New England Psychologist
New England Psychologist is home to independent journalism focused on psychologists and psychotherapists in the New England region. We publish new content every month. Subscribe to our free monthly newsletter to receive updates, or sign-up for a one-year paid subscription now in order to access all of our great content.
When therapists need protection from patients
By Eileen Weber
Therapy is meant to be a safe space for the patient and the therapist. But sometimes, it is anything but. This past spring, therapist Scott Owen, a high-ranking leader in the Church of Latter-Day Saints in Provo, Utah, was sentenced to 15 years in prison for sexually abusing his clients. The clients, referred by the church, came to him seeking help for same-sex attraction. Owen told them the sexual abuse was part of their treatment. Therefore, Owen used his positions… Read more »
Leading Stories
VT leads U.S. in physical and mental health parity
When therapists need protection from patients
How to ensure psychological safety in the workplace
Gambling addictions on the rise
Political climate impacts LGBTQIA+ patients and providers
Is doomscrolling here to stay?
Clinicians see politics entering the therapy room
Sweetser to open residential facility for youth
College students at risk could use more mental health support
LGBTQ youth to lose 988 specialized service line
Health anxiety continues to rise
Report: Prevention services should be prioritized
Facilities for at-risk kids in Mass. spared from shut downs
Advocates express concern about autism database proposals
Practical Practice
Unpacking the challenges of closing your practice
By Ellen Anderson, Ph.D
Whether you are planning to relocate out of state, retire, or change jobs, there are countless tasks involved with closing a therapy practice. Some of these involve clinical care of the patient, while others pertain to the myriad administrative aspects of practice closure. Begin the process by checking relevant state laws pertaining to termination of the client-practitioner relationship and retention of medical records. Consulting with an attorney about relevant laws and regulations is the best way to avoid costly mistakes.… Read more »
Embracing psychotherapy minimalism
By Ellen Anderson, Ph.D
The very term “psychotherapy” connotes a maximalist approach to addressing mental health challenges. The vision of spending an unknown number of hours over months, if not years, to analyze and address problems in life is a considerable deterrent to help-seeking. The brief consultation, defined as one to three sessions, represents a minimalist approach to psychotherapy practice. Clinicians in private practice can feel stagnant or overwhelmed by a caseload without sufficient turnover. A mix of short and long-term therapy clients adds… Read more »
Older Practical Practice Columns...
Psychotherapy Business & Marketing
Marketing for the online-averse practitioner
By Liz Varney, LICSW
In today’s technology-filled and online-driven world, it may feel like the purity of human connection is getting lost. Yet, psychotherapists know that the relationship that we build with our clients is the foundation upon which all other healing work can happen. Because of this core value, it makes sense that there are plenty of psychotherapists who are averse to using online tools and technology, instead preferring more traditional ways of connecting with prospective clients. Being averse to technology is not… Read more »
Be your own boss: Business practices for good boundaries
By Liz Varney, LICSW
Many therapists choose a private practice to work less and make more money. Yet, when the business is all on your shoulders, you may find yourself working more than you ever have before. Setting limits for yourself is imperative – but can also be a challenge. Because your business is always available to you, the potential to overwork is high. As you become your own boss, you will need to set good boundaries for yourself. When I first opened my… Read more »
Older Psychotherapy Business and Marketing articles...
Interview of the Month
Q&A: Machine learning, mathematical modeling used as tools to predict suicide ideation
By Catherine Robertson Souter
Modern psychology may be about to experience a sea change. While the practice has certainly evolved over the past 100 years, the introduction of machine learning, a form of artificial intelligence that uses large data sets to look at human behavior, may vastly alter the way mental illness is understood and treated. At Yale University, Shirley Wang, Ph.D., who joined the psychology department in July as an assistant professor, is using machine learning and mathematical modeling to attempt to predict… Read more »
Older Interviews...
In Person with Alan Bodnar, Ph.D.
What I learned from building a model ship
“I must go down to the sea again, to the lonely sea and the sky.” With these words, John Masefield begins his best known poem, “Sea Fever.” They capture the draw that some of us feel to the broad vistas and limitless horizon of the sea. I have been one of these people for as long as I can remember. Wherever I am, whatever I am doing, the sea is always nearby, if not as a physical presence, then as… Read more »
When stories connect
Midday in Boston and my wife and I are standing on the platform at Charles Street waiting for the inbound Red Line train. We are going only two stops to Washington Street to renew our Senior Charlie Cards, but age somehow makes Beacon Hill steeper than it used to be, and so we take the train. At this time of day, we share the space with only one other person, a thin man with long hair, an unkempt beard, and… Read more »