familiar. It feels as if you gave these suggestions to yourself. And the fact is that after an effective hypnotherapy session with me, you will! This makes acting on the suggestions prepared specially for you so very natural and easy.

Through hypnosis, I can guide you to reprogram your unconscious mind. An initial consultation will allow me to understand who you are, your weight loss journey, your motivation for change and any hinderances to your ability to succeed. I then design a hypnosis plan of treatment specifically for you, so we can retrain the aspects of your unconscious that have been the biggest hinderance to your ability to lose the weigh and keep it off.

For 30 years, I have helped thousands of patients who struggle with weight loss retrain their unconscious mind. If you would like to learn more about my practice, or if you would like to schedule a free consultation appointment, visit us at www.BruceEimer.com or call our office today at (561) 377-1039.

I, Dr. Bruce Eimer, proudly serve patients in the areas of Boca Raton, Delray Beach, Boynton Beach, Lake Worth, Wellington, Deerfield Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Miami, Palm Beach, West Palm Beach, and surrounding areas.

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Hypnotherapy

Stop Smoking with Hypnotherapy | Boca Raton, FL

Fundamentals of Pain Control Hypnosis

Cigarettes are designed to get us hooked and help get others on board; of course, quitting is going to be difficult! It’s not about beating yourself up over failed attempts, it’s about finding a solution that works for you. Hypnotherapy may be the solution you have yet to find to overcome nicotine addiction.

The relationship between you and your smoking habit is entirely personal. Hypnotherapy for this purpose is effective when both you and your hypnotherapist meet halfway. It is important to understand what anyone who seeks to kick their habit needs to bring to the table. It begins with acknowledging what you’re seeking help for, and the truth about your relationship with it. You should also know that our habits are controlled by our subconscious mind, and that is where change needs to happen; hypnosis is a way to do that. Finally, it’s going to be the interaction of your conscious and unconscious mind that will result in your ability to stop smoking, feel less stressed, and experience little to no withdrawal symptoms.

Dr. Eimer has been working with cigarette-dependent patients for years and has developed a means of helping you to kick your habit in one visit. He feels the following are essential to the process and are what anyone who really wants to quit smoking needs.

  • A compelling, emotionally valid reason to stop smoking 
  • Understanding the harmful effects of cigarettes on your health
  • Recognizing the consequences of continuing the habit
  • Appreciating the benefits of becoming a non-smoker
  • Preparedness for stress and withdrawal management

Kicking your smoking habit is possible, you may just be attempting methods that don’t suit your needs or address underlying causes. The best results come from having a powerful individualized live session, however, Dr. Eimer authored the Best Stop Smoking With Hypnosis Program available for purchase here. 

If you would like to learn more about this practice or would like to schedule a free consultation appointment, visit us online or call our office today at (561) 377-1039.

Dr. Eimer proudly serves patients in and around Boca Raton, Delray Beach, Boynton Beach, Lake Worth, Wellington, West Palm Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, Jupiter, Deerfield Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Miami, and surrounding areas.