News and Information
By · CommentsFrom Our News and Information blog
We at Hoover and Associates are happy to share information with you about tips for coping, psychology news, and our services. We hope you find this interesting and helpful.
Understanding the Anxious Mind
Jerome Kagan’s “Aha!” moment came with Baby 19. It was 1989, and Kagan, a professor of psychology at Harvard, had just begun a major longitudinal study of temperament and its effects. Temperament is a complex, multilayered thing, and for the sake of clarity, Kagan was tracking it along a single dimension: whether babies were easily upset when exposed to new things. He chose this characteristic both because it could be measured and because it seemed to explain much of normal human variation. He suspected, extrapolating from a study he had just completed on toddlers, that the most edgy infants were more likely to grow up to be inhibited, shy and anxious. Eager to take a peek at the early results, he grabbed the videotapes of the first babies in the study, looking for the irritable behavior he would later call high-reactive.
No high-reactors among the first 18. They gazed calmly at things that were unfamiliar. But the 19th baby was different. She was distressed by novelty — new sounds, new voices, new toys, new smells — and showed it by flailing her legs, arching her back and crying. Here was what Kagan was looking for but was not sure he would find: a baby who essentially fell apart when exposed to anything new.
At Hoover and Associates we provide a full spectrum of mental health services, including therapy, counseling,psychological testing and consultation. We are a diverse group private practice, with over ten dedicated, highly qualified clinicians. Those coming our way are likely to find a therapist with a wealth of experience and expertise. If you need the services of other helping professionals, we will also assist you in making those connections.
Hoover and Associates is located in Tinley Park, IL — in the southwest suburbs of Chicago, near Orland Park, Oak Forest, Orland Hills, Palos Heights, Mokena, and Frankfort. If you have any questions, of if you’d like to make an appointment, feel free to call us at 708-429-6999.
Existential psychotherapy
By · CommentsExistential psychotherapy
Existential therapy starts with the belief that although humans are essentially alone in the world, we long to be connected to others. People want to have meaning in each others lives, but ultimately we must come to realize that we cannot depend on others for our validation, and with that realization we finally acknowledge and understand that we are fundamentally alone. The result of this revelation is anxiety in the knowledge that our validation must come from within and not from others.
Background
The philosophers who are especially pertinent to the development of existential psychotherapy are those whose work is directly aimed at making sense of human existence. But the philosophical movements that are of most importance and that have been directly responsible for the generation of existential therapy are phenomenology and existential philosophy.
The starting point of existential philosophy can be traced back to the last century and the work of Kierkegaard and Nietzsche. Both were in conflict with the predominant ideologies of their time and committed to the exploration of reality as it can be experienced in a passionate and personal manner.
Rollo May Existential Psychotherapy Video
See legendary Existential Psychotherapy master Rollo May in a dialogue on what matters most in the practice of psychotherapy. Rollo May explores his own unique therapy style, reflects on his work with clients, and gets specific on what we can take and leave from other influential psychotherapists.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cay743y-Sak
Testing and Neuropsychological Services
for Children and Adolescents in Chicago
Our staff of professionals, under the direction of Sandra Kasprzyk, Psy.D., provide an environment for psychological testing in the Chicago area, that is comfortable for both you and your child.
In the initial visit with the psychologist, the parent’s and the child’s questions and concerns are explored, and the testing process is explained. After a thorough history is taken, a determination is made about whether testing is the most appropriate option for your child, given his or her particular circumstances and the nature of the parent’s, teacher’s, or referring professional’s concerns.
Psychological testing can be stressful, confusing, or uncomfortable for children and their parents. There are so many questions. Should I have my child tested? What kinds of tests will be administered? Who will see the results and how will that affect my child? These and any other questions will be answered during this initial visit.
A Comprehensive Psychological Assessment Includes
* An initial session with the psychologist to discuss concerns, obtain history, schedule the testing, and familiarize the child and family with the facilities and personnel.
* A return visit for administration of tests. The amount of time involved will vary depending on the age of the child, the nature of the concerns, and the extent of testing required.
* A follow-up session with parents and child (as appropriate) to explain test results and provide specific recommendations in response to the test findings.
* Consultations with the school or referring professional when appropriate. This may include participation in Individual Educational Plan meetings to interpret test findings and discuss implementation of curricular modification and/or accommodations.
For more information, please call
Sandra Kasprzyk, Psy.D.
Hoover and Associates
708 – 429 – 6999
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a psychiatrist and a psychologist?
Psychiatrists are doctors of medicine who specialize in disorders of the brain/mind. They can prescribe medication, and many of them do not do traditional talk therapy. A majority of psychiatrists see patients to prescribe and monitor medication though some provide talk therapy.
Clinical psychologists are doctors of psychology who are trained in talk therapy, including behavioral forms of therapy. They have a Ph.D. (Doctor of Philosophy), a Psy.D. (Doctor of Psychology), or an Ed.D. (Doctor of Education). Psychologists generally do diagnostic testing and assessment, as well as treatment.
If a clinical psychologist feels that a client might benefit from medication, a referral is made to a psychiatrist or other prescribing professional such as a family doctor, pediatrician or internist. The psychologist will continue to do the regular treatment while the psychiatrist prescribes and monitors the medication.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I expect to feel better right away if I come in for therapy?
Some people begin to feel better as soon as they make the appointment to meet with a psychologist or at the time of their first session. There is a sense of relief when you make the commitment to address an issue that has been problematic. More often, however, people do not feel better immediately. Therapy is sometimes very emotionally painful, because it involves active effort to look at yourself and your situations in a very deep way, and to make some difficult changes.
As you can imagine, if the problems that bring you to therapy were easy to solve, you would have solved them without the guidance of a psychologist. Most people can expect uncomfortable feelings in therapy and between sessions: sadness, anger, anxiety, to name a few. In addition, as you make personal changes, you can expect an impact on some of your relationships. Through the short-term distress of addressing problems and making changes, keep in mind the potential long-term gains to help you through the hardest parts of therapy. When therapy is successful, the positive gains in self-esteem, relationships and coping skills can far outweigh the distress of making changes.
Frequently Asked Questions
I understand there are different styles of therapy. How will I know which one will be right for me?
One factor in deciding on a specific style of therapy is effectiveness. You will want your therapist to recommend a style of therapy that has been shown to be effective for your specific problem. In the evaluation session, ask your therapist why he/she is recommending a specific model of therapy.
If interested, ask if there is research or readings that the therapist can recommend to help you understand the specific therapy process. A second factor in deciding on a specific type of therapy involves what seems to fit for your personality and personal needs. Some therapies are more directive, in which you would get specific assignments and strategies to use, sort of like homework, from the therapist.
Other therapies are more open-ended and focused on you yourself directing the focus of therapy. Consider whether the therapy style and the personality of the therapist is a good fit for your personal style and discuss that at any time with your therapist.
Do you have evening hours and/or Saturday hours?
By · CommentsFrequently Asked Questions
Do you have evening hours and/or Saturday hours?
Most of our psychologists have evening hours on weekdays, and a few have Saturday hours. Be sure to state any scheduling requirements you may have up front so that we can direct you to a therapist who can meet your needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
What can I expect from my first appointment with a clinician?
For persons who have not been in therapy before, thinking about meeting for the first time with a psychologist can be unsettling. You may wonder what the psychologist will ask, and if you should tell personal things about yourself. Most people are nervous when they first come in. Your psychologist will primarily want to hear the reasons you made the appointment, what you have already tried to do to solve the problems, and what you hope to gain from therapy.
To best understand your situation, your psychologist will likely want to know how things are going in the important parts of your life (relationships, work, school, etc.) and about your family background. In doing an assessment of your needs, the psychologist can then tell you his/her professional opinion of what may help. During this time, ask any questions that you think may help you make your decision about therapy.
You and your psychologist will decide whether continuing therapy work together would be the best recommendation, or if other services would better fit your needs. Choosing a psychologist who has a personality style and therapy philosophy that fits for you is very important. If you decide to continue to work together, you will together develop goals and schedule the next session. If you do not feel comfortable with the psychologist for any reason, please say so as your psychologist will be happy to provide you with a referral to another therapist.
Frequently Asked Questions: Do you accept my insurance?
By · CommentsFrequently Asked Questions
Do you accept my insurance?
We accept many types of insurance, but you should contact your insurance company to see whether they would cover your costs and how much they would pay. Insurance rarely covers 100% of all costs. Mental health benefits are generally administered by a managed care company. For some managed care companies, a doctor must be on the specific panel for your insurance in order for you to receive “in network” benefits. You must call your insurance to see if they restrict your benefits to doctors in their network, or if they have some “out of network” coverage. While there may be a certain advantages to accepting services only from a provider who is in your network, often the savings does not justify the loss of the ability to choose your provider.
You should have the name of your specific therapist because not all of our psychologists are credentialed in the same insurances. Often, people think that because one doctor from Hoover and Associates is in their insurance, all the doctors in the group are, too. That is not the case: all have to be credentialed individually. Generally, there is a phone number on the back of your insurance card to call for information. When you call your insurance company, be sure to ask for “outpatient mental health benefits.” Also, many companies require the insured to call to pre-certify the first session. It is always best to contact your insurance company before coming for your first visit.
After we submit the claim to your insurance company you will be sent a bill for the amount not covered by insurance. Sometimes it can take two months or more before your insurance company responds to claims we file on your behalf. Because of this, we ask that you pay your co-pay or other amount not covered by your insurance on a weekly basis in order to avoid having the charges mount up while your insurance company processes your claims.
Please note that the patient billing statement is a remainder statement. Therefore, it shows only what the patient’s outstanding amount is after the insurance pays the claim. Claims are submitted with ‘Hoover & Associates’ as the billing claims address. If you leave therapy and then return after a few months, we need to get a copy of your insurance card again, in case of any changes to your coverage.
