Do I have to have a big problem to work with a psychologist?

No, you do not. People consult with psychologists for many reasons. Psychologists are trained to work with a very wide variety of mental health problems, but also to help in areas as diverse as advertising and motivational speaking. Some common concerns include coping with acute crises (e.g., death in the family), managing a chronic health condition (e.g., living with a disability or depression) and gaining assistance with spiritual and emotional growth (e.g., learning one's purpose in life).

Do you prescribe medicine?

A psychologist is not qualified to prescribe medicine (although this might change in the near future). However, I work closely with many local physicians (psychiatrists, pediatricians, family practitioners, neurologists etc.

What is the difference between a psychologist and a psychiatrist?

Many people confuse the definition of psychologist with that of a psychiatrist. Psychologists and psychiatrists have two different types of degrees. Psychologists have a doctorate in philosophy, whereas psychiatrists have a doctorate in medicine. Both disciplines work in mental health, and both have equivalent quality in education. The primary difference is that psychologists are trained in mental health philosophy and technique, whereas psychiatrists are trained in mental health physiology.I have written elsewhere about the profound implications surrounding the the process of diagnosis in general, and the diagnosis of Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) in particular.

Do you just work with the child? Are the parents involved?

The initial assessment is almost always conducted with at least one parent and the child (or children). Exceptions to this might be if sensitive issues that the child should not know need to be discussed (but this is less frequent than you might think) or if the client is a teenager who might be able to present the primary issues without the parents being present.No, I do not believe this to be true. However, the answer depends upon who you listen to.

How long will this take?

Session length may vary. A typical session is 1 hour. However, some clients prefer intensive meetings (e.g., 2-4 hours in length) in order to address issues more quickly or to complete treatment in fewer visits. For example, intensive sessions are often useful to couples who are experiencing a crisis. Also, we find that men sometimes prefer short-term, intesive sessions over long-term therapy.Your first step is to consider whether or not you wish to use your insurance benefit. For further information on factors to consider in making that decision, click here. If you decide to use your benefit, contact your insurance company (by calling the number on your insurance identification card). They will let you know what you must do in order to obtain treatment. For example, you may need to contact your Primary Care Physician to obtain a referral to a particular psychologist.

What is a Child Custody Evaluation?

When parents get divorced and are unable to agree as to the best custody and visitation arrangements for their children, the Court will often request an evaluation of all parties to be carried out by an expert in these matters. The expert then makes some recommendations to the Court to assist the court in making the determination that the parents are unable to make.If you have another insurance provider that you would like to use, we may well be covered as an Out of Network Provider.