Q&A
Megan Pailler
Megan Pailler, clinical assistant professor in the Department of Psychology, recently was named director of the Psychological Services Center.
What services does the Psychological Services Center provide?
The Psychological Services Center (PSC) offers a broad array of psychological services, including counseling and therapy for adults, children, couples, families and groups; psychological assessment and testing; and educational workshops focused on relaxation strategies and parenting skills.
What types of problems are treated at the center?
Some of our most commonly addressed concerns include depression, anxiety/panic, relationship difficulties, anger management, obsessive-compulsive behaviors, stress management, conflict resolution, and self-esteem enhancement. We also provide services for a variety of childhood concerns, including oppositional behavior, ADHD and childhood anxiety and depression. Because of our commitment to training, we emphasize the use of the most up-to-date and effective treatments.
Are there therapies/treatments that you don’t provide?
We do not offer treatment for severe alcoholism or substance dependence, severe eating disorders or unmedicated bipolar disorder or any psychotic disorders.
Are services available only to members of the UB community?
Our services are available to anyone in Western New York and Southern Ontario. Although our services are not limited to people associated with UB, we do offer special discount rates to UB employees and their immediate families.
Do you take insurance?
We do not accept insurance. Instead, we offer a sliding fee scale based on income and family size. For UB employees and their immediate families, services are available at a special reduced rate that is lower than the cost of most mental health insurance co-payments. We believe that not accepting insurance provides clients with both greater privacy and greater control over the length of treatment. We offer comprehensive psychological assessment/testing at a flat rate, which is substantially lower than the cost of these services with a private practitioner. Assessment services are not typically covered by insurance.
The Psychological Services Center is part of the university’s clinical psychology doctoral program. How does that work? Are the therapists also students? Do clients take part in research studies?
The Psychological Services Center is the training clinic for the doctoral program in clinical psychology, which is accredited by the American Psychological Association. Thus, most of the therapists at the PSC are graduate student trainees, all of whom are closely supervised by PhD-level psychologists on the faculty. Services are available throughout the year, including during the summer months, as well as when UB is on break.
Given that we are a university clinic, we do have research programs at the center that are ongoing. Participation in any research project, however, is completely voluntary. If there is an ongoing project that we believe our clients might be interested in, we will tell them about the study and let them decide whether to participate.
How do you know when to seek professional help when you have a problem?
Everyone has occasional “ups and downs,” and feels stressed or anxious from time to time. However, if you find that these problems are occurring frequently, are lasting for more than a couple of weeks or are interfering with your ability to enjoy life or to function at work or at home, it may be time to seek professional help.
How do you ensure privacy and confidentiality?
We treat our clients’ privacy and confidentiality very seriously. We want our clients to feel assured that their treatment records and any personally identifying information are maintained in the strictest confidence. No information is shared with anyone other than the professional staff of the PSC without the written consent of the client.
How do I make an appointment?
If you are interested in services at the PSC or would like more information, please call our main office at 645-3697 or visit our website.
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