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| Question: | I've never been to a psychologist before. What can I expect to happen? |
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Psychotherapy is not easily described in general statements. It varies depending on the personalities of the psychologist and patient, and the particular problems you are experiencing. There are many different methods that may be used to deal with the problems you hope to address.
The first time you come to Dr. Edwards' office, expect to arrive approximately 15 minutes early to fill out the necessary patient forms. After completing the forms, she will spend the remaining time getting to know you, finding out about the nature of your problems and concerns as well as gathering important information about your medical, psychological, family and relationship history. This information will help inform her assessment of the problem and guide the development of an appropriate treatment plan.
In most cases, you will arrange to meet once a week for approximately 50 to 55 minutes. This is your time each week to explore your thoughts, feelings and concerns. You will get as much out of therapy as you put into it, so you are encouraged to be as open and honest as possible. Challenge yourself to move beyond your comfort zone. While treatment is underway, you and Dr. Edwards will periodically evaluate your work together. When necessary, your work with her may change course to help you achieve your treatment goals.
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| Question: | I want to be evaluated to see if I may have a learning disorder or ADHD. What is the process? |
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The first time you come to her office, expect to arrive approximately 15 minutes early in order to fill out the necessary patient forms. After completing the forms, Dr. Edwards will spend the remaining time finding out about the nature of your learning problems and how these difficulties have impacted your personal, academic or employment functioning. Dr. Edwards will also gather information about your medical, psychological and family history. Please bring with you any past report cards, teacher feedback or employer evaluations you may have in your possession. This information is critical and will inform her assessment of the problem and guide the types of tests and instruments she will use in your psycho-educational evaluation.
Once Dr. Edwards has gathered all the background information necessary, you will schedule another meeting for the testing component of the evaluation. It is very important that you come to these appointments refreshed and well-rested. It is also important to wear comfortable clothes, bring some snacks to eat during breaks and any hearing or vision aids that you may need. Please plan to spend a few hours with in her office. Depending on the nature of your learning difficulties and the types of tests used, it may be necessary to schedule a second visit. During this visit, you will be presented with any number of tasks that will assess your learning strengths and challenges. You may also complete some questionnaires or instruments to assess your current functioning.
The data from these measures is scored and interpreted within the context of your background information. From there, Dr. Edwards writes a report which documents and outlines the nature of your learning strengths and challenges. Please be patient during this process. Because Dr. Edwards believes that each individual is unique, her reports are not generic. Rather, they are written with you specifically in mind. Upon conclusion of the report, Dr. Edwards will schedule a meeting to discuss the report. Last, she provides a list of recommendations to aid in the compensation of your learning difficulties. These recommendations may include steps that you can take to address your difficulties and/or provide recommendations for appropriate accommodations at your school or work.
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| Question: | Isn't it true that only people with real serious problems go to therapy? |
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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.
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| Question: | Does therapy really help? |
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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.
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| Question: | What's the difference between a psychiatrist, a psychologist, a marriage and family therapist (MFT), a counselor or life coach? |
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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.
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| Question: | Why should I go to therapy when I can take medication? |
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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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| Question: | Why is therapy so expensive? |
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It may not seem like it upon first glance, but therapists actually have valid reasons for their high prices. For example, think about how expensive it is to hire a lawyer. Clients are hiring someone with years of schooling on the subject in which they invested hundreds of thousands of dollars. It's the same deal for a therapist - most therapists have postgraduate educations and if they are psychologists, they have a Ph.D. or Psy.D. that required years of additional time and training above and beyond a traditional undergraduate or master's degree. Not only were they paying tuition during their schooling, but they were also frequently working in training positions during this time that were low-paying or completely un-funded.
Therapists also don't get paid for every hour of work. When people work a typical 40-hour week, their company pays them for every hour they work. Therapists, on the other hand, can only bill for the time they see clients. Most therapists cannot manage 40 clients a week, nor would you want to see a therapist who did try to manage that many clients in a week! In addition to direct client contact, there are the hours needed to organize their client's information, produce documentation for each session in their medical charts, marketing and performing other administrative duties. These job duties are unpaid.
Last, therapists pay their own office rent, office supplies, health, disability, office and malpractice insurance and many other benefits that are usually covered by an employer. They are required to take unpaid time off to continue their education each year to maintain their license. These dollars add up and require a significant amount of income generation to keep up with the costs of running a business.
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