Common Questions

Why do I need to see a psychologist for my health problems?
Physical health problems impact people not only physically, but emotionally by increasing stress, but also may contribute to depressive symptoms and anxiety. Physical illness and pain may change the way you think about yourself, life and your relationships. Health psychologists can help you learn coping strategies so you can adapt to the changes and make healthy behavioral choices in your life.

How do I make an appointment?
Please call 775-826-6218 to schedule an initial evaluation. You can download all the forms you will need for your first appointment (see helpful forms) and can present at your scheduled appointment time. You may also present 30 minues prior to your appointment time to complete all the paperwork and expect to spend 60 minutes for initial appointment.

Do you accept insurance?
Dr. Gentry accept most major insurances please contact the office to see if we are contracted with your insurance provider. If your insurance is not accepted you may be able to use out of network benefits to receive some reimbursement and you will be provided with the necessary information to submit your claim on your bill. You also may be able to arrange a single case agreement with your insurance provider.

How often do I need to come to therapy?
In the beginning weekly sessions are recommended, and as your symptoms begin to improve you can meet less frequently. Only the initial consultation is 90 (30 minutes for paperwork) minutes and follow-up appointments are 45 minutes.

How long does treatment last?
Treatment length depends on the presenting problem, Treatment is similar to seeing a physican therapist but instead of fixing a broken bone the focus is on improving your sleep, and/or mental health concerns. Brief treatment (3-6 sessions) exist for some problems such as insomnia, but longer treatment may be needed for other psychological problems such as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

What if I have depression and/or chronic pain AND insomnia?
Research has shown that depressed people who engage treatment for depression and insomnia at the same time are 5 times more likely to eliminate insomnia and twice as likely to eliminate depression. In addition, a good portion of people with chronic pain have significant insomnia and some insomnia can be caused by pain. CBT-Insomnia can help people with pain improve the quality of their sleep. In some cases individuals with chronic pain that participated in treatment of their insomnia with CBT led to improvements in BOTH their sleep and pain levels.

Currie and Wilson. Cognitive Behavioral Treatment of Insomnia Secondary to chronic pain. J Clin Consulting Psychology 2000;68:407-416.
Manber and Chambers. Insomnia and Depression: A Multifaceted Interplay. Current Psychiatry Reports 2009;11:437-442.
Vitiello et al. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia Improves Sleep and Decreases Pain in Older Adults with Co-Morbid Insomnia and Osteoarthritis. Sleep Med 2009;5:355-362.

Do I need to stop my medication before starting behavioral treatment for my sleep problems?
No, you do not have to be off of medication to benefit from behavioral sleep treatment. Often clients decide to start treatment as a way to learn strategies to be used with their sleep aids. It is not recommend to stop or make any sudden changes to your medications without first talking to your prescribing provider as you could make your sleeping problems worse. As treatment progresses you may be able to talk to your provider about tapering your dose as you learn CBT-I coping techniques.

How do I know if I need a sleep study ?
Dr. Gentry is NOT a medical doctor, but can help you determine if you may have some underlying medical problems such as sleep apnea that could be impacting your sleep.If needed she can provide you with a referral as she consults with many of the sleep clinics.

Does what we talk about remain confidential?

Confidentiality is one of the most important components between a client and psychotherapist that requires a high degree of trust. There are times when state law and professional ethics require therapists to break confidentiality and those include:

  • Suspected abuse or neglect of children, adults and elders.
  • If the therapist has reason to suspect the client is seriously in danger of harming themself or others.

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LOCATION

Appointment Times

Monday:

9:00 am-5:00 pm

Tuesday:

9:00 am-5:00 pm

Wednesday:

9:00 am-5:00 pm

Thursday:

9:00 am-5:00 pm

Friday:

9:00 am-5:00 pm

Saturday:

Closed

Sunday:

Closed