Psychotherapy

Donald J. Franklin, Ph.D. provides psychotherapy and/or counseling to help you deal with a variety of life adjustment problems and psychological disorders. Psychotherapy is a process by which you examine your thoughts, feelings, actions and relationships, evaluate where problems exist, and learn how to make whatever changes are necessary to achieve better life adjustment and satisfaction. The terms counseling and psychotherapy are interchangeable because they describe the same process, and have similar goals. Counseling has its roots in personal development and life adjustment, while psychotherapy has its roots in a more medically oriented model of treating a mental disease process. Health insurance companies use a medical disease model, so insurance reimbursement is for "psychotherapy" not "counseling." The distinction is unimportant in applying the process to life management problems, although sometimes lesser trained counselors will use the term counseling to avoid being accused of providing services they are not qualified to provide.

Dr. Franklin usually schedules psychotherapy appointments once per week. This allows for steady progress toward resolving the presenting problem, and allows enough time between sessions for you to work on issues discussed in the session. Because Dr. Franklin uses a cognitive-behavioral treatment aproach, you will frequently be given therapy assignments to work on between sessions. This helps you progress at a faster rate. Occasionally, if a life crisis occurs, or if depression or anxiety are particularly severe, sessions may be scheduled more frequently. Once therapy progress is being made, sessions may be scheduled less than once per week.

Psychotherapy may be helpful to you when:

You feel overwhelmed by life problems
Depression, anxiety or anger is taking over your life
You don't know how to manage a major life decision
You are having trouble with a major relationship
You are having difficulty coping with a serious illness in yourself, or in a family member or friend
Your job is too stressful and you can't handle it anymore
You don't know what to do, or where to turn for help

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Donald J. Franklin, Ph.D. is a NJ licensed psychologist (#2244)
with offices in Bridgewater, NJ and Flemington, NJ.
Please call for information or to make an appointment:
Bridgewater - (908) 526-8111 or Flemington- (908) 806-7344