Worried about confidentiality?

Everything you say in the office is protected by law. Nothing can be said to anyone without your written consent. Except in several instances. If you are planing to kill/harm yourself or someone else, the confidentiality is lost. For a more thorough discussion, check the outpatient agreement

What’s the difference between a psychiatrist and a psychologist?

Lots of people ask this. The biggest difference is that a psychiatrist can prescribe medication. Also, a psychiatrist can admit a person into the hospital. Psychiatry is a specialty within medicine, just as Neurology, Internal Medicine, OB/GYN, Cardiology, etc., are specialties. Psychologists are not trained in medicine. Psychiatrists and psychologists study the same psychological information and use the same psychological ideas to understand people. Most psychiatrists see people for medication, not therapy. Psychologists have more therapy training, and most psychologists in private practice specialize in therapy.

If you are taking medications

If you are taking medications, please make a list of them and bring the list along. Include prescription medicine, over the counter (OTC), vitamins, and any health food supplements. Sleep Disorders could be causing problems. Must see checklist! Sleep Disorders can cause lots of problems. Look at the following checklist to see how you rate. This will also be discussed at your first session to learn if a sleep disorder might be contributing to your problems.

Sleep Test

Answer each of these five questions from The Sleep Foundation.
1. Snore loudly?
2. You or others have observed that you stop breathing or gasp for breath during sleep?
3. Feel sleepy or doze off while watching TV, reading, driving or engaged in daily activities?
4. Have difficulty sleeping 3 nights a week or more? (e.g., trouble falling asleep, wake frequently during the night, wake too early and cannot get back to sleep or wake unrefreshed)
5. Feel unpleasant, tingling, creeping feelings or nervousness in your legs when trying to sleep? Or it may be a creeping feeling all through your body. Some call it “Heebie-Jeebies,” and in North Carolina it is called “Budgies.”
6. Interruptions to your sleep (e.g., nighttime heartburn, bad dreams, pain, discomfort, noise, sleep difficulties of family members, light or temperature)

Did this catch your interest? Sounds a bit like you or someone you know? Then go to www.sleepfoundation.org to learn the significance of the above symptoms. It could save your life, Really! Sleep disorders that are severe can cause serious heart problems.