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dr mary gresham
2801 Buford Highway suite 260
atlanta, ga 30030
404-320-6510
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Common Questions & Answers
How can I best select a therapist?
Be sure to use your best instincts to select someone that you feel you can trust. Ask a friend for the name of someone who has helped. If you are able to , you may want to schedule an inital meeting with more than one therapist. Talk to the person you see about whether or not you feel the two of you are clicking. If not, your therapist may help you to find a new therapist or may appreciate the feedback about what does not feel helpful.
How does a psychologist differ from other therapists?
A clinical psychologist has had specialized training in graduate school for approximately 8 or so years and earned a PhD as well as completed a one year internship in a mental health setting.Currently a psychologist does not prescribe medications but can refer you to a physician if medications are needed.
A psychiatrist has been to medical school and earned the MD degree and then had 3 years in s mental health setting. A psychiatrist can prescribe medications. Other practitioners are social workers who have earned the master's degree and may or may not have had training in psychotherapy. In addition there are master's level practitioners who practice as counselors, or as marriage and family therapists.
How can I protect myself as a consumer?
Be sure that you only work with therapists who are licensed to practice as such. Ask specifically which of the state licensing boards oversees their profession and when they obtained a license. A certificate generally means nothing ...as do any other terms that are used as substitute words for the word license. You may decide you want to call the state board and see if any complaints have been filed against that person.
What kind of therapy do you do?
As a psychologist I have been trained in a wide variety of techniques and will use my experience to fit my approach to your needs. I have used techniques from experiential, humanistic, analytic, behavioral,cognitive, and family systems theories. Be sure to let me know what has and has not been helpful to you in the past if you have already seen a therapist.
Can I use my health insurance?
If you have health insurance, it typically will cover the services of a licensed psychologist if you meet the criteria for a diagnosis such as anxiety or depression. You may decide not to use your insurance if you prefer either to select your own provider or that there not be a record of your treatment. I do accept many kinds of insurance and have some contracts that dictate my fee. The best information will be obtained by calling the number on your insurance card and researching your mental health coverage to find out what your deductible, copayments and yearly limits are and whether you may choose your own provider.
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