Commonwealth Psychological Associates, PLC

When to Consider Professional Psychological Services

Everyone experiences normal ups and downs in reaction to daily stresses and life events. Sometimes, a good friend or a trusted clergyman can do much to help us through a troubled time. But when problems are severe or persistent, professional help may be needed.
Some of the warning signs that professional consultation may be helpful are

difficulty in thinking or concentrating
sudden mood changes
behavior problems such as low productivity, excessive drinking, stealing, lying, procrastinating
feelings of depression, hopelessness, sadness
prolonged anxiety, irrational fears, panic attacks
suicidal thoughts
recurring tension-related physical symptoms such as headaches, stomachaches, nausea, fatigue, insomnia

These types of problems can occur in all stages of life, from early childhood to old age. In addition to the warning signs listed above, some of the special signals that children and adolescents may need professional help include:

declining grades, problems in school
moodiness, withdrawal, aggressiveness, irritability
difficulty making and keeping friends
hyperactivity
loss of coping skills, regression to a previous stage of development

Many factors can contribute to the development of a psychological or emotional problem, including:

heredity - genetic predisposition to certain illnesses such as alcoholism or depression
stress - too many demands or changes, whether positive or negative
life crises and adjustments - divorce, the death of a loved one, loss of a job, a relocation, retirement
physical problems - reactions to certain diseases or medicines; coming to terms with chronic illness
past experience - unresolved traumas from an earlier stage of life

Most psychological problems can be treated successfully; untreated, many of these problems can escalate to dominate our lives and threaten our physical and emotional health, happiness, and productivity. In children and adolescents, psychological problems can impede emotional growth and interfere with the normal stages of development.
Other aspects of our treatment services and practice we'd like you to know about include:
The Physical Psychological Overlap: Sometimes medical problems masquerade as psychological problems; sometimes the reverse is true. When a link is suspected between physical and psychological symptoms, we need to sort out the physical components of the problem from the psychological aspects. To assure you of a comprehensive treatment, we ask you to provide us with a thorough summary of your medical history, medications you may be taking, and general physical health. When necessary, we will work closely with your personal physician.
Medication: Medication can sometimes be helpful in conjunction with therapy for certain types of psychological disorders. If we think medication may benefit you, we will discuss it with you and work with your physician. If appropriate, we can also recommend expert medical consultants.
Hospitalization: Although our services are offered primarily on an outpatient basis, we have affiliations with several area hospitals that provide specialized inpatient care in a modern, comfortable setting. When hospitalization is recommended (usually for only a small percentage of conditions), we can arrange it and provide you with any follow-up services you may need.
Support and Self-Help Groups: There are many community support and self-help groups that are directed to specific problems such as alcoholism, drug abuse, AIDS, death of a child, battered women, and infertility. Our office maintains a directory of these groups, and we will be happy to provide you with more details upon request. Sometimes very effective results can be obtained with a combination of individual or family therapy and involvement in a support or self-help group. If we think such participation will benefit you, we are glad to recommend groups that you may join and coordinate your involvement with them.
Community Service: Community service activities are part of our commitment to our profession and to the community we serve. We speak on various mental health topics without charge to a host of nonprofit organizations and groups. If you would like more information about our speaking schedule or availability, please call or write us.
Informational Materials: If you want to learn more about mental health issues, we have a wide assortment of informational materials that are available without charge. We can also direct you to public and private organizations that have extensive libraries of specialized information.
Referrals: No practice can be all things to all people. If we feel, or a patient feels, that we cannot serve his or her needs, referrals are cheerfully made to other professionals.
When You Call Us... At times when we are unavailable, our phones are answered by a recorded message. Should this occur, please leave your name, phone number, and a brief message. Our answering service is routinely monitored and one of us will return your call as quickly as possible.