Question 1

What is a psychologist?

Accepted Answer

Psychologist, Psychiatrist, Psychotherapist, Psychiatric Nurse, Licensed Psychiatric Associate…there are a lot of similar terms in our field! In a nutshell, a psychologist has achieved a doctoral degree (Ph.D., Psy.D., or Ed.D.) studying the science of human behavior. A psychologist is required to earn a doctorate, and as such have one of the highest levels of education in mental health care. They often surpass ten years of education, in addition to post-doctoral work under supervision to meet rigorous licensing requirements.

Question 2

What is a psychological evaluation?

Accepted Answer

Psychological evaluation is a large part of a psychologist’s training. Licensed Psychological Associates (LPAs) also uniquely receive psychological testing training, which is not a part of most masters-level mental health training programs and licenses. Simply stated, a psychological evaluation involves clinical interviewing, review of collateral data, and various forms of psychological testing which is determined by the referral reason. Anyone who begins the psychological evaluation process with Dr. Stanley hears the same statement: that she dislikes the term “psychological testing” as it is innately anxiety provoking.

To simplify the process: clinical interviewing involves asking questions to a client and others if applicable (e.g., parents, medical providers, etc.) regarding psychosocial history and current concerns/impairment. A testing plan is created by Dr. Stanley to assess the clinical concern. This sometimes includes responding to true/false questions, rating scales, and various interactive tasks. Any appropriate collateral data is reviewed, such as medical and therapy records. These pieces of information and reviewed and interpreted, and a clinical evaluation report is written. These reports typically range from 10-20 pages, depending on the reason for referral. This information is typically used to aid in diagnosis and planning treatment or other services.

Many evaluations are able to be completed completely virtually, although some require portions if in-person testing. These specifications will be communicated to you when booking.

Question 3

How do I know if I need therapy?

Accepted Answer

As a mental health clinic, we are inherently biased...but we believe just about anybody can benefit from therapy! Whether you are going through a difficult life stressor, have ongoing concerns, or want to develop insight into yourself, therapy can be of great assistance. We all struggle at times, and therapy can help you navigate a variety of life issues.

Question 4

How long does it take to feel better with therapy?

Accepted Answer

This is a difficult question to answer. In our field, sometimes people begin experiencing symptoms relief simply by contacting a provider and making an appointment; that is, knowing help is coming has an impact itself. Other patients describe relief after the first session, once they get an initial read on if the provider is a good fit for them. As far as improvement once treatment begins, this largely depends on symptom severity and other factors of a patient’s clinical presentation. As a general estimate, most patients will report some improvement within ten sessions, and many significantly earlier. However, therapy can be an ongoing process for months or even years, depending on the patient’s needs and wants, as progress continues.

Question 5

What do I do in an emergency?

Accepted Answer

Should a mental health emergency occur, immediate intervention is required. Not only is crisis management a piece of a patient's treatment when indicated, but they should also be aware of options during potential mental health emergencies:

- If suicidal, call 911 or report to the emergency room immediately
- 988 is the national suicide and crisis lifeline, available 24/7 
During any suicide/crisis intervention, the individual should be continuously observed and not be left alone until professionally assessed and recommendations provided.

Importantly, Stanley Psychology is an outpatient clinic and does not utilize on-call providers. As such, although we would like to be notified when our patients experience a crisis, this notification should only occur after emergent help is sought and the patient is stabilized.

Question 6

I’m a masters or doctoral psychology student and am interested in a practicum placement with Stanley Psychology. How should I proceed?

Accepted Answer

Thank you for your interest! Dr. Stanley supervises all practicum students directly; please call the office or email her directly to initiate the interview process (dr.stanley@stanleypsychology.com).

If you want to talk to current practicum students to inquire about their experiences, feel free to contact them- email addresses can be found by their profile in the “About” section.

Please note Dr. Stanley does not accept psychiatric nurse practitioner students for practicum due to requirements and office limitations.

Question 7

Why should I choose Dr. Stanley and Stanley Psychology?

Accepted Answer

Patients frequently describe Dr. Stanley as warm, compassionate, open-minded, and appropriately direct. She has a strong track record of building lasting therapeutic relationships—whether with individuals new to therapy or those who have previously struggled to find the right fit. Dr. Stanley is also committed to training her team to reflect the same supportive and effective approach. To hear directly from patients, we invite you to visit the testimonials section of our website. Click here to learn more about Dr. Stanley.

Question 8

Which therapist will I see? How can I tell if they're a good match for me?

Accepted Answer

When you call, our Patient Care Coordinator will discuss several factors with you, including availability and specialties of our clinicians, to help you find a great fit. If you have a particular clinician in mind, you are able to request them.

Question 9

Why should I see a practicum student at Stanley Psychology for treatment or evaluation?

Accepted Answer

Even before Dr. Stanley began employing her own practicum clinicians at Stanley Psychology, she often recommended the services of student clinicians associated with local universities. This recommendation is primarily influenced by two factors: Most importantly, because these student clinicians are under heavy supervision, this is oftentimes some of the best treatment and evaluation one can find. Not only are patients exposed to their treating clinician, who is heavily emerged in the education of psychology at the time of treatment, but a licensed supervisor is closely overseeing their work. Secondly, because these individuals are pre-license, fees are often far more affordable than licensed providers, opening access to individuals who may have financial difficulty seeking services.

Question 10

I've had issues with "fit" with past providers. How do I know Stanley Psychology clinicians will be any different?

Accepted Answer

Not to sound pessimistic, but you don’t! Although we pride ourselves in patient retention, our psychological research consistently points to rapport as being the number one predictor of successful outcome in therapy. We realize that our personalities cannot possibly be a perfect fit for everyone! If there are any concerns with fit, we encourage patients to discuss apprehensions with their clinician- if we are not the ones to help you, we absolutely still want you to get help, and we may know someone in our network to refer you to.

Question 11

Do you prescribe medication?

Accepted Answer

Although psychologists have a foundational understanding of psychopharmacology as part of training, psychologists are not able to prescribe medication in Texas.

For medication, we typically refer to psychiatrists, who hold a medical doctorate (MD or DO) and prescribe psychotropic medications. Psychiatric nurse practitioners (NPs)are also medical providers trained specifically in psychotropic medication. Additionally, some primary care providers will also prescribe psychotropic medication, depending on complexity of the patient and training with psychotropics.

Question 12

Does the office offer free phone consultations before making an appointment?

Accepted Answer

Although many mental health offices utilize this practice, we have found that it is hard to gain significant benefit or get a read on therapeutic fit from a 10-15 minute phone call. As a result, the ultimate decision of having a phone consultation is up to the individual clinician. Although Dr. Stanley does not provide these calls, many of the staff at Stanley Psychology do.

Regardless of if you have a consult call or not, our Patient Care Coordinator will ask for referral information and be able to answer questions about our practice. At the first appointment with your clinician, you will have the opportunity to ask questions and if you decide your clinician is not a good fit, we can provide you with alternatives, including referring to local providers who may be a better fit for you.

It is important to remember that by making an appointment, you are signing up just for that- one appointment! There is no additional commitment if you do not want to continue.

Question 13

I am looking for an evaluation - what do I need to know?

Accepted Answer

We conduct a wide variety of evaluations, including for general mental health, substance abuse, pre-surgery bariatric, veteran's benefits, behavioral concerns, learning disabilities, adult and childhood ADHD, and various forensic evaluations for individuals involved with the legal system. Dr. Stanley is an approved evaluator for several monitoring groups and boards, including the Texas Peer Assistance Program for Nurses (TPAPN), the Texas Board of Nursing (TBON), and the Texas Physician Health Program (TxPHP).

Our Patient Care Coordinator can discuss various factors for evaluations and answer questions you may have, including if your evaluation can be conducted remotely, insurance benefits, scheduling factors, clinician options, and report rush availability.

Question 14

What is therapy with Stanley Psychology like?

Accepted Answer

Whether in person or remote, therapy sessions typically last between 50-55 minutes. Your provider will discuss what to expect with timing at your first session.

Question 15

What should I expect at my first therapy appointment?

Accepted Answer

During your intake session with your provider, you will first be thoroughly informed of limits to confidentiality. Then, an open discussion on what brings you in, followed by gathering information about your psychosocial history, will occur. This process can sometimes take up to three sessions, in order to be thorough and best build your treatment plan. Most importantly, this is an interactive process between clinician and patient.

Question 16

Does what we talk about in therapy remain confidential?

Accepted Answer

Your confidentiality is vital in therapy- you need to feel safe talking with us! There are a few limitations of confidentiality, including for child, elderly, or disabled person abuse, immediate threat to life, and court orders. These limits will be thoroughly discussed at your first session in order to have a solid understanding of any confidentiality issues.

Question 17

Where will my sessions take place?

Accepted Answer

If your session is in-office, we are proud to be located in historic downtown Mansfield, Texas, about one block off of Main Street. The address is 108 N 1st Ave, Mansfield TX 76063. Look for the charming blue house with red doors! The area is walkable with residential and commercial businesses nearby. Feel free to shop or eat while downtown! We also offer remote sessions, and you will be provided a link to access your session prior to your appointment.

Question 18

Do I need to see a provider with a doctorate?

Accepted Answer

Many individuals seeking treatment are focused on finding a doctor, and thus limit their provider search to psychologists. But is this necessary? This answer may sound shocking coming from our office considering that Dr. Stanley is a psychologist, but the answer is a resounding no! There are a lot of masters-level providers who are fully equipped, trained, and licensed to provide psychotherapy. Our Licensed Psychological Associates, or LPAs, are a vital part of our practice and offer both therapy and evaluation services. Click here to learn more about LPAs.

Frequently Asked Questions