Frequently Asked Questions
The First Appointment
Call the office at 440-250-9880.
The providers at LindenBP each have a doctorate degrees (Ph.D. or Psy.D.). They also each have specific areas of expertise and specialized training. We believe strongly that this advanced training and rich experience is what sets us our team apart.
We work hard to maintain availability for new patients. A first appointment is generally offered within 2 weeks of your first phone call.
The practice schedules appointments during normal business hours. Evening appointments are limited.
Yes, all our providers are accepting new patients.
The initial consultation is a 60 or 90 minute appointment, depending on the provider.
After scheduling your first appointment, please review the email you receive with details about this visit. Complete the history form in advance so that your provider can review the information before your appointment time. Also, bring any relevant medical, academic, or other records that will allow us to best understand and assist you/your child.
If you arrive late for an appointment, you will be seen for the remaining time and charged for the full appointment as scheduled.
Cancellations require 48 hour advanced notice to not be responsible for the full cost of the appointment.
If you need to cancel or reschedule, please contact the office at 440-250-9880.
Treatment
Treatment is always customized based on each individual’s or family’s specific needs and goals. In general, treatment requires more frequent appointments (i.e. weekly) at the beginning of the therapeutic process or when symptoms are worse. Treatment usually becomes less frequent when symptoms are improved or stabilized.
The length of treatment varies greatly depending on multiple factors (i.e. concerns leading to treatment, family dynamics, frequency of appointments, “work” done between appointments, goals of treatment, etc.). We are always respectful of the resources required to attend these appointments and strive to be as efficient as possible.
LindenBP is proud to have a team of providers with different areas of specialization, some only treat children/adolescents while others treat children and adults. Therefore, together the providers at LindenBP treat everyone from very young children (toddler) throughout adulthood (including geriatric).
Child and Adolescent Services
During the initial consultation, most children over the age of 5/6 years will spend a portion of the appointment without their parent(s) in the room. This allows the psychologist to see how the child does separating from his/her parent, learn about the child from his/her perspective, and to help the child gain comfort with the psychologist. For treatment to be most effective, the child will be asked to practice therapeutic activities outside the therapeutic hour. Helping the child assume a lead role from the beginning helps establish there ability to be in control of their body, and ultimately builds skills and confidence.
Follow-up appointments typically include a combination of the child/adolescent working independently with the psychologist and parents being present. How this time is split up varies based on the age of the child and the concerns being addressed.
Many children are uncomfortable when coming to the first appointment. They are uncertain what to expect and may already be feeling distressed. We encourage parents to be honest about with your child about making an appointment to get guidance for ways to address or improve a particular concern. It may be helpful to describe the process as a way to get help as a family. Explain that your child will learn ways that he/she can help him/herself, and that you as a parent will learn ways to help as well. Let your child know that he/she will help decide what comes next after the first appointment.
Some children are so anxious about the first appointment that they refuse to go. In the case of adolescents, some may not see themselves as having a problem and/or do not want to go to a psychologist to address whatever is problematic (this may be due to not wanting to change but is more often due to not knowing how a psychologist may be helpful).
As a parent, you can let your child know
• Your goal is to help make things easier for him/her and better for the family.
• Explain that you would like to learn ways to help be a better parent to him/her and that your child’s input on how to best do this is essential.
• Let your child know that you appreciate the awkwardness of the situation and the uneasy feelings.
• Tell your child that you only request he/she attend one appointment (leave the rest to us!).
• It will be easier for your child to best “judge” the situation once he/she has met with the psychologist.
• Many children and adolescents have misperceptions of what it will be like to see a psychologist (thank you media!).
The good news is that most children and adolescents actually find the experience to be quite different than they imagined, and they are open to and even look forward to returning!
When you call to schedule the first appointment, state that you are interested in testing. We always begin with the consultation appointment to gather information about your child’s history and understand the current concerns. We use this information to confirm that testing is warranted, to make decisions about what question(s) need answered, and to select the best measures. During this appointment, we will also explain to your child what to expect on the day of testing (to increase comfort and minimize stress on the day of testing). Often testing includes gathering information from parents and school personnel, so this will also be part of what is discussed during the consultation appointment to allow for selection of the best measures.
Special Concerns During Separation and Divorce
We appreciate the opportunity to help families during this difficult time of transition through separation and divorce. And while it is a time of many changes, it does not have to be a time of significant distress. What is important to know before proceeding is that our approach is family-based. What that means is that even during times of separation or divorce, our goal is to be able to work with both parents to help them learn a new way of relating so that they are able to effectively communicate and co-parent.
We appreciate the opportunity to talk with both parent, together or separately when there is an active divorce in process. This allows us to be clear about what our role includes, as well as gather information about what each parent’s goals are for the treatment process. It also allows us to offer specific guidance to improve co-parenting skills.
We have found that families are best served when we are completely transparent with both parents regarding scheduling and treatment plans.
Our approach is family-based and we have found that families are best served when we are completely transparent with both parents regarding scheduling and treatment plans. Furthermore, we prefer to speak or meet with each parent, together or separately, prior to meeting with a child/adolescent when there is an active divorce in process.
Payment is handled at the time of service, regardless of how responsibilities for medical appointments have been determined by the court or between the couple.
We neither share information with the court nor offer opinions about custody, as we are treating psychologists rather than psychologists in a forensic role.
What Sets Linden BP Apart
Many individuals/families who call LindenBP have sought care elsewhere with disappointing results. The psychologists at LindenBP appreciate the courage it takes to continue seeking services despite these experiences. We are dedicated to providing top quality services that exceed your expectations. Some of the factors that set us apart:
- LindenBP only employs providers who have the highest level of training and experience
- LindenBP actively collaborates with individuals and institutions outside the practice at the request of the individual/family in a way that is above and beyond typical services. We have close connections with local medical providers and schools to facilitate this communication when needed.
- LindenBP maintains the highest level of confidentiality and privacy.
Psychologists are professional health care providers with training and expertise in the areas of human behavior and psychological health. The minimal acceptable standard of training for a psychologist today is a doctoral degree in psychology or a closely allied field. Psychologists are “Doctors” but they are not physicians, and they do not prescribe medication. The doctoral degree in psychology typically takes 5-7 years of full time graduate study after a college degree. The degree may be a Ph.D., a Psy.D. or an Ed.D., depending upon the graduate training program.
As health care professionals, psychologists are uniquely skilled in conducting assessments and providing research based treatment approaches to individuals, couples, and groups. A professional psychologist has broad knowledge about human behavior, and understands how to apply that knowledge to help people change.
LindenBP ensures that all providers have the highest level of training and experience with specialized areas of expertise. We strongly believe this advanced training and rich experience sets our team apart from most private practice groups.
No, the providers at LindenBP have doctorate degrees, not medical degrees. When patients we are treating can benefit from a multi-disciplinary approach, we collaborate with primary care or refer to our psychiatry colleagues in the community.
