Psychotherapy Services

Dr. Diehl provides outpatient individual and couple’s and family counseling, to adolescents, adults, and seniors.  His approach involves particular emphasis on cognitive behavioral therapy which is a therapy system which is evidenced based with a variety of disorders including depression, anxiety disorders, and post traumatic stress.  Marital therapy approach involves not only behavioral interventions, but also process and communication interventions with conflict resolution.  

Cognitive/Memory Assessments

Psychological assessments are often requested to help your doctors understand if you are having problems with memory or other thinking abilities.  Changes in these abilities may be normal for your age or may represent medical, neurological, or psychological concerns.  The assessment usually consists of an interview and testing, with the interview conducted by the psychologist.  Testing is performed by a specially trained technician, a psychometrist, who under the direction of the psychologist guides you through a series of questions and paper and pencil measures.  The assessment may last in the range of about two hours, possibly a bit more or less.  

Additional Types of Psychological Evaluations Completed in Our Office

• Pre-employment and post-employment fitness for duty evaluations
• Pre-gastric bypass surgery evaluations
• Forensic evaluations for other court settings such as Pre-Trial Intervention, sentencing phase of a trial, or civil litigation.
• Assessment of individuals applying for positions in security work or law enforcement.

Family Court Evaluations

Palmetto Family Enrichment Center accepts court ordered referrals for situations involving disputed custody and questions about parenting capacity.  Of the types of evaluations, parenting assessment typically involves individual psychological evaluations of parents or parent figures, with particular focus on a set of parenting competencies which has been determined to be important for the wellbeing of the raising of children.  The other type of evaluation typically ordered by family court would be a comprehensive custody/parental access evaluation which includes not only parenting assessment for the parental figures involved, but also individual assessment of any minor children, and possibly interviews with other relevant figures such as a step-parent or fiancé or grandparent depending upon the nature of the family situations.  This type of evaluation also involves joint interviews with each parent and child,  contacts with important figures and this might include other relatives, medical providers, or therapists.  This type of evaluation can lead to specific recommendations regarding custody arrangements for minor children.   

ADHD/Learning Disability Assessment

Individuals may be referred by a physician, therapist, or possibly a school or college for individual psychological assessment.  Typically these assessments are completed with the patient/client and any other family member/individual who has daily interaction with the patient/client.  This evaluation involves a combination of objective assessment of abilities, academic achievement, rating of behavior patterns, and assessment of mood and personality issues.  Recommendations typically include suggestions for possible counseling, coaching, special academic help, school accommodations, or medication evaluation.  

Social Security and Worker’s Compensation Evaluations

Our office has performed a large number of evaluations for the Social Security Disability Determination Division and also for consulting attorneys who have referred clients for psychological assessments related to disability issues and Worker’s Compensation issues. This assessment includes psychological factors from work related injuries or emotional problems related to work situations.

General Considerations Regarding Testing

Almost everyone feels at least a little anxious about taking tests.  This is natural and we take this into account when reviewing the results.  Your test scores and summary report are confidential and may only be disclosed in limited circumstances.  If you have questions about the limits to confidentiality please ask our office.  When coming for evaluations involving memory and cognition as well as academic problems, it is quite helpful to bring someone who knows you well along to your appointment which is beneficial in providing useful information about your symptoms that can be important for the assessment.