Insurance Questions
What can a Psychologist do for me?
Psychotherapy has been shown to be effective in treating depression, anxiety and other behavioral health issues. Heart patients, for example, have been shown to live longer when their treatment included psychotherapy. When you reach a point in your life when you want professional help, you want to talk with someone with whom you feel comfortable and whom you can trust. A good friend can listen, but a psychologist has the skills and professional training to help you learn to manage your stress and emotions when you're feeling overwhelmed.
- Psychologists have doctoral degrees and are licensed by the state in which they practice
- Psychologists receive one of the highest levels of education of all health care professionals
- Psychologists are experts in human experience and behavior
- Psychologists are trained to help people cope more effectively with life's problems, using techniques based on best available research and their clinical skills and experience, and taking into account the person's unique values, goals, and circumstances
What is Psychotherapy?
- You learn to work through your own problems
and solve difficult situations
- No one is taking a side, except to help you
embarrassing, shameful, or frightening your thoughts or feelings are to you. The role of the psychologist is
to remain neutral, help you cope better with the troubling situation, and to work with you to find a good
solution for your concerns.
- Your secrets are safe
licensing laws require that psychologists remain silent about what is discussed or shared during
psychotherapy, unless you or someone else's life is in danger.
- Long-term value can't be beat
term, research has shown that the benefits of psychotherapy extend to your physical health as well, often
resulting in better physical health and lowering of your overall health costs over time.
- Psychotherapy works!
Who should I go to for help?
There are many types of mental health providers and it can often be confusing to figure out who you need to go to for help. The brief description below may provide some clarity:
PSYCHOLOGIST: A "psychologist" is a doctor with a doctoral degree in Psychology (a PsyD, PhD or EdD) who has completed 4-7 years of post-graduate training plus a year pre-doctoral internship and a year of postdoctoral training. The term “Psychologist” is not a generic term but instead refers to the mental health professional trained at the doctoral level who holds a license as a Psychologist. In Texas and most states, only Licensed Psychologists may refer to themselves as a “Psychologist." Psychologists have the highest level of training in the study of human behavior and the specialized assessment and treatment of emotional and behavioral problems. Like physicians, psychologists have various specialties. Clinical psychologists have expertise in the mind/body relationship as well as psychiatric and behavioral disorders. Unlike physicians, psychologists in most states do not prescribe medication. However, psychologists collaborate with physicians who are prescribing for their patients as they often see patients more frequently and are therefore better able to follow response to medications.
In order to treat patients in Texas, psychologists are required to pass comprehensive written and oral exams to become licensed to practice, and then to complete yearly continuing education requirements. Their yearly continuing education, as well as any complaints, are monitored by the Texas State Board of Examiners of Psychologists.
PSYCHIATRIST: A "psychiatrist" is a physician who specialize in prescribing psychotropic medications. Psychiatrists have a medical degree (an MD or DO) and have completed medical school to become physicians. After medical school, to be a general psychiatrist, a physician receives an additional 4 years of psychiatric training. Recent trends in managed care and medical training have limited psychiatrists' roles to primarily medication management, though some psychiatrists provide limited psychotherapy as well. Their continuing education and complaints are monitored by the Texas Medical Board.
COUNSELOR: "Counselor" and "therapist" are general terms referring to many different professions, including Clinical Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists and Licensed Professional Counselors. Such professionals provide support for individuals coping with various life stressors, as well as assistance with community resources. These providers typically have 2 or more years of graduate level training resulting in a Master's degree, and are required by the state to pass licensure examinations in their areas of specialty in order to provide services to patients.
PSYCHOLOGIST: A "psychologist" is a doctor with a doctoral degree in Psychology (a PsyD, PhD or EdD) who has completed 4-7 years of post-graduate training plus a year pre-doctoral internship and a year of postdoctoral training. The term “Psychologist” is not a generic term but instead refers to the mental health professional trained at the doctoral level who holds a license as a Psychologist. In Texas and most states, only Licensed Psychologists may refer to themselves as a “Psychologist." Psychologists have the highest level of training in the study of human behavior and the specialized assessment and treatment of emotional and behavioral problems. Like physicians, psychologists have various specialties. Clinical psychologists have expertise in the mind/body relationship as well as psychiatric and behavioral disorders. Unlike physicians, psychologists in most states do not prescribe medication. However, psychologists collaborate with physicians who are prescribing for their patients as they often see patients more frequently and are therefore better able to follow response to medications.
In order to treat patients in Texas, psychologists are required to pass comprehensive written and oral exams to become licensed to practice, and then to complete yearly continuing education requirements. Their yearly continuing education, as well as any complaints, are monitored by the Texas State Board of Examiners of Psychologists.
PSYCHIATRIST: A "psychiatrist" is a physician who specialize in prescribing psychotropic medications. Psychiatrists have a medical degree (an MD or DO) and have completed medical school to become physicians. After medical school, to be a general psychiatrist, a physician receives an additional 4 years of psychiatric training. Recent trends in managed care and medical training have limited psychiatrists' roles to primarily medication management, though some psychiatrists provide limited psychotherapy as well. Their continuing education and complaints are monitored by the Texas Medical Board.
COUNSELOR: "Counselor" and "therapist" are general terms referring to many different professions, including Clinical Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists and Licensed Professional Counselors. Such professionals provide support for individuals coping with various life stressors, as well as assistance with community resources. These providers typically have 2 or more years of graduate level training resulting in a Master's degree, and are required by the state to pass licensure examinations in their areas of specialty in order to provide services to patients.