Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)

1.         What is Therapy and can I benefit from it?
People have many ideas of what therapy is, due to how the television and movies have portrayed it. Unfortunately, therapy is often portrayed inaccurately and as a result, people are often turned away from it. The traditional idea of therapy was to lay on the couch and talk while the therapist just listens. This still occurs, but the more typical scenario is that the therapist and client have a more 50/50 involvement where the therapist tends to be more active and there are specific goals to work on. By keeping your information confidential and private, a trained professional works together, with you, using a range of techniques and methods. The first goal of therapy is merely to form a trusting and non-judgmental therapeutic relationship where you feel comfortable to talk about yourself. 
 
The stereotype is that you need to be "crazy" or have serious problems to be in therapy.  However, most people can benefit from some form of therapy as everyone has everyday problems and emotions. Please view some of the areas with which therapy can help. It's very difficult for people to admit they need help. Often, denial of problems or denial of needing help will keep people from getting help. Therapy tends to be more helpful for those that recognize they need some help and are ready to change.
 

2.         What is the difference between a Psychologist, Psychiatrist, Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC), etc.?
There are many types of therapists which can make it difficult to choose who you want to work with. The terms therapist, psychotherapist, and counselor are used interchangeably as are the terms therapy, psychotherapy, and counseling. 
 
Psychologists are doctorate level therapists. They spend an average of 5-7 years in graduate education training and research before receiving a doctoral degree. During their training, they receive extensive classroom or academic education as well as supervised, hands on, clinical training. As part of their professional training, they must complete a one year supervised clinical internship in a hospital or organized health setting and at least one year of post-doctoral supervised experience before they can become licensed and practice independently. It's this combination of doctoral-level training that distinguishes psychologists from many other mental health care providers. Psychologists must be licensed by the state in order to practice psychology independently. 
 
Psychiatrists are medical doctors who mostly prescribe medication. Psychiatrists will meet with their patients for approximately 15 minutes, usually once a month to evaluate any changes in their patient's symptoms and then modify their medications as needed. Psychiatrists typically do not provide psychotherapy, there may however be exceptions. 
 
Licensed Mental Health Counselors (LMHC) are master's level therapists. They typically attend 2 year graduate programs to earn their Master's degree. After doing a 2 year supervised internship they become license eligible in the state of Florida. 
 
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFT) have a master's degree specializing in family and couple's therapy as well as other interpersonal dynamics. After doing a 2 year supervised internship they become license eligible in the state of Florida. 
 
Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSW) are master's level therapists. They typically attend 2 year graduate programs to earn their Master's degree. After doing a 2 year supervised internship they become license eligible in the state of Florida. 

Psychotherapist is a term used by the aforementioned licensed professionals who provide psychology services.
 
Drug and Alcohol Counselors, have their CAS, CAC, or CAP certification or CAP through licensure. Depending on which certification it is, these certifications require no degree at all or a least a Bachelor's degree, approximately 150-350 hours of training, and 2,000-6,000 hours of supervised work experience. 
 
Life Coaches: Anyone can call themselves a life coach as they are not required to have a degree, any training, or a license. A life coach may have some mental health training, or may draw upon personal experiences to offer clients help with setting and reaching personal and professional goals. The State of Florida forbids the practice of psychology without a regulated degree and license. 
 
Intern or Resident: These are terms used by those who are unlicensed and under supervision while in training for their profession.
 

3.         Can Dr. Palermo prescribe me medication?
NO. Research does show that the combination of medication along with therapy is the most effective treatment for most symptoms. Research suggests that therapy tends to produce more long-term improvements by addressing the underlying causes of your symptoms rather than just managing the symptoms which is what medication often does. For example, you can take a fever reducer pill when you have a fever, but this medication isn't really addressing the underlying cause (i.e., virus) of your fever. If we decide medication may be helpful, then we can certainly discuss a referral to a psychiatrist for a medication evaluation.

4.         How do I choose a good therapist?
Keep in mind that no single therapist will work for every person. Research and many therapists suggest a "trying out" period of 2-4 sessions to warm up and to build a relationship with your therapist just like starting any other relationship. 
 
To find a "good" therapist you should consider how much education they have, how much experience they have, are they licensed and in good standings, do they listen and seem to understand you, do they seem trustworthy, and in general do you feel comfortable speaking with them. A misconception about therapists is that they give advice and tell others what to do. In my opinion, this isn't what therapists are trained to do and  it may actually be a sign of a therapist to stay away from. Therapists do not have all of the answers, and their purpose is to assist you in making your own decisions.

5.         What is Dr. Palermo's experience?
I have over 10 years of experience in the psychology field and I am a Licensed Psychologist in the State of Florida. Please view my detailed experience for more information.
 

6.          What is your specialty/ What services do you offer?
I mainly provide individual therapy to adults. I provide a range of services from everyday difficulties to more specific or severe problems. Please view my Services Offered page. It's impossible to list every issue someone could experience, so if you don't see the reason for which you are seeking therapy, please contact us and ask.
 

7.         What type of therapy/modality does Dr. Palermo use?
I offer research based therapy techniques. I use an eclectic style which means I work with you as an individual rather than trying to fit a certain modality or technique to your issues. However, I have been trained in such modalities as Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Psychodynamic Psychotherapy, Existential Therapy, and more. No matter what modality or technique I or any other therapist use, research shows that the relationship between you and your therapist is the most important element in meeting your goals.
 

8.         Do you take insurance?
I may take your insurance although I often encourage you to self-pay. Insurance certainly makes sense to use since it saves money, but most people do not realize the sacrifices they make by using their insurance, as well as it's dangers and limitations. Here are a few of the areas to consider when deciding whether to use your insurance or not:
 
 Privacy and Confidentiality
• Your privacy and confidentiality are often compromised when using your insurance.
• Insurance companies often require information regarding your diagnosis which becomes a part of your permanent record.
• Insurance companies often require a review of your session notes which may contain very personal information about you.
 
Loss of Choice
• Your insurance company limits your freedom to choose from highly-qualified professionals with whom you feel comfortable.
•  You may not be allowed to see doctoral-level psychologists.
• Your insurance company may limit the number of sessions you can use without ever meeting or speaking with you.
• You may not be allowed to use the types of therapy you may need or want for long-term improvements.
• You may be required by your insurance company to take medication in order to use your benefits.
• Your insurance may not cover your diagnosis and therefore you may not receive treatment.
 
Decreased Quality of Care
• Therapists who accept insurance may have less time to provide you with quality care as they typically have additional paperwork to complete for insurance companies and they usually have to spend a lot of their time dealing with insurance companies to get reimbursed.
• Since therapists who accept insurance may not get reimbursed right away or get their full reimbursement from the insurance company, they may need to book more sessions to meet their financial goals. This may lead to the therapist being overworked and potentially a lower quality of care. 

When you work with Dr. Palermo, and self-pay, he is the only person who has access to your records and private information. You and Dr. Palermo decide your length of care, frequency of sessions, and other aspects of your work together rather than an insurance company dictating these things.