Here are some of the most frequently asked questions (FAQ) by patients who want to fully understand their Affiliated Psychological Service experience and to be comfortable with the process. Our goal is to provide you with support, resources and answers.How do I know if I need therapy?You may need therapy if issues in your life affect you, your family, your work – in other words, if you feel you had a 'better' life when you did not have these issues or problems in terms of your overall adaptive functioning.Are you taking new clients?Yes, we are taking new clients. Please call us at (770) 205–5760 to set up your first appointment.What is the difference between a psychologist and a psychiatrist?A psychologist primarily does psychotherapy and psychological testing, while most psychiatrists nowadays primarily do medication management only.How will we know if we like each other?For any therapy to be effective, good rapport between client and therapist is an important factor. In most cases, you, the client, will be able to determine within the first or second meeting whether or not you feel comfortable with my therapeutic approach and personality. If for some reason you are not, I will be glad to refer you to other providers who might be a better fit for you.How can therapy help me?Therapy does not help all people in identical ways but, in general, its purpose is to help the client to strengthen emotional coping resources, to make better life decisions, and to identify emotional 'triggers' that interfere with maintaining a healthy balance. However, we have found that each client tends to have his or her own ideas about what they want to gain from engaging in therapy.Can you help me with my kind of problem?Although I treat a wide range of issues and problems that present themselves, in the event that your particular issue is one that I do not feel comfortable treating, I will refer you to colleagues who may have more experience treating that particular issue.How often will we meet for therapy sessions?The frequency of sessions is based upon the nature and severity of the presenting issue and symptoms. The most common arrangements made are either for weekly or biweekly sessions, tapering down to a lower frequency in the latter stages of treatment, the timing of which would depend upon your progress in treatment.How long is a session?A standard therapy session is normally 45 minutes long.How long will it take before my problems get better?The arc of improvement in therapy can vary widely from person to person. Some issues require more time to be resolved than others, and a client's levels of motivation, cooperation, and commitment can be important determining factors. In general, the more one invests in the therapeutic process, the more one is likely to benefit from it. In practice, the therapy process is really a collaborative effort between the client and therapist.Will you recommend medication?At times, adjunctive psychopharmacology is recommended for management of certain troublesome emotional symptoms.Do you prescribe medication?No, a clinical psychologist does not prescribe medication, but instead works collaboratively with the patient's psychiatrist, primary care physician, or other medical specialist, all of whom do prescribe medication.How will I know when it is time to end therapy?When your symptoms and/or issues have reached a point where they are noticeably more manageable, you and I will discuss the process of termination and the time frame involved. Like many of my clients, you may also elect to resume therapy at some later time.Is my information confidential?Yes, without any doubt, your information is kept completely confidential. Actually, before we can even disclose that you are one of my patients, we need to have you sign a Release of Information form.Do you take insurance?Indeed we do take insurance, however, we do not participate in the National Health Care plan (ObamaCare).Why should I consider paying with private funds when I have insurance?If you have an insurance plan which we do not participate in, you will have to pay for services out of pocket. However, depending upon your insurance plan, you may have 'out of network' benefits which may reimburse you for some or all of the charges.What are your office hours?Monday through Thursday from 9 am to 6:45 pm; Friday from 9 am to 12:45 pm. We are closed on Saturdays, Sundays, and most major holidays.