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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) |
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What type of patients do you treat? As a general adult psychiatrist I am skilled in treating mood disorders, anxiety disorders, and other conditions that are appropriate for a single provider practice. The obvious advantage of seeing a psychiatrist is that you can be evaluated for any medical conditions that may be affecting emotional symptoms, and get an opinion on whether medication may be beneficial. The advantage of being seen in my practice is that often you do not have to see another provider for psychotherapy, and this is what I mean by “integrated treatment.” Not all patients require psychotherapy, and likewise not all will require medication; this is what is special about seeing a psychiatrist with a balanced, individualized approach in treatment-planning. Why don’t you accept insurance? In the past medical care was provided according to each person’s needs, independent of any particular flowchart developed for the masses. Algorithms engineered by a business entity, a product of our current health care system, may not be advantageous or applicable for doctors or patients who desire individualized care. An insurance corporation that must prioritize the financial bottom line is often in conflict with providing patients optimal care. Click here for more information. What is psychotherapy anyway? It is true many people don’t seek out professional psychiatric help because they don’t know how it works, and they don’t know what to expect. There is a great deal of confusion about psychiatric treatment in general. Psychotherapy is rational and accessible. It is not some esoteric, undefined, mystical process that only some people can grasp, a faith that only converts believe in and others do not. It is a logical process which anyone can understand and follow. There is no reason for anything in a session to be unreasonable or mysterious. On the contrary, in good psychotherapy every step should make complete sense to you. Psychotherapy is a dialogue, not advice. The world is full of advice. Part of what brings you to treatment is that you’ve become lost in that advice and can’t sort out who’s to heed; the last thing you need is yet another voice to consider. The goal of treatment is for you to rediscover your own voice, your own priorities, and the courage to act on them. I do not tell a patient what to do about his/her marriage, career, or anxiety. The ultimate goal is to help patients change their image of themselves from someone who is overwhelmed by emotional symptoms, to one who can master them. Are there different types of psychotherapy? The short answer is, yes; the important thing to remember is that all of the scientifically-validated therapies have proven to be effective if there is a good therapeutic alliance between the doctor and patient. Therapists should be able to select the right technique, which usually ends up as a mixture of both expressive and supportive elements. All therapies have the ultimate aim of helping a patient increase awareness and self-understanding. You should be able to tell if you and your therapist have the necessary ingredients for meaningful work to be done. If the connection isn’t there, then talk about it. Both you and your therapist are likely to benefit from the discussion. |
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13123 Rosedale Hill Ave. Huntersville, NC 28078 704-948-3810 |
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Insight Psychiatry Inc., Dr. Robin Stone 13123 Rosedale Hill Ave., Huntersville NC 28078 - 704-948-3810 |