Experience

I have more than fifteen years of experience providing psychotherapy and psychological testing. Prior to opening my private practice in 1989, I worked at psychiatric hospitals, community mental health centers and a university counseling center. My diverse background has provided me the opportunity to work with a wide range of emotional and interpersonal problems. I am a member of the Florida Psychological Association and the American Psychological Association. My present clinical practice includes adult psychotherapy for individuals, couples and families. I accept most insurance, Medicare and some managed care.

Therapy Approach

Psychotherapy is a collaborative effort in which the client's progress and reaction to therapy are very important. I find that feedback, whether positive or negative, is very helpful and increases my ability to do a good job. Each individual has unique goals, needs, life circumstances, personal beliefs and resources that determine the best approach in treatment. It is essential for me to understand each client and use my expertise to help that person enhance his or her well-being. The length of treatment is widely variable, ranging from a few weeks to a few years depending on many factors. I will be happy to discuss your particular situation with you after an initial consultation.

Should I Seek Therapy?

It's difficult for many people to consider therapy. Some of the common objections are: "It means I'm weak," "People will think I'm crazy," and "I should be able to manage on my own". Because of beliefs like these, most don't call a therapist until things have gotten very bad. This is unfortunate, because many problems can be averted or significantly decreased in severity by attending to them early in their development.

Having problems is not abnormal. Problems are a part of life, and come from many different sources. The purpose of therapy is to help us cope better with our problems. If certain problems seem to be getting worse or continue for too long, maybe it's time to consider seeking professional assistance. You do not have to struggle alone and there are times when friends and family cannot offer enough support.

Some reasons that my clients have sought help include:

• unhealthy relationship patterns
• crying easily
• unmotivated or depressed
• low self-confidence or self-esteem
• recovering from divorce
• conflict with family of origin
• distress over past trauma
• sleep problems
• grief associated with loss
• job stress
• persistent worrying
• phobias

These are just a few examples of symptoms and difficulties that can be alleviated in therapy.

HIPAA Privacy Protections and Client Rights

All of my clients are asked to sign a Psychotherapist-Client Services Agreement and a Notice of Policies and Practices.

World Wide Web Resources

There is a lot of information on the Web that may be of interest. If you are interested in further reading, here are some sites that you might want to try:

• American Psychological Association Help Center: Topics include: How to choose a Psychologist? When to consider psychotherapy? What is a Psychologist? What is psychotherapy? How will I know if psychotherapy is working?
• Internet Mental Health: Includes information on mental health disorders and medications
• Mental Help Net: Includes diagnosis, treatment and self-help information

E-mail Carol Twitchell PsyD

Be aware that confidentiality cannot be guaranteed on the Internet. For confidential messages, call my voice mail at 941/954-1506.