Richard Palmer, PhD Adults and Couples Psychotherapy

Professional Statement

Dr. Palmer realizes we are all born with certain emotional, intellectual, and behavioral predispositions that are further shaped by all our life experiences, especially with the habits developed in childhood and adolescence. Habits developing from traumas are particularly powerful. Therapy involves finding the behaviors that are unwittingly causing us pain and suffering and work to mold these predilections into more productive, comfortable styles. Often this process involves delving into experiences from the past to relieve pain long suppressed and avoided. Couples develop their own patterns comingling their styles to develop unique relationship patterns, the most destructive of which involve seeing the other as the cause of the problems with expectations for them to change. A number of problems follow common patterns including depression, anxiety, addictions, and relationship difficulties. Often psychotropic medications are helpful or necessary to supplement psychotherapy by beneficially altering some basic physiological functions. In his 30+ years of private practice, Dr. Palmer has had extensive experience in numerous areas. Among these are individual and couples psychotherapy working with depression, anxiety, relationship issues, and addictions. Other areas of competence include work with First Responders, completing psychological evaluations, and a knowledge of criminality. Dr. Palmer's approach is eclectic. drawing from these experiences to approach treatment in a common sense way based on multiple theoretical approaches as well as his years of both professional and human experience with a mix of kindness and humor.

Education

PhD in Clinical Psychology - Indiana University
BA in Psychology - Suny University At Buffalo

Insurances Accepted

Aetna
Anthem
Blue Shield
Carelon Behavioral Health Strategies
Carelon Behavioral Health, Inc
Cigna
ComPsych
HEALTH NET
KAISER
Magellan
SHARP
United Behavioral Health
VHP
WELLFLEET