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About Therapy |
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Two keys to success are: first, an accurate diagnosis and, then, pursuing the proper therapy strategy, guided by a competent and compassionate licensed psychologist, to achieve the goals you have set for yourself. |
| Importance of Getting a DiagnosisAfter many years of practice, I am firmly convinced that getting a clear diagnosis is key to successful treatment. In the case of traditional medicine of the body, there are scientific tools, such as x-rays, blood tests and CT scans to help the specialist in obtaining a diagnosis. In the case of mental health, while there are literally thousands of possible diagnoses, great reliance must be placed on the skill and training of the psychologist. You might feel depressed, anxious or fearful, yet, relying only on the signals from these surface level symptoms to yield a diagnosis, can lead to a waste of time and money and therapeutic setbacks.My years of experience, multi-disciplinary doctoral level education and licensing, combined with the use of evidence-based testing technologies come together to obtain a proper diagnosis and reduce blind alleys and dead-ends in the therapeutic process. |
Major Approaches to TherapyTherapy can range from self-help,reading a book, talking with a friend, pastoral counselor or therapist, to more structured and intense therapy with a licensed psychologist to meet the needs of a care plan based on a diagnosis. Some therapies might help you feel better for a time, but not necessarily solve more complex, deeply rooted issues. A licensed professional with several decades of experience with literally thousands of clients can better identify and employ the right approach.Age-old traditional approaches, such as Freudian psychology meant that entering therapy was a multi-year process, costing tens of thousands of dollars by modern standards. Over the past thirty years, cognitive-behavioral approaches that are brief in duration allow a quicker transition from the intensive client/therapist relationship to a situation where the client does some of the work on their own and comes back periodically for a check-up. This is more cost effective in the long run, and it can also produce short-term results, but it requires a comitted client and a highly skilled psychologist. |
The Role of the TherapistIn the past, the therapist was an authority figure who interrogated the patient; therapy was a set of directed instructions. It was not unlike going to a dentist who didn't use pain-killer before he drilled. Today's psychologists are more highly trained and compassionate. The diagnostic process involves data gathering, testing, and exploration of the patient's family history, system dynamics and personal experiences. The psychologist's role is to educate, guide, suggest, lead, cajole and help a motivated client develop a plan that they will embrace and implement. It is not a theoretical exercise and success is judged by the progress a client can make achieving the goals they set for themselves. The client is often abandoning an old model of life bequeathed to them by childhood and crossing a chasm to something new that they have consciously decided is the way they wish to live the next stage of life. This requires a highly skilled, licensed professional to increase the odds of success and to compress the time required to achieve results. |
The Part Played by the ClientSuccessful therapy is not a form of entertainment and it involves a commitment to work with the psychologist on a game plan. Obviously, at the outset, the client is experiencing symptoms and progress is often slow and uneven. Once the fog of uncertainty melts away, emotions such as fear and anxiety that previously paralyzed action, can be redirected and put to constructive use. Eventually, the client feels more comfortable taking on more and more responsibility and a new balance in the relationship between client and psychologist. Ideally, dependency can be replaced with self-actualized behavior. |
Frequently Asked Questions:Q. What is the difference between a licensed psychologist and a psychotherapist, social worker or counselor? A.. To be licensed as a psychologist requires a doctorate in psychology from an accredited university. In addition a psychologist must pass both an oral and written test administered by the State of Colorado to get a license. Licensed psychologists usually have done internships, residencies and been supervised prior to going into private practice. Q. Who is authorized to administer tests and other highly specialized diagnostic tools? A. Tests of personality, intelligence, and emotion are sophisticated tools for diagnosis. They were developed over many years by qualified researchers. Administration of such test and interpretation of the data requires the highest level of training and is reserved for practitioners who are licensed psychologists. Q. What about getting therapy from my primary care physician who also prescribes my drugs? A. Most primary care physicians prescribe drugs but refer patients on to a licensed psychologist for testing, diagnosis, and therapy. A close working relationship is best. Q. When should I go to a psychiatrist rather than a licensed psychologist? A. Psychiatrists are medical doctors who specialize in prescribing drugs. They focus on helping you get the right drug to match your diagnosis and work with you to adjust the dosage for maximum effect. Psychiatrists rarely provide therapy or administer the kinds of diagnostic psychological tests and instruments that a licensed psychologist is trained to administer. You would be advised to go to a licensed psychologist for diagnosis and therapy. Q. What if I have been seeing a psychotherapist, counselor or social worker and do not feel that I am making the progress I originally hoped? A. First, remember that things change once you enter therapy and what works at first may need to be changed or intensified. Talk with your current therapist about your concerns and ask for a referral to a licensed psychologist. The two professionals will talk and compare notes. Perhaps after a more precise diagnosis or a short-term, intensive therapy surge, you will make enough progress to use another professional. Q. What if I have been using a pastoral counselor and religion is important to me? A. Today's practicing professionals usually are pleased when the client seeks a spiritual dimension to complement mind/body healing. Modern psychology is a far cry from the sterile treatments of the past. However, psychology is a secular practice and purposefully avoids proselytizing any particular religious ideology that the therapist might hold. This is to protect the client. A competent licensed psychologist will respect your traditions and religious beliefs. Q. What about trying alternative therapies such as hypnosis to stop smoking or meditation to reduce stress? A. There are many therapeutic modalities. Some border on casual entertainment and others, such as hypnosis and meditation can be very effective as part of a comprehensive plan. The first admonition is to "do no harm". Ideally, your psychologist would be open and encourage you to employ complementary techniques and methods such as nutrition, mediation, massage, acupuncture, hypnosis, cranial-sacral therapy and other alternatives. Just remember, these therapies are usually an adjunct or complement, not a substitute for the diagnosis and therapy provided by a licensed psychologist. Q. I have heard about brain scans and was thinking of getting one. What do you think? A. The next big frontier in psychology and neurology involves advanced imaging techniques that show what's going on inside the brain. At present, the use of brain imaging appears more accurate for trauma, epilepsy, and dementia than for other common mental health problems such as depression. The imaging process often requires injecting a radioactive isotope into the blood stream and the image must be interpreted by a highly trained, specialized professional. The cost of such scans with state of the art, four camera scanners can range from $3,000 to $5,000 and is often not reimburseable by insurance. In the future such leading edge technology has the potential to refine diagnosis and allow for more targeted therapy. At the present state of the art, though, it can also produce interesting information that is not central to the problem at hand, create confusion and false positives and waste the client's time and money. A qualified psychologist, in consult with more specialized medical professionals can advise you when such invasive tests might be warranted. Q. When searching directories on the internet, I came across a variety of names under the category for psychologists close to where I live. What gives? A. The current internet directory and search process fails to note practitioner's licensing and often miscategorizes and commingles people with vastly different capabilities. In addition, many therapists and counselors pay for advertising that pops up. Care must be taken to be sure that the person you seek has the proper credentials. Look for a person who states he or she is licensed, possesses a PhD, and has the education and experience you desire. And, don't hesitate to ask the professional for their license and educational information and verify it with the State of Colorado's licensing data base. |
Parker Office: 19755 East Pikes Peak Ave., Suite 202 (In Victorian Park) Parker, CO 80138 303-841-0529 for Voice Messages E-Mail: drkathleen@drsandal-miller.com Website: http://www.drsandal-miller.com |
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