It appears that Optimism Apps is having a half-price sale — I believe for today only.  Today the software is $19.95 instead of $39.95.  They also have a free iPhone version when you purchase something.

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Clients enter a daily record of their mood, symptoms, and triggers.  They also track the quality and amount of sleep, medication compliance, exercise, and a host of “stay well strategies” (walk, call a friend, etc.).  Space is provided for notes, customization, and development of an online wellness plan.  Reports and graphs may then be generated to show what works and what does not.  One client may find that 3 days of exercise tends to improve mood.  Another may find that regular water, meals, and meds does the trick.

I am starting to experiment with using this software with

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selected clients.  If you are one of my clients and want to utilize this software system, please talk to me about how we can work together with it.

So far clients I have shown this to have been excited by the possibilities of really finding out over time what does and does not effect their mental health.

More at http://www.findingoptimism.com

– Michael

I now have the fully independent LCPC license in Maryland (#LC3624).   It’s taken nearly 4 years of private practice since I work part-time as a psychotherapist (I also run a psychiatric rehabilitation program most days).   This means that I have completed 3000+ hours of supervised experience as a counselor. 

This also means that, in many cases, clients will be able to utilize their out-of-network benefits when seeing me.   This was not possible before when I had the LGPC license.  I can provide billing statements for clients to submit to their insurance companies for reimbursement.  If you are interested in using me as an out-of-network therapist, let’s talk about what is involved.

– Michael

Drumroll please… Hygeia Counseling Services is now accepting VISA and MasterCard!

I’ve taken credit cards via PayPal for along time (and still do on my website), but now you can bring your credit card to an office visit and I can handle it without you having to have a PayPal account.

Apparently FSA (Flexible Spending Account) credit cards require that the credit card processor have my company recorded as the right type of healthcare company in order for said card transactions to be approved…  I am the right type of healthcare company for FSAs… Hope to have the bugs for FSA transactions worked out today.

– Michael

I am saying goodbye to my office in Washington, DC at Brookland Pastoral Center with some regrets and several fond memories.  I like the place and its where I originally launched my practice.  I recommend potential clients in Washington, DC check out their remaining practitioners on their website.  Jonathan Kirkendall and Maura Kristof also used to be co-workers there and are excellent therapists.

I’ve since moved to Baltimore and found that my downtown Baltimore location at the Rotunda has been my busiest location.  It just makes sense to close shop in Washington, DC and expand in Baltimore.

But, no more hours are available for rent at my Rotunda location…  so…

Starting March 1st I have a new location in Mt. Washington Village just a few miles from the Rotunda, right off of I-83, and across the street from Light Rail.  I am now (as of March) located at 5710 Newbury Street on the 2nd floor.  Please come check out my new space.  It’s a cheery yellow with new carpeting, lots of fanciful furnishings from my DC location, and some comfy leather couches I just picked up.

How I got the couches up the staircase and through the doorways I will never know…

– Michael

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a mood disorder in which persons experience symptoms associated with depression (sadness, low energy, weight gain, loss of interest in activities, & more) during the winter months when exposure to sunlight is diminished.

Several research studies have shown the effectiveness of full spectrum (mimics natural daylight) light therapy boxes in improving depression symptoms. Users sit beneath the lights with the lights shining into their eyes at a slight downward angle. They usually do this for about 20-30 minutes per day. Some studies have suggested that early morning is the best time for this. Research has also shown the value of negative air ionization therapy — especially at high density concentrations. The Center for Environmental Therapeutics has information on environmental therapies for SAD and other disorders, including the use of light therapy boxes and negative ionizers. They have a useful online self-assessment instrument instrument for depression, including questions for SAD, which can be found here. The results should be discussed with a therapist or doctor. The criteria that therapists and doctors generally use when diagnosing SAD can be found here.

I own a Day-Light(TM) light therapy box by Uplift Technologies Inc. so I can show clients what these look like and start experimenting with it. This looks like a good model given the adjustable legs, downward angle of the light provided, and the low cost. It’s also recommended by CET — which is run by a group of doctors primarily out of Columbia University and Yale.

I have also purchased an ionization unit from Comtech Research (model IG-133DG). The various manufacturers fight back and forth as to how useful negative ions are for air purification (HEPA filter companies claim negative ions just cause dirt to cling to walls and surfaces) but that’s not the point — for help with SAD (and perhaps other forms of depression and some sleep disorders) high concentrations of negative ions are clinically indicated.

As I think I’ve said before, a high percentage of the clients who come to me seem to be adverse to taking medications. While I’m not adverse to sending someone for a psychiatric evaluation for possible medication, OF COURSE holistic drug-free alternatives should also be explored. These alternatives delight me.