Comments on: How to Choose a Therapist http://www.blog.drsarahravin.com/psychotherapy/how-to-choose-a-therapist/ Blog Tue, 31 Aug 2010 14:37:07 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: online cna classes http://www.blog.drsarahravin.com/psychotherapy/how-to-choose-a-therapist/comment-page-1/#comment-1202 online cna classes Fri, 30 Apr 2010 06:06:49 +0000 http://www.blog.drsarahravin.com/?p=111#comment-1202 Valuable info. Lucky me I found your site by accident, I bookmarked it. Valuable info. Lucky me I found your site by accident, I bookmarked it.

]]> By: Colby Kaye http://www.blog.drsarahravin.com/psychotherapy/how-to-choose-a-therapist/comment-page-1/#comment-1183 Colby Kaye Mon, 05 Apr 2010 05:16:24 +0000 http://www.blog.drsarahravin.com/?p=111#comment-1183 Thanks so much for your post, and your blog. Millions of Americans suffer from a diagnosed, misdiagnosed or undiagnosed mental illness. Silver Hill Hospital has clinicians trained in evaluation, diagnosis and adult and <a href="http://www.silverhillhospital.org/adolescent-programs.htm" rel="nofollow">adolescent psychiatric treatment</a> and provides hope for people who may not have been getting the right care. Thanks so much for your post, and your blog. Millions of Americans suffer from a diagnosed, misdiagnosed or undiagnosed mental illness. Silver Hill Hospital has clinicians trained in evaluation, diagnosis and adult and adolescent psychiatric treatment and provides hope for people who may not have been getting the right care.

]]> By: PTC http://www.blog.drsarahravin.com/psychotherapy/how-to-choose-a-therapist/comment-page-1/#comment-1181 PTC Sat, 03 Apr 2010 21:44:07 +0000 http://www.blog.drsarahravin.com/?p=111#comment-1181 Sure Ginia! Well, I totally called her out on her pregnancy, which is pretty crazy when I think about it now. What an uncomfortable spot I put her in. I just picked up on a lot of things. She was NOT showing at all. One day it just got to me and I said, "Someone in this room is a little bit pregnant while the other is a little bit eating disodered. (She always says to me, "You can't be a little bit pregnant or a little bit eating disordered," which is why I said what I said). She didn't deny or confirm anything until the following week, after I had written her a long email sort of freaking out. Anyway, I watched her grow and we talked a little bit about her pregnancy. She went on maternity leave a week or 2 before Thanksgiving. I was seeing her three times a week, so going from that to nothing was really hard. I was extremely stressed out during that time too because I had to go home for Thanksgiving (eating and worrying about people saying things to me), was leaving for a 10 day trip to Italy and worried about food and not exercising, and had a few other things going on. She sent me to this fill in therapist who completely sucked. She overanalyzed EVERYTHING and I hated her. That stressed me out, well, moreso annoyed me to death because she was so irritating. My therapist returned after New Years, which was so nice. I started off seeing her only once a week, which was weird because I was used to going 3x, but now we're back to twice a week. Her maternity leave went by pretty quickly because of the holidays and me being away. I planned my trip according to her maternity leave. I was able to stay home for Christmas longer, which was nice. So, it wasn't too bad. I missed her and definitely felt like I needed her sometimes, but it was okay. Do you have any specific questions, Ginia?? I don't think my little schpiel was any good. Sure Ginia!

Well, I totally called her out on her pregnancy, which is pretty crazy when I think about it now. What an uncomfortable spot I put her in. I just picked up on a lot of things. She was NOT showing at all. One day it just got to me and I said, “Someone in this room is a little bit pregnant while the other is a little bit eating disodered. (She always says to me, “You can’t be a little bit pregnant or a little bit eating disordered,” which is why I said what I said). She didn’t deny or confirm anything until the following week, after I had written her a long email sort of freaking out.

Anyway, I watched her grow and we talked a little bit about her pregnancy. She went on maternity leave a week or 2 before Thanksgiving. I was seeing her three times a week, so going from that to nothing was really hard. I was extremely stressed out during that time too because I had to go home for Thanksgiving (eating and worrying about people saying things to me), was leaving for a 10 day trip to Italy and worried about food and not exercising, and had a few other things going on. She sent me to this fill in therapist who completely sucked. She overanalyzed EVERYTHING and I hated her. That stressed me out, well, moreso annoyed me to death because she was so irritating. My therapist returned after New Years, which was so nice. I started off seeing her only once a week, which was weird because I was used to going 3x, but now we’re back to twice a week. Her maternity leave went by pretty quickly because of the holidays and me being away. I planned my trip according to her maternity leave. I was able to stay home for Christmas longer, which was nice. So, it wasn’t too bad. I missed her and definitely felt like I needed her sometimes, but it was okay.

Do you have any specific questions, Ginia?? I don’t think my little schpiel was any good.

]]> By: K. Bryans http://www.blog.drsarahravin.com/psychotherapy/how-to-choose-a-therapist/comment-page-1/#comment-1171 K. Bryans Sat, 27 Mar 2010 01:53:26 +0000 http://www.blog.drsarahravin.com/?p=111#comment-1171 Dr Ravin, Has the word humble ever crossed your mind? You are extremely proud of yourself and have no problem tooting your own horn at the expense of others. There are thousands of great therapist who have "only" a masters degree. Get over yourself and give them the credit they deserve! Dr Ravin,

Has the word humble ever crossed your mind? You are extremely proud of yourself and have no problem tooting your own horn at the expense of others. There are thousands of great therapist who have “only” a masters degree. Get over yourself and give them the credit they deserve!

]]> By: Allison http://www.blog.drsarahravin.com/psychotherapy/how-to-choose-a-therapist/comment-page-1/#comment-1163 Allison Mon, 22 Mar 2010 20:44:34 +0000 http://www.blog.drsarahravin.com/?p=111#comment-1163 Dr. Ravin, thank you very much for this post, it is very helpful. I just got back home from residential treatment for my eating disorder (as well as a brief stay in the psych ward) and am having to find a new therapist. I've done a lot of "therapist-hopping" in the past, and I want to make sure the person I find this time is really the right fit. I really appreciate all the information here! Dr. Ravin, thank you very much for this post, it is very helpful. I just got back home from residential treatment for my eating disorder (as well as a brief stay in the psych ward) and am having to find a new therapist. I’ve done a lot of “therapist-hopping” in the past, and I want to make sure the person I find this time is really the right fit. I really appreciate all the information here!

]]> By: Ginia http://www.blog.drsarahravin.com/psychotherapy/how-to-choose-a-therapist/comment-page-1/#comment-1162 Ginia Mon, 22 Mar 2010 16:18:29 +0000 http://www.blog.drsarahravin.com/?p=111#comment-1162 I'm wondering if PTC may be willing to say more about the experience of having a pregnant therapist? It's a fascinating event, and I'm interested in learning more about it. I’m wondering if PTC may be willing to say more about the experience of having a pregnant therapist? It’s a fascinating event, and I’m interested in learning more about it.

]]> By: PTC http://www.blog.drsarahravin.com/psychotherapy/how-to-choose-a-therapist/comment-page-1/#comment-1128 PTC Thu, 11 Mar 2010 18:04:26 +0000 http://www.blog.drsarahravin.com/?p=111#comment-1128 My T went on maternity leave and she sent me to this other woman who was just AWFUL. She was so analytical and felt the need to analyze EVERY little thing that came out of my mouth. I got so annoyed with her and was so mad and frustrated by the time I left her office, I wanted to scream. My T thought she would be good for me because she thought she wouldn't take any of my "small talk," but the plan backfired a bit. She, well, sucked. I am so glad mine is back, that's for sure!! I felt bad not liking her, but we just did NOT click at all. She probably hated me, but that's okay. She was a nice person, I just thought she sucked as a T. My T went on maternity leave and she sent me to this other woman who was just AWFUL. She was so analytical and felt the need to analyze EVERY little thing that came out of my mouth. I got so annoyed with her and was so mad and frustrated by the time I left her office, I wanted to scream. My T thought she would be good for me because she thought she wouldn’t take any of my “small talk,” but the plan backfired a bit. She, well, sucked.

I am so glad mine is back, that’s for sure!!

I felt bad not liking her, but we just did NOT click at all. She probably hated me, but that’s okay. She was a nice person, I just thought she sucked as a T.

]]> By: Dr. Ravin http://www.blog.drsarahravin.com/psychotherapy/how-to-choose-a-therapist/comment-page-1/#comment-1024 Dr. Ravin Wed, 17 Feb 2010 16:48:30 +0000 http://www.blog.drsarahravin.com/?p=111#comment-1024 Grace - My graduate program also required clinical students to pass an exam such as this in order to graduate. However, this isn't standardized across various programs. As I understand it, each program develops their own comprehensive exams. Grace –

My graduate program also required clinical students to pass an exam such as this in order to graduate. However, this isn’t standardized across various programs. As I understand it, each program develops their own comprehensive exams.

]]> By: Grace http://www.blog.drsarahravin.com/psychotherapy/how-to-choose-a-therapist/comment-page-1/#comment-1018 Grace Wed, 17 Feb 2010 00:18:16 +0000 http://www.blog.drsarahravin.com/?p=111#comment-1018 "I think that a licensure exam with more predictive validity would consist of the following elements: 1.) Questions about diagnosis and assessment 2.) Questions about evidence-based treatments for various mental disorders 3.) Case reports of fictional clients’ presenting problems, requiring you to diagnose the client, devise a treatment plan, and suggest possible therapeutic interventions" The grad students (clinical) at my university have to pass two exams like this in order to graduate. I don't know if that applies elsewhere... “I think that a licensure exam with more predictive validity would consist of the following elements:
1.) Questions about diagnosis and assessment
2.) Questions about evidence-based treatments for various mental disorders
3.) Case reports of fictional clients’ presenting problems, requiring you to diagnose the client, devise a treatment plan, and suggest possible therapeutic interventions”

The grad students (clinical) at my university have to pass two exams like this in order to graduate. I don’t know if that applies elsewhere…

]]> By: Dr. Ravin http://www.blog.drsarahravin.com/psychotherapy/how-to-choose-a-therapist/comment-page-1/#comment-1017 Dr. Ravin Tue, 16 Feb 2010 23:26:07 +0000 http://www.blog.drsarahravin.com/?p=111#comment-1017 CB - A therapist does not need to pass an ED-specific licensing exam, meet any specific criteria, or have any specific credentials in order to treat anorexia nervosa. And therein lies the problem. Any psychologist can, technically, treat any disorder. Granted, it does state in the APA ethical guidelines that clinicians practice within their areas of expertise, but this is not really enforced, and "expertise" is not explicitly defined. And there is nothing preventing psychologists from practicing treatments which are not evidence-based. As Ph.D. psychologists, we devote so many years of our lives (some people not-so-jokingly refer to it as "writing off your 20's") to our schooling and training, and we jump through so many hoops, but most of these hoops have very little predictive validity in terms of determining one's effectiveness as a therapist. For example, passing the licensure exam requires that one has basic knowledge of psychology, which includes everything from infant development to industrial-organizational psychology to the anatomy of a neuron. Clinical psychology questions comprise only a fraction of the exam (maybe 20% or less....I'm not quite sure), and most of the questions have little to do with what one would actually need to know as a practicing psychologist. I think that a licensure exam with more predictive validity would consist of the following elements: 1.) Questions about diagnosis and assessment 2.) Questions about evidence-based treatments for various mental disorders 3.) Case reports of fictional clients' presenting problems, requiring you to diagnose the client, devise a treatment plan, and suggest possible therapeutic interventions CB –

A therapist does not need to pass an ED-specific licensing exam, meet any specific criteria, or have any specific credentials in order to treat anorexia nervosa. And therein lies the problem. Any psychologist can, technically, treat any disorder. Granted, it does state in the APA ethical guidelines that clinicians practice within their areas of expertise, but this is not really enforced, and “expertise” is not explicitly defined. And there is nothing preventing psychologists from practicing treatments which are not evidence-based.

As Ph.D. psychologists, we devote so many years of our lives (some people not-so-jokingly refer to it as “writing off your 20’s”) to our schooling and training, and we jump through so many hoops, but most of these hoops have very little predictive validity in terms of determining one’s effectiveness as a therapist.

For example, passing the licensure exam requires that one has basic knowledge of psychology, which includes everything from infant development to industrial-organizational psychology to the anatomy of a neuron. Clinical psychology questions comprise only a fraction of the exam (maybe 20% or less….I’m not quite sure), and most of the questions have little to do with what one would actually need to know as a practicing psychologist.

I think that a licensure exam with more predictive validity would consist of the following elements:
1.) Questions about diagnosis and assessment
2.) Questions about evidence-based treatments for various mental disorders
3.) Case reports of fictional clients’ presenting problems, requiring you to diagnose the client, devise a treatment plan, and suggest possible therapeutic interventions

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