Please note that answers are intended to be informative and reflect typical procedures, practices, and information but are not intended to be relied upon as a contractual obligation, guarantee, or statement of formal policy.
Does Dr. Patterson prescribe medications?
How long do appointments last?
Does anyone need to know that I am coming to see a psychologist?
What is the difference between a psychologist and a psychiatrist?
Does health insurance cover treatment?
What kind of treatment does Dr. Patterson provide?
What if I don't have insurance, or what if service is not "medically necessary"?
If I have insurance do I have to meet my deductible and pay co pay?
How do I know if I need treatment?
What times are available for appointments?
What type of problems does Dr. Patterson treat?
Does Dr. Patterson return phone calls?
Does Dr. Patterson do child custody evaluations?
Does Dr. Patterson prescribe medications?
No. Medications for anxiety, depression, and other disorders are usually prescribed either by a family physician or psychiatrist.
How long do appointments last?
Usually 45 to 50 minutes. It usually helps to arrive about 10 minutes early for the 1st appointment to review and complete paper work (which you can also download and complete in advance by clicking this linkObtain Forms). Appointments are scheduled typically start on time with little or no waiting.
Does anyone need to know that I am coming to see a psychologist?
This question is more complicated than it seems. The general answer is that service provided to you is private and confidential, which means that no one can obtain information without your approval. Of course, if you are filing for insurance payment, information such as diagnosis, treatment type, and dates of treatment have to be sent to your insurance company. If you are a Medicare patient, Medicare requires that your primary care physician be notified that you have sought treatment.
In certain situations that usually involve some sort of danger to you or other people, Dr. Patterson is required to notify appropriate individuals. As a Florida licensed health care professional, Dr. Patterson is required to report any sort of suspected abuse or exploitation.
Further details about disclosure and health information can be found on this website at links for Consent for Treatment and HIPAA information.
What is the difference between a psychologist and a psychiatrist?
A psychologist obtains a graduate degree in psychology which usually is a Ph.D. or Doctor of Philosophy degree. Psychiatrists obtain a medical degree and then specialize in psychiatry. Psychologists are not physicians and in Florida do not prescribe medication. As a general rule psychologists provide treatment through psychotherapy and behavioral management strategies while psychiatrists typically prescribe and manage medications as the primary treatment.
Does health insurance cover treatment?
In many cases health insurance covers treatment that is "medically necessary". Medical necessity is usually granted if there is a diagnosable emotional or behavioral problem such as anxiety, depression, or other psychological problem. Most insurance companies will cover some part of treatment costs (usually about 80%) for a certain number of visits or treatment sessions.
Health insurance does not typically cover therapy that is provided for personal growth or exploration or if no psychological problem exists. It does not cover psychological evaluation for a "non medical" purpose, such as a court ordered examination or an examination completed as a requirement for employment or one to determine psychological fitness prior to adoption.
Although couple or relationship counseling might be covered if part of the presenting problem is due to a diagnosable emotional problem, this has to be determined on a case by case basis. Marital counseling itself is usually not considered medically necessary unless the relationship problems have an observable negative emotional impact on one member of the couple. For example, if an individual qualified for a diagnosis of adjustment disorder or depression due to marital conflict, treatment of the marital conflict could be part of an overall treatment plan.
Decisions about treatment length and frequency are jointly made between the client and Dr. Patterson based on individual need and level of distress. Dr. Patterson typically provides cognitive behavioral therapy which is usually considered to be "short term", or lasting from 6 to 12 meetings or sessions. Sessions are usually about 45 minutes long and may, during the initial treatment period or according to the presenting problems, be scheduled on a weekly basis. It is not uncommon for sessions to be scheduled every two weeks after an initial treatment period, though again this is an individual decision.
Some treatment in complex or long term cases may continue for longer periods of time. Again, this is decided by both the client and Dr. Patterson.
The first treatment session usually consists of an interview in which Dr. Patterson asks about you, your problems, and your history. During this session he will work with you to develop some preliminary goals for your treatment and map out a course of action depending on your particular situation. Clarification of these goals and preliminary information may continue through the first one or two sessions just to make sure we are on the right track.
Treatment itself usually consists of discussing what has happened to you and how you are reacting to your current and past situations. Sessions do not usually involve considerable discussion of your past or your parents as used to be the case. The emphasis is definitely on how your current ideas, beliefs, and attitudes are affecting you and those around you, and how to change those ideas so that you can feel better about your situation and have more success in living.
You may also be involved in training in specific skills such as relaxation or in how to express yourself in a better way. Sometimes practice in specific skills or activities is provided to help you break through and have success in things that have been problems in the past. Therapeutic homework may be given to bolster treatment and help you get better faster.
What kind of treatment does Dr. Patterson provide?
Dr. Patterson provides cognitive behavior therapy which research has shown to be effective in the treatment of a wide range of disorders. The main point of cognitive behavior therapy is that your ideas, attitudes, and expectations shape and control both your positive and negative emotional reactions. The main goal of cognitive behavior therapy is to identify ideas, attitudes, and expectations that are leading to problems and distress and then change them. You can get an idea of some of the ideas and expectations that lead to stress through the manual "Eleven Steps to Stress Reduction" which is available on this web site.
What if I don't have insurance, or what if service is not "medically necessary"?
Payment plans can be worked out on an individual basis. Discounts are available for payment that is made at the time of service because this saves the expense and lengthy delays often encountered from insurance companies.
If I have insurance do I have to meet my deductible and pay co pay?
Yes. It is important to understand that you are responsible for your bill, not your insurance company. Although many insurance companies are quite reliable, some are not and do not in fact pay what you might think they should. In those cases it is your financial responsibility to pay for services you received.
Most people will have an insurance co pay of about $ 20.00 per session which is payable at the time of treatment. Individuals with Medicare but no secondary coverage have a $ 46.00 co pay.
Special arrangements can be made for individuals who are experiencing financial hardship. Please do not hesitate to bring this issue up if it is a problem for you.
How do I know if I need treatment?
NOTE: If you feel that you are having an emergency, please do not hesitate to go to the closest hospital emergency room or call 9-1-1.
As a general rule, you may want to consider treatment if emotional issues or behavioral difficulty is affecting your relationships with others, affecting your ability to accomplish usual and routine things, or affecting your ability to function well at school or work. You may want to consider treatment if you find that you usually feel sad, anxious, stressed out, angry, irritable, overwhelmed, or hopeless to name just a few of many examples.
You may want to review the attached Signs of Depression which describes common symptoms.
Please note that it is always appropriate to obtain a professional opinion from your doctor, to schedule an initial evaluation with Dr. Patterson, or to consult any mental health professional if you feel that you need treatment. Please do not let any information on this web site discourage you from seeking treatment.
What times are available for appointments?
Office hours are by appointment only, so it is not usually a problem to find a time for sessions. Appointments are usually scheduled between 8:00 am and 6:00 pm weekdays although arrangements can be made for different times.
It is important to remember that any appointment time is made just for you, and that this time has been set aside for you only. Appointments do start on time so there is usually no waiting unless you arrive early.
What type of problems does Dr. Patterson treat?
Diagnosis and treatment of virtually any psychological condition in adolescents, adults, and seniors is available. Recent clients have had diagnoses of:
Adjustment disorders
Anxiety disorders
Depression
Agoraphobia
Obsessive Compulsive disorder
Impulse control disorder
Bipolar disorder- psychological components
Grief and bereavement
Conduct disorder
Marital and family problems
Panic attacks
Dementia
Brain injury
Dissociative disorder
Somatization disorder
Chronic pain
Borderline personality
Post traumatic stress disorder
Schizophrenia- psychological components
Dr. Patterson does not provide treatment for individuals who have a primary diagnosis of alcohol or drug abuse.
Yes. Dr. Patterson offers a wide range of psychological and neuropsychological assessment and treatment services, including forensic evaluation of individuals suspected of traumatic brain injury. He frequently serves on the Court appointed Examining Committee in cases of evaluation of competence.
He has a particular interest in the diagnosis of dementia and aiding families in developing management strategies for these disorders. He is also interested in individuals who experience adjustment, pain, and other problems as the result of medical disorders, and offers specialized psychological treatment to these individuals.
Does Dr. Patterson return phone calls?
Yes. Most calls are returned around lunch time or early evening on the day of the call. If you are having an emergency, you should go to the closest hospital emergency room. Calls are typically brief in nature and specifically problem focused. It is always appropriate to schedule more frequent office visits as the situation demands rather than relying on phone contact.
The office phone is usually answered Monday through Friday from about 8:15 am to 5:00 pm. If Janet, the office manager is tied up or on another line, you will be asked to leave a message.
Does Dr. Patterson do child custody evaluations?
No.
As of 9-1-03, there is a $ 150.00 charge for the initial evaluation. Treatment sessions range from $ 125.00 for individual treatment to $135.00 for family treatment per "hour", which is typically 45 to 50 minutes. Discounts are available to those who pay by cash or check at the time of service and do not request insurance billing.