Once you have made the decision to seek professional emotional support,
to whom do you turn to? Asking for recommendations from people you know
is a good start. The majority of my clients have come to me through
personal recommendations from current and former clients as well as
referrals from other psychologists. They often mention that I am easy
to talk to, sensitive and caring. Mental health therapy is a very personal
issue and most people keep their involvement a private matter. Most
of the time, they are very reluctant to discuss with others their participation
in therapy. This makes getting recommendations even from people who
are very satisfied harder to come by. Not surprisingly, for this reason
people increasingly seek psychologists in their area on the internet.
Researching on the internet
has advantages since you can form a decision based on preferences that
are important to you. For instance, my web site is designed to help
people make a well informed decision about my qualifications and experience.
I post an extensive listing of conferences and workshops, resume and
articles that I have written. The articles I have written and the web
site as a whole provide insight into my approach, who I am personally
and as a professional.
Many without experience, looking
for mental health services, utilize their managed care company’s list
of providers. Unfortunately, they often find out afterwards that they
need more effective therapeutic intervention to address their needs.
This partly results from the insurance driven system which encourages
therapists to see too many clients per day, which I oppose. This leads
to burn out and reduced quality of care for clients. A preferred choice
is a psychologist, in an individual private practice, with a reasonable
case load that emphasizes quality of care. It is better to work with
someone you have confidence and trust in, even if it is less often,
due to financial reasons. What is important is what you get out of the
therapy session and that it makes a meaningful difference in your life.
The setting where the counseling
takes place can make a positive difference. A practice that is devoted
to assisting individuals, families and couples that offers the choice
of seeing individuals in the comfort and privacy of their own homes
and offices offers a significant advantage. This allows genuine insight
into how each member interacts in his or her natural environment. In
my practice, I offer this and the option of being seen in Southampton,
Pennsylvania.
Look for caring, compassionate advice with specific recommendations
and assigned work to do between sessions. Seek out a psychologist with
the time and motivation to research and consult as necessary.
Medications have potentially
serious side effects, but if necessary can be beneficial. The adage
“use skills not pills” usually applies, since the problems are corrected
and addressed at their source. Medication alone without counseling is
not as effective or long lasting. In most cases counseling alone is
safer and sufficient to meeting your therapy goals. Some exceptions
are Bipolar Disorder and very severe depression. Vitamins and supplements
can have a useful role when sound research supports their use for your
specific concern. Accurate diagnosis and monitoring are vital for success.
Psychological tests can be extremely useful. A thorough intake evaluation
is required and the psychological treatment plan must be continually
reassessed.
Ask to see a listing of conferences and professional workshops the psychologist
has attended over the years. Consumers should expect their psychologists
to be appropriately informed and current about areas pertinent to their
treatment.
Carefully select an experienced psychologist that you are comfortable
with.
I'd like to help you utilize your inner strengths, heal and overcome the challenges in your life . Call or e-mail me today for a no-obligation phone consultation to see if my services are right for you.
