Interface Consultation Services, PLLC

The demand of psychotherapy often exceeds the availability of therapists. Two studies published in the journal Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics review how modern computer and communication technologies can provide novel opportunities for the provision of stepped care for patients with mental disorders. In a a review and an accompanying editorial by Prof. Isaac Marks and collaborators point out that therapist time is not saved by conducting cognitive behavior therapies (CBT) via e-mail, telephone or video-conference exchanges between patient and therapist in real time. However, time can be saved when treatment tasks are delegated to patient-computer interactions. Many patients may also prefer to access CBT at home by computer for reasons of greater confidentiality, lessening of stigma and reduction of time needed to travel to a therapist. This concept was explored by Indra Tumur and colleges in a analysis of 4 studies to compare the effectiveness of a computerized cognitive behavior th...

Psychiatric Times July 01, 2007 Vol. 24 No. 8 by Arline Kaplin Figures from the US Department of Justice indicate that more than half of prison and jail inmates have a mental health problem. Mental health courts (MHCs) were designed to divert mentally ill persons convicted of nonviolent crimes to supervised treatment instead of incarceration, but while the number of MHCs has grown substantially over the past decade, limited information has been available about outcomes and costs. Now a study from the RAND Corporation has demonstrated that an MHC in Pennsylvania was successful in increasing mental health services and reducing jail time for participants while reducing costs to taxpayers.1 The study, sponsored by the Council of State Governments Justice Center, was the first to evaluate the fiscal impact of an MHC anywhere in the United States, according to economist John Engberg, PhD, one of the authors. It found that the court saved taxpayers $3.5 million over a 2-year period, Engberg t...

A brief overview of Interface Consultation Services current endeavors: I. Blog Focus - We continue to post weekly on ICS and Counseling Connections . Our posts include mental health research, news and thoughts we feel providers and clients will find valuable. II. Counseling Connections - Provides Licensed Professional Online and Telephone Mental Health Counseling, Coaching and Services. III. PESI Seminars by ICS: High Risk Callers: Responding to Psychiatric Emergencies Over the Phone. New and exciting sorely needed seminar designed specifically for clinicians, call centers, triage nurses who provide efficient assessment and treatment over the phone. Psychiatric Emergencies over the phone line are DIFFICULT and extremely anxiety provoking. General Medical Clinics are seeing more psychiatric patients. Learn the skills you didn't learn in school to assist these patients. IV. Telemental Health Triage - We continue our day-to-day service commitment to Riverwood Center to provide pr...

NC Senate Votes in Favor of Mental-health Parity - Winston-Salem Journal, James RomoserJuly 05, 2007 Workers with severe depression, schizophrenia or other mental illnesses would be entitled to the same health-insurance benefits as workers with physical ailments under a bill approved by the N.C. Senate yesterday. Despite some senators' concerns about increased costs to small businesses, the bill was approved by a vote of 36 to 12. It is now being sent back to the N.C. House of Representatives, which previously approved the bill in a different version. The vote took North Carolina another step closer to a system known as mental-health parity, in which employers' group health insurance plans are required to treat mental illnesses on par with physical illnesses. Supporters of parity have long tried to get bills through the legislature, but without much luck. "Mental health parity legislation has been debated by this General Assembly for over 15 years now, and I'm pleased...

Suicide attempts dropped among people with depression soon after they started treatment, either with antidepressant drugs or psychotherapy, a study of more than 109,000 patients shows. The study results come after a controversial 2004 recommendation on antidepressant labeling from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). That move slapped a strong "black box" warning on the labeling of drugs called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), which include Celexa, Paxil, Prozac and Zoloft. The warning outlined the potential for an increase in suicidal thoughts among teenagers and young adults prescribed the medications. The warning also urged closer clinical monitoring of these patients. Additional clinical research material is available @ http://health.msn.com/centers/mentalhealth/articlepage.aspx?cp-documentid=100165625

Evidence-based technique gains new respect as a valuable clinical tool. John Battaglia, MD Medical director, Program of Assertive Community Treatment, clinical associate professor, department of psychiatry, University of Wisconsin Medical School, Madison, WI Supportive psychotherapy began as a second-class treatment whose only operating principle was “being friendly” with the patient ( Box ). 1 Critics called it “simple-minded” 2 and sniffed, “if it is supportive, it is not therapy…if it is therapy, it is not supportive.” 3 Since its lowly beginning, however, supportive psychotherapy has been proven highly effective, and clinicians have developed operating principles... More

Discovering Our True Nature - Online Radio Show with Host Branden Cohen (click on link to listen to recent shows... Join Branden for his weekly internet radio show on Tuesday at 1pm or go to link above for live or achived shows. Each begins with a guided meditation and Branden welcomes guests and callers to share their personal experiences and ask questions. The show explores a variety of psychological and spiritual topics. Branden Cohen is a MA Clinical Psychologist. email him at brandencohen@hughes.net This week show and guest talk about addiction and ways to heal the most difficult of addictions and the heart.contact us at... interface_consultation@comcast.net