Speed Therapy

Most people probably know the Sidwell Friends School as that prestigious institution the president’s daughters attend to receive the education of a lifetime. However, for the Psychological Group of Washington, the school is ground zero for the birth of a new and innovative approach to the world of therapy.

Surrounded by only four other practices, the school had rounded together teams of professionals to offer services for special needs testing. And as parents and students alike meandered across the gym floor, pulling therapists aside to pour question after question about their prodigy-hopefuls, Dr. Maia Coleman-King and Dr. Katherine Marshall sat at their table in between entertaining clients and brainstormed the newest wave to hit psychology since Prozac.

“What if we could do this for the public?” one would ask the other, referring to the gym-full of professionals marketing themselves at each table. “Why can’t we put this on for everyone else?” And in the next few minutes, the Dynamic Duo of mental health outlined their brainchild, Speed Therapy—the Mona Lisa to their practice The Psychological Group of Washington.

For PGW, it was far too common to pack up a few chairs, a rug, and a couple pillows, make their way down to the Black Family Reunion Celebration on the National Mall only to end up in mini therapy sessions with inquiring faces. After seeing so many people grabbing for even a brief moment of advice, the need for a gathering of patients and therapists alike became all the more obvious.

Their answer to the call?—Speed Therapy

If a person can sit down at 6 different tables in a single night browsing like rapid fire through potential paramours, then why not give it a try with your doctor as well? Of course speed dating isn’t as simple as planting yourself at a table, giving a person the look down and moving on—but naturally, neither is Speed Therapy. Clients are given the chance to spend about ten minutes basically “trying out” a would-be clinician, no strings attached. This allows people to really get a feel for their therapist without committing to a single, or even multiple preliminary sessions. And how do you know what you like until you give it a try right? That’s the point of Speed Therapy—patients need more than just another doctor. They need an atmosphere of trust, of comfort, of stability and each person has their own mental snapshot of what that looks like in a person.

It’s important to realize though, that a ten minute interview isn’t a therapy session. Speed Therapy is more about uniting future client with therapist in a setting that makes the process easier than calling around, regurgitating payments, and scheduling appointments weeks in advance. You get to ask the practical questions about insurance carriers, fees, and the like. Though it would be ideal to fit in a good ten minutes of life-fixing into the meeting, what’s most important is that people find what they’re looking for in a doctor, life coach, counselor and so on and the space for that meeting is what Speed Therapy brings to the table.

It’s no secret that life knocks people down far more often than anyone needs and no matter how well-off or not you are, there’s bound to be a monster or two in your closet at some point. A lot of people shy away from therapy because of stigmas that hardly meet reality and The Psychology Group of Washington wants to give the community a chance to demystify the world of mental health and make therapy a real option for those who need it. And what doctor wouldn’t want the chance to expand his or her practice by getting to meet a handful of new clients in the span of an hour? Networking between health-seekers and care-givers is the easiest and simplest way to make lasting relationships happen both inside and outside of the clinic.

So this is where Speed Therapy takes off and all it needs is you. What you talk about, how much you share, the questions you bring to the table—they’re all up to you. It’s your space and it’s your time to really look for the help you need and there’s no time like the present to get started.

Multi-Faceted Psychology

There's an office down on 21st and K, tucked away behind wooden doors with pale yellow walls and dim lighting--walls that have, by now, heard many a problem and played host to many a personal demon. Behind closed doors, in the solace of a cozy room with a crooked lamp, a couch, and the promise of security, clients visit their therapists in the hopes of reaching comfort with their inner troubles.

The Psychological Group of Washington set out to revolutionize that aim. PGW is a privately owned mental health group providing psychological services to children, adolescents, adults, groups and couples through psychological treatment to promote a greater sense of well-being. Its encompassing endeavors have made way into the media, schools, and the improving lives of clients in need.

There's a sigh of relief stepping through the front door into a waiting room where patients simply breathe and begin to let the tension slide from their shoulders. A lamp overlooks a stack of surprisingly new magazines. A copy of "The Runaway Bunny" rests beside a stack of business cards and the sighing waft of cool air echoes into every room. A grandfather clock perched in the corner towers over the grey, cushioned chairs where clients patiently await moments of escape from taxing lives.

But the group isn't all rooms and couches. Far from it. The helping hands of The Psychological Group of Washington continue to reach out across miles to charter schools at all corners of the DC area. Sitting down with children and administrators alike, the group's professionals evaluate special needs and tailor their services to the school system.

They've been heard on radio, seen on tv, called in for expert opinions on the latest and greatest topics of the mental health profession and they're looking to start a new trend in psychology with their brainchild, Speed Therapy. A meeting of the minds between clients and clinicians alike, Speed Therapy offers a new approach for patients seeking help. Sort of like speed dating but of course, more professional, potential clients get to browse a collection of therapists to find the one that fits their needs, falls into a good price range, or simply feels right without the commitment of follow up appointments and added costs.

The group's endeavors promise an assortment of opportunities for people across all backgrounds and look to provide a fresh face to the world of therapy.

http://www.psychgroupdc.com/index.ht