Frequently Asked Questions

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Several kinds of professionals offer mental health services. The best therapist for you will be someone with whom you feel comfortable, who serves as a good listener, and who has the knowledge and skills to help you better understand yourself, how you can improve your own life, and how to cope with challenges. A PhD (doctoral degree) in clinical psychology represents the most rigorous combined training available in psychological theory, research, and practice. PhD programs are extremely selective with small class sizes that allow for intensive and individualized instruction and training. This degree typically involves 4-6 years of full-time graduate-level study and also teaching at the college level. Coursework includes biological, cognitive-affective, and social bases of behavior, ethics, statistics, training and supervised provision in both therapy and neuropsychological/psychological assessment, and participation in research. Psychologists must pass a rigorous national exam and often (as is the case in Massachusetts) an additional state exam before receiving a license. Psychologists must also participate in ongoing continuing education.

Absolutely. I will only share information beyond this practice if you give me written permission, or in the rare situation in which I am legally required to do so (for example, if someone is in imminent danger or if abuse is reported). When I work with children and adolescents, I speak together with these individuals and their parents so that all involved understand the regulations regarding confidentiality as well as their limits. While parents are often legally able to request information regarding a minor child’s mental health treatment, I encourage parents and children to negotiate a mutual understanding of when children can expect from their parents a degree of privacy in speaking with me. This type of privacy increases the chance that children will be open to sharing their thoughts and feelings. I will always make parents aware if children share information with me that leads me to believe that there is an immediate significant safety concern. When there are topics that are difficult yet important for parents and children to discuss, we might decide to to discuss them together with me being available to support all individuals in communicating and listening effectively. I make it clear to children and adolescents that they are always welcome to share anything about our conversations or sessions with their parents, and when I meet alone with a child or adolescent parents are always welcome to join our session at any time.

Never. The more open that you are regarding your thoughts, feelings, and experiences, the greater my ability to help you. I strive to create a safe environment in which you feel comfortable sharing this information, though I will never require you to talk about anything that you don’t want to.

Many individuals who see me do not require or want to take psychiatric medications. Many individuals prefer to see what symptom improvement they are able to achieve through therapy, as the techniques that we use are non-invasive and without the potential risks of medication side effects. Whereas the benefits of psychiatric medications generally end if/when you stop taking them, the coping strategies learned in therapy have the power to lead to permanent improvements in mood. I will discuss with you if I believe that you might want to consider short- or long-term use of psychiatric medication to reduce symptoms or help you be in a better emotional position to actively participate in therapy. If you would like to consider medication I will assist you in locating a healthcare provider who will evaluate what type of medication might be appropriate and who will prescribe it for you as needed. With your permission, I will be in direct contact with your chosen provider to share information about your current mental health needs and to provide updates on your progress as our treatment progresses so that your medications can be adjusted as needed.

There are several benefits of seeing a psychologist separate from someone who manages medications. Since we do not need to manage medications during our sessions, we are able to devote our full attention to discussing your thoughts and emotions and to developing coping strategies. Medical providers who prescribe psychiatric medications have received rigorous training in the biology of the brain and how to use medicines to improve brain functioning. The amount of academic and supervised clinical training that medical providers receive in assessment and therapy services is typically considerably less extensive than what psychologists receive. Since I am solely devoted to being an assessment and therapy provider, both my training and experience have been exclusively tailored to provide you with the highest level of these services. 

Our sessions typically last approximately 45 minutes. I usually recommend that we start with weekly sessions if possible. Typically frequency decreases over time. In some situations we may decide to start with sessions twice a week or every other week, depending on your clinical needs and scheduling constraints. Our work together will only last as long as you find it helpful. To assist you with making progress between sessions, we will discuss optional activities that you can do at home to practice the skills that we are learning, or ways to gather “data” such as by observing and writing down details about your thoughts, feelings, or behavior.

Absolutely not! Willingness to seek support when needed is a sign of strength, not weakness. Some medical conditions are associated with an increased risk of mental health symptoms, and medical conditions are also frequently a cause of increased stress. Mental health services help decrease stress and distress, helping you feel better emotionally. Research has proven that decreased stress can actually improve a variety of medical conditions and symptoms. If someone referred you to me, it means that that person cares enough about you to want you to benefit from the support and services that I am able to provide.  

When possible, it is wonderful to receive the love and support of speaking with your own family and friends. In contrast, our professional context allows you to process your life events, thoughts, and feelings in a confidential space in which you can focus solely on your own needs. You are also free of concerns that come from speaking with loved ones regarding whether you are burdening them, feeling too needy within the relationship, or how sharing your thoughts and feelings might affect your relationship. I provide my psychological knowledge and experience and objective perspective, and together with your own expertise in knowing yourself, we together collaborate in your care.