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.
Clinicians saying goodbye to insurance networks
By Eileen Weber
One primary reason the shortage of clinicians persists is because of insufficient insurance reimbursement. Many psychologists, as well as psychiatrists and social workers, are choosing to no longer participate in insurance networks, which, in turns, leaves many people without access to mental health care because they cannot pay for it out of pocket. New Hampshire has recently been calling attention to this widespread problem. Members of Clinicians United New Hampshire contributed to an Op-Ed in the New Hampshire Bulletin, which… Read more »
Leading Stories
Clinicians saying goodbye to insurance networks
Report sheds light on police shootings
May Institute marks 70th year serving individuals with autism
Mental health screenings key in ME’s ‘yellow flag’ approach to gun violence prevention
Trevor Project research highlights LGBTQ+ youth challenges by region
Vermont considers mental health licensure reform
Five Mass. cities designated as `sanctuaries,’ for transgender population
Medicare telehealth waiver extended again
Psychological first aid available following traumatic events
Study finds unequal reimbursement rates in CT’s mental healthcare
Advice given for treating immigrant population
Mental health disorders on the rise in pregnant, post-partum women
Campaign aims to de-stigmatize mental health issues among youth
A new champion in the world of trauma treatment
Practical Practice
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 »
The doctor will ‘see’ you now. Or text, talk, or chat if you would rather
By Catherine Robertson Souter
Before 2020, telehealth therapy had barely infiltrated the profession, covering about 9-11% of all outpatient visits, according to the American Psychological Association (APA.) Then along came COVID-19 and everything changed. According to the APA, which began annual “pulse” surveys during the pandemic, the number of clinicians using telehealth with at least some patients grew from 33% in 2020 to 50% in 2021 and then to 88% in 2024. “The most recent APA survey data show that therapists are overwhelmingly using… Read more »
Older Practical Practice Columns...
Psychotherapy Business & Marketing
Do therapists need an elevator pitch?
By Liz Varney, LICSW
The ‘Elevator Pitch’ tends to conjure up an image of a high-pressure moment where you have “one shot” to make a good impression with someone who can help launch your career. Having to make the most out of a time-limited interaction with a powerful person is unlikely to occur to the average psychotherapist. You might not consider “pitching” your services to others at all, yet the concept of an elevator pitch does hold value for a private practitioner. In fact,… Read more »
Learning to receive: The key to prosperity in business
By Liz Varney, LICSW
Many of you have read, or have at least heard of, the 2006 book entitled, “The Secret,” by Rhonda Bryne. The book was the wildly popular new age approach to manifesting the life you want. I watched Oprah Winfrey enthusiastically advocate for this approach, and I was swayed by her insistence that “The Secret” held the keys to financial success. I promptly read the book and then set myself up to create the abundance I so desperately needed. At the… 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.
Reading Vonnegut in the playroom
Visiting the grandkids is always a special treat and we make the day-long drive as often as we can. As the years roll on, our visits change from participating in the routines of one baby to playing with the toddler she becomes and then sharing our attention with another baby. Now they are six and three, two active little girls. They greet us with big smiles and warm hugs. A guided tour of their rooms usually follows, and we are… Read more »
The president and the poet
It had snowed heavily the night before, and the day dawned with a frigid wind and blinding sunlight that glinted off the blanket of white spread out in all directions where the shovelers had left it undisturbed. The area around the speaker’s platform and the stands had been cleared, but the reflected light from surrounding snow cover was intense. The poet, an old man of 86, approached the podium and began to read from the manuscript he carried. He wore… Read more »