Unfortunately, there are many myths and misconceptions about psychologists and psychotherapy and those can keep people who really want or need help from reaching out to a professional to get that help. One of those myths is that people who go to a psychologist for treatment are “crazy.” But the truth is that the majority of patient’s who visit a psychologist are high functioning and intelligent people from every walk of life and every socioeconomic group.
Unfortunately, there are many myths and misconceptions about psychologists and psychotherapy and those can keep people who really want or need help from reaching out to a professional to get that help. One of those myths is that people who go to a psychologist for treatment are “crazy.” But the truth is that the majority of patient’s who visit a psychologist are high functioning and intelligent people from every walk of life and every socioeconomic group.
Our patients are women staying at home with their young children and college professors, school bus drivers and school teachers, college students and physicians, and people on disability assistance and people with high incomes. Our patients are your neighbors, family, friends, and people you see in your neighborhood and local grocery store every day. In fact, to be honest we see a lot of people who are living with those who others may call “crazy” and they really need help coping with those difficult spouses, children, friends, parents, in-laws, neighbors, and co-workers. Wait… did I hear someone out there shout AMEN?!
Our patients are women staying at home with their young children and college professors, school bus drivers and school teachers, college students and physicians, and people on disability assistance and people with high incomes. Our patients are your neighbors, family, friends, and people you see in your neighborhood and local grocery store every day. In fact, to be honest we see a lot of people who are living with those who others may call “crazy” and they really need help coping with those difficult spouses, children, friends, parents, in-laws, neighbors, and co-workers. Wait… did I hear someone out there shout AMEN?!
Unfortunately, there are many myths and misconceptions about Psychologists and psychotherapy and those can keep people who really want or need help from reaching out to a professional to get that help. One of those myths is that people who go to a psychologist for treatment are “crazy.” But the truth is that the majority of patient’s who visit a Psychologist are high functioning and intelligent people from every walk of life and every socioeconomic group.
Our patients are women staying at home with their young children and college professors; there are school bus drivers and school teachers, college students and physicians; and there are those who receive disability assistance and those who have a high income. Our patients are your neighbors, family, friends, and people you see in your neighborhood and local grocery store every day. In fact, to be honest we see more people who are living with those who are “crazy” and they need help coping with that fact.
People come to therapy for a wide range of life and emotional reasons, such as:
- Depression and other mood disorders
- Anxiety (excessive and irrational worry)
- Identity issues and self-acceptance
- Grief and loss
- Establishing healthy boundaries in relationships
- Infertility and miscarriage
- Dealing with conflict at home and in the office
- Problems with life transitions (e.g., moving, starting school)
- Dealing with separation and divorce
- Codependency
- Coping with stress
- Living with chronic pain
People come to therapy for a wide range of life and emotional reasons, such as:
- Depression and other mood disorders
- Anxiety (excessive and irrational worry)
- Identity issues and self-acceptance
- Grief and loss
- Establishing healthy boundaries in relationships
- Infertility and miscarriage
- Dealing with conflict at home and in the office
- Problems with life transitions (e.g., moving, starting school)
- Dealing with separation and divorce
- Codependency
- Coping with stress
- Living with chronic pain
Seniors. There are many words to refer to people over age 65 or 70, but no ideal ones. At least no words that sum up the amount of life they have seen and wisdom that they have collected. And boy is it changing! My mother was wearing high heels and living her best life well into her 80’s and I know several people here in Carrollton, Georgia who worked and flourished through their 90’s. And I so love working with Seniors and I always have. To walk through so much life requires courage and humor and I find most have lots of both.
I am a participating Medicare provider (and I “accept assignment” – that means I will not charge more than the Medicare rate) because I strongly believe that it is my moral responsibility to assist the older members of our community and to make their well-being my concern. Many who have lived 7 or more decades have had to deal with major loss – a spouse, parents, friends. They have learned that life changes dramatically on a dime whether you like it or not and that lack of control can be so frightening. But psychotherapy with older patients is more than just listening to complaints! Psychotherapy with seniors is like psychotherapy for anyone else – the focus is on empathy, caring, and empowerment. And for seniors the empowerment can be the most important thing that is needed by those in the last quarter century of their lives.
I am a participating Medicare provider (and I “accept assignment” – that means I will not charge more than the Medicare rate) because I strongly believe that it is my moral responsibility to assist the older members of our community and to make their well-being my concern. Many who have lived 7 or more decades have had to deal with major loss – a spouse, parents, friends. They have learned that life changes dramatically on a dime whether you like it or not and that lack of control can be so frightening. But psychotherapy with older patients is more than just listening to complaints! Psychotherapy with seniors is like psychotherapy for anyone else – the focus is on empathy, caring, and empowerment. And for seniors the empowerment can be the most important thing that is needed by those in the last quarter century of their lives.
There are other misconceptions that can confuse people and sometimes affect their willingness to seek assistance from a Psychologist. Do these sound familiar?
Therapy is just where people vent their feelings.
This has some truth in it, but not much. While it can be important to express your previously unexpressed thoughts and feelings in therapy, expressing yourself freely is not what makes a lasting change in your emotions, behavior, or life. A Psychologist can help you approach your life situation in a new way, teach you new skills, help you gain different perspectives, listen to you without judgment or expectations, and help you find and change the patterns that keep you making the same mistakes repeatedly. It’s a good bit more useful than screaming in the woods!
Therapy only focuses on examining your childhood and your relationship with your parents (especially your mother!).
Not true (and definitely not in this office)! While a Psychologist will definitely take a history on your first visit and ask about your early family life and experiences, your past is only relevant to psychotherapy to the degree that it is impacting your life now. Modern psychological therapies (like CBT) focus on reducing current problem (whether emotions or behaviors) rather than focusing on a detailed discovery of every aspect of how they all came to be. While it’s nice to know the “why”, that knowledge is not the basis for change (nor it is required for change).
Therapy lasts for years.
I hope not, if patient’s are staying that long then I will be awake 24/7 and never get a vacation! The truth is that therapy usually takes 3-6 months in total The 55 minute sessions are usually scheduled weekly at first, but their frequency will be extended as you progress and come closer and closer to completing your treatment. There are certainly people who are in treatment longer for various reasons (the severity of their disorder or acute distress), but even in those cases once the crisis is over their sessions are stretched out (every 1-3 months) as they maintain their progress.
You want to know a little bit more about what we do in therapy?
This is my attempt at a semi-short version! My style of psychotherapy is called Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (or CBT). This method of psychotherapy is the most scientifically researched type of psychotherapy and the evidence is very strong across a great many studies that Cognitive-Behavioral psychotherapy is effective for a wide variety of psychological and emotional disturbances and problems. With this powerful approach, a psychologist helps you examine your thoughts to determine how they connect to your other problem thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. CBT provides you with greater understanding of your internal dialogue and helps to guide you to more rational and adaptive thinking patterns and perceptions to better reflect the reality around you and your feelings about yourself and others. The aim is to ease your suffering, improve your problems, and help you live a healthier, happier life.
There are other misconceptions that can confuse people and sometimes affect their willingness to seek assistance from a Psychologist.
Do these sound familiar?
Do these sound familiar?
Therapy is just where people vent their feelings.
This has some truth in it, but not much. While it can be important to express your previously unexpressed thoughts and feelings in therapy, expressing yourself freely is not what makes a lasting change in your emotions, behavior, or life. A Psychologist can help you approach your life situation in a new way, teach you new skills, help you gain different perspectives, listen to you without judgment or expectations, and help you find and change the patterns that keep you making the same mistakes repeatedly. It’s a good bit more useful than screaming in the woods!
Therapy only focuses on examining your childhood and your relationship with your parents (especially your mother!).
Not true (and definitely not in this office)! While a Psychologist will definitely take a history on your first visit and ask about your early family life and experiences, your past is only relevant to psychotherapy to the degree that it is impacting your life now. Modern psychological therapies focus on reducing current problem (whether emotions or behaviors) rather than focusing on a detailed discovery of every aspect of how they all came to be. While it’s nice to know the “why”, that knowledge is not the basis for change (nor it is required for change).
Therapy lasts for years.
I hope not, if patient’s are staying that long then I will be awake 24/7 and never get a vacation! The truth is that therapy usually takes 3-6 months in total The 55 minute sessions are usually scheduled weekly at first, but their frequency will be extended as you progress and come closer and closer to completing your treatment. There are certainly people who are in treatment longer for various reasons (the severity of their disorder or acute distress), but even in those cases once the crisis is over their sessions are stretched out (every 1-3 months) as they maintain their progress.
You want to know a little bit more about what we do in therapy?
This is my attempt at a semi-short version! My style of psychotherapy is called Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (or CBT). This method of psychotherapy is the most scientifically researched type of psychotherapy and the evidence is very strong across a great many studies that Cognitive-Behavioral psychotherapy is effective for a wide variety of psychological and emotional disturbances and problems.
With this powerful approach, a psychologist helps you examine your thoughts to determine how they connect to your other problem thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. CBT provides you with greater understanding of your internal dialogue and helps to guide you to more rational and adaptive thinking patterns and perceptions to better reflect the reality around you and your feelings about yourself and others. The aim is to ease your suffering, improve your problems, and help you live a healthier, happier life.
ADOPTION is a wonderful thing (I know, both my husband and I were adopted). But that isn’t the end of my education about adoption! My research throughout my 5 years of graduate training at Auburn University was on various adoption-related topics and I have since grained many years of experience working with those in the adoption triad (such as adoptees and birth parents who have faced the emotional minefield of searching and “reunions”).
Anyone who has been involved in adoption, whether as a birth parent (or sibling), an adoptive parent, or an adoptee can have unique struggles that are often not well understood by others. Their feelings and thoughts are sometimes judged in a negative way by friends and family. Some adoptees struggle with topics such as feelings of loss, racial/ethnic/cultural identity, life transitions, and relationships (although many do not) . If your life has been touched by adoption, you deserve to work with a professional who understands the complexities of adoption. And I undeniably do.
When you’re ready,
let’s talk …