Questions and Answers - Dr. Joanna Edwards - Licensed Psychologist specializing in providing high-quality, comprehensive educational testing services for children, adolescent and adult students who are having difficulty in school due to a learning disability, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), or a significant emotional issue that is impacting performance.

Question:	Isn't it true that only people with real serious problems go to therapy?
Answer:	Everyone needs a little help from time to time. In fact, knowing when to seek help can be considered a sign of psychological health. According to a U.S News and World Report Survey, 1 in 3 people will seek some form of mental health assistance in their lifetime. Indeed, many more people than you may realize have benefited from work with a psychologist or psychotherapist, due to the confidential nature of the work.

Question:	Does therapy really help?
Answer:	Millions of Americans have found relief from depression and other emotional difficulties through psychotherapy. In fact, a well-known meta-analytic study conducted by Howard et. al., found that 50% of patients noticeably improved after eight therapy sessions while 75% of individuals in psychotherapy improved by the end of six months. Furthermore, the benefit of therapy is not just a subjective phenomenon. Recent research has found that psychotherapy can produce long-lasting changes in the connections between neural pathways in the brain.

Question:	What's the difference between a psychiatrist, a psychologist, a marriage and family therapist (MFT), a counselor or life coach?
Answer:	Putting it in simple terms, a psychiatrist is a professional who has gone through medical school and obtained their M.D. Typically, they spend approximately 4 years in medical school before completing an internship and residency and passing their medical board. Psychiatrists can perform psychotherapy and prescribe medications. In California, a psychologist is someone who has advanced training in the field of psychology. They have obtained either a doctorate in Philosophy, Psychology or Education (Ph.D., Psy.D., or Ed.D.), have completed at least 3000 hours of clinical experience and passed the national and state examination for practice in psychology. Psychologists can perform psychotherapy and conduct assessments using psychological instruments. A master's level therapist is a professional who has obtained their master's degree in either marriage and family therapy or social work (MFT, LCSW), have completed at least 2000 hours of clinical experience and passed their state examination for practice in therapy. Master's level therapists can perform psychotherapy. A counselor is an unprotected term that can be used by anyone. Some counselors and life coaches have participated in training programs that provide certificates in a defined area, such as drug and alcohol counselors, certified life coaches, academic counseling, etc.

Question:	Why should I go to therapy when I can take medication?
Answer:	Medications can often be a useful form of treatment for those who struggle with moderate to severe psychological difficulties. However, medication is often most beneficial when used in conjunction with psychotherapy. Why? Because psychotherapy teaches people the skills necessary to adequately address their particular life challenges once medication is discontinued.

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