Telehealth

Good Neighbor Psychology provides psychotherapy exclusively via telehealth. Sessions can be conducted over the phone or using our HIPAA compliant video platform. Telehealth services save you the time and effort of traveling to your therapist’s office. Some people also feel more comfortable having personal conversations with their therapist from their own space. Additionally, psychotherapy delivered via telehealth can be just as effective as in-person treatment. Although there are many advantages to telehealth services, here are some things to consider while evaluating whether this type of treatment will be a good fit for you:

Severity of symptoms – If your symptoms are so intense that you can’t attend sessions regularly, or if you’re having difficulty keeping yourself safe, telehealth sessions may not offer enough support.
Privacy – Psychotherapy works best when a patient knows they can freely share their thoughts and feelings with their therapist. If you are unable to join your telehealth sessions from a private location, it may be better for you to find an in person provider. This may be especially true for individuals who are currently experiencing violence at home. If you join a session from a public location (e.g., a grocery store or barber shop) your therapist will not proceed with the visit.
Focus – Many of us are used to multitasking in our everyday lives. However, most people find that they get the most out of their sessions when they are focusing exclusively on their therapy (e.g., no answering emails or driving your car). Additionally, use of alcohol and drugs should be avoided before and during sessions.
Technology – Ensuring a reliable connection during your telehealth sessions creates a more stress free experience. Video sessions tend to work best over a strong wifi connection. Joining a video session with your phone’s data plan may not work as well. If you prefer telephone sessions, make sure you have a strong signal.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Good neighbor psychology offers a particular type of treatment called cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). In CBT your therapist helps you learn about the connections between your thoughts, behaviors, and emotional difficulties. CBT sessions are structured to ensure that the therapist and patient are focused on specific goals in each session, to help you make progress in a time limited fashion. Your therapist will also regularly assign exercises (e.g., tracking your thoughts, relaxation strategies, changes to daily routines) for you to complete between sessions. Your therapist can help you plan to talk to your support system so they understand you need the time and space to complete these assignments.

My Education and Experience

Good Neighbor Psychology is owned by Dr. Vanessa Tirone, a licensed clinical psychologist (pronouns she/her/hers). Dr. Tirone completed her undergraduate degree at the State University of New York College at Geneseo. She received a masters degree and doctoral degree in clinical psychology from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. She completed her doctoral internship at the VA Healthcare System of Western New York. She then completed a post-doctoral fellowship in trauma and women’s behavioral health at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago.

Following her training, Dr. Tirone continued at Rush University Medical Center as an assistant professor in the psychiatry and internal medicine departments. She treated patients in the interdisciplinary pelvic health clinic and the cancer center. She also provided massed-trauma treatment to individuals with histories of combat and military sexual trauma as part of a research project at the hospital’s specialty clinic for veterans and service members. Now, she hopes to help more patients access this type of care by offering services via telehealth.