PsyHarmony, LLC
Dr. Karen Gershanov
Psychological Services for Adults, Families, and Couples
Control-Commit-Change
PLEASE NOTE: The PsyHarmony clinic is no longer operating and therefore not accepting new clients.
About PsyHarmony
Personality disorders. Anger issues. Substance abuse. Family problems. Money Issues. Failing health. Grief or bereavement. Trauma. A troubled relationship. A court or school's demand for mental health assessments or opinion. Many of us have tried hard to face these challenges on our own. Let me help you cope and recover from the conditions which stand in the way of your well-being.
If you are looking for a psychologist who specializes with the co-morbidities of Autism Spectrum Disorder, please check the ASD tab above.
My ability to help you comes from years of academic preparation, years of relevant work history, and personal experience. I have a degree in social work, two master's degrees (psychology and public administration) and a doctorate in clinical counseling. I have worked with active duty members and veterans and cadets, families facing disasters, hospitalized and home care patients, adolescents in a variety of facilities, mental health facility patients, and nursing home residents. All of these folks were ready to address what they wanted their lives to be like and were willing to do what they needed to get there.
I am proud and grateful for coming from a military family. Married, with adult children, and aging parents, my family life was blessed and challenged by the same issues as most families.
Your road to well-being might include psychotherapies such as Solution Focused Psychotherapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Exposure Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, play therapy, or my clients' personal favorite, Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy. I will help you use your time between sessions to practice exercises which you and I will design during each session. If you are taking medication, I will be glad to work closely with your prescribing provider to help you determine the effects of your medications on your thoughts and behaviors. And always, we will monitor your progress in therapy and the direction you want to pursue.
Your sense of well-being is waiting. Please complete the contact form HERE and let's see if we're meant to work together.
719.413.4700
Austism Spectrum Disorder
Some of our work is with autistic teens and adults (neurologically diverse, or otherwise known as NT's) who need treatment to meet the life challenges they may face. Some of these may be co-morbid disorders(disorders which are commonly related to ASD). These include mood disorders, anxiety disorders, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), communication skills, and social skills (like that first date!) We find ourselves discussing IEPs/504s and other classroom issues. This last service helps to inform school staff of challenges and possible adaptations to move your child forward. And, there is one other area in which you might be interested: sexual orientation and gender identity.
PsyHarmony is proud to be a solid ally of the LGTBQ population. Many of the ASD folks we treat are questioning their sexual identity and/or orientation. We have a program in place to help with family issues, psychoeducation regarding sexual assignment, coming out, and other useful resources.
Services Provided
Co-morbid Disorders for Autism and Transgendering Persons
Autism and LGBTQ? Conditions, Disorders, and Challenges.
COVID-19 and Your Personal Protection
Learn MoreTreatment Interventions
Solution Focused Psychotherapy
Solution Focused Psychotherapy (often know as Brief Therapy) is the therapy of choice for those folks who benefit from an approach which deals with "here and now" issues related to their mental health. This approach begins with the idea "What will it be like if you no longer have this problem?" followed up by a treatment plan which guides you in the direction of your choice. As its name implies, the goal is to move from being stuck to a state of well-being. Many, if not most conditions respond to this particular treatment even when combined with one or more of the other treatments described below.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) "Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) is one of the few forms of psychotherapy that has been scientifically tested and found to be effective in hundreds of clinical trials for many different disorders. In contrast to other forms of psychotherapy, cognitive therapy is usually more focused on the present, more limited in duration, and more problem-solving oriented. In addition, patients learn specific skills that they can use for the rest of their lives. These skills involve identifying distorted thinking, modifying beliefs, relating to others in different ways, and changing behaviors." Excerpted from https://beckinstitute.org/get-informed/cbt-faqs/. Check out this webpage for loads of information about CBT from the psychologist and associates who are credited for the development and testing of this widely used therapy.
Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy (REBT)
Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy (REBT). Alternately known as RBT (Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy), REBT is differentiated from other therapies by it focus on challenging clients to examine their thought patterns driving their behaviors and emotional experiences. REBT clients seem to enjoy and benefit from its "action-oriented" approach. For more informoation about REBT, click or contact |albertellis.org/rebt-cbt-therapy/REBT
Mindfulness Behavioral Cognitive Therapy (MBCT)
Mindfulness Behavioral Cognitive Therapy. "MBCT was developed for people with recurring episodes of depression or unhappiness, to prevent relapse. It has been proven effective in patients with major depressive disorder who have experienced at least three episodes of depression. Mindfulness-based relapse prevention may also be helpful for treating generalized anxiety disorders and addictions. MBCT has also been shown to improve symptoms of depression in some people with physical health conditions, such as vascular disease and traumatic brain injury. There are many approaches to the use of this form of meditation in therapy." Excerpted from this website https://www.psychologytoday.com/therapy-types/mindfulness-based-cognitive-therapy.
Motivational Interviewing (MI)
Motivational Interviewing (MI) is a highly structured therapeutic techniques deisgned to coach clients through various 4 identified stages of recovery. For more information about this therapy tool, contact https://www.mentalhealth.va.gov/substanceuse/met-sud.asp. Although this website addresses the use of MI in case of substance abuse, it's been found helpful for other types of disorders where the therapist discovers the need to provide a highly structured approach to guide someone's behavior. MI tools help monitor the state of a client's commitment by discussing the value and benefits of behavioral changes throughout a course of therapy.
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) "Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) provides clients with new skills to manage painful emotions and decrease conflict in relationships. DBT specifically focuses on providing therapeutic skills in four key areas. First, mindfulness focuses on improving an individual's ability to accept and be present in the current moment. Second, distress tolerance is geared toward increasing a person’s tolerance of negative emotion, rather than trying to escape from it. Third, emotion regulation covers strategies to manage and change intense emotions that are causing problems in a person’s life. Fourth, interpersonal effectiveness consists of techniques that allow a person to communicate with others in a way that is assertive, maintains self-respect, and strengthens relationships " Excerpted from Psychology Today, https://www.psychologytoday.com/therapy-types/dialectical-behavior-therapy
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). As defined by the EMDR Institute, "EMDR is is a psychotherapy that enables people to heal from the symptoms and emotional distress that are the result of disturbing life experiences. " For more information, click here: http://www.emdr.com/frequent-questions/http://www.emdr.com/frequent-questions/
Covering Your Costs
PsyHarmony, LLC is enrolled as an In-Network provider with these insurance companies: Cigna. United Healthcare. Tricare. Medicare Part B, Medicare Advantage plans, and Anthem Blue Cross/Blue Shield.
Your co-pay is due at the beginning of each appointment unless you have made prior arrangements with Billing. Make this arrangement before you come to your appointment.
Your insurance plan might not reimburse any or all of your treatment. We strongly recommend you check with them before you begin your treatment. And, as you know, recently insurance made available plans with very high deductibles, which must be paid before you can use your actual coverage.
Fees for Treatment
Your well-being is our top concern. We want to have treatment if you really need it
My fees are based on the customary fees for professional psychological services delivered by professional clinical psychologists. In Colorado, these psychologists must have earned a doctoral degree in clinical psychology and have completed their post-doctoral training and obtained licensure.
Our standard charge is $75-130 an hour based on the type of psychotherapy needed (individual, family, or group counseling).
Like most providers we charge for missed appointments unless there are circumstances beyond your control.
We are sorry, but these reduced or pro bono fees apply only to psychotherapy and not to assessment or testing for forensic or academic purposes.
Assessments and Screening
I offer low-cost or free screenings for many disorders to our active clients.
Forensic (court-related) or Academic Assessments: to be contracted before we begin testing. PsyHarmony requests payment for 50% of the expected fee before testing with the remainder due once the final document is ready for delivery. Under rare circumstances, such as when an insurance company requests and authorizes specific assessments, we will be glad to work with you to make an appropriate arrangement for payment.
Resources
Researching Your Medications
- Drugs and Medications A-Z https://www.webmd.com/drugs/2/index
- The People's Pharmacy https://www.peoplespharmacy.com/
- Mental Health America http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/types-mental-health-treatments
Community Mental Health Resources
The following resources are described with excerpts from their respective websites. The reader is cautioned that no promise is made about the value, effectiveness, or veracity of the comments made. Whenever possible ,readers are strongly advised to access the entire website cited.
- Pikes Peak United Way 2-1-1: (http://www.ppunitedway.org/211.html) "At present, trained information specialists staff the hotline from 8a.m. to 5p.m. Monday through Friday utilizing a comprehensive database of thousands of resources including federal, state, and local government agencies, private non-profits, as well as faith and community-based organizations. By directing people to the right resources and preparing them for their visit, 2-1-1 promotes higher assistance success and decreases frustrations. Last year, Pikes Peak United Way 2-1-1 provided life changing information and referrals to countless individuals and families in crisis." The call is free and their referral resources represent a vast collection of potentially helpful organizations.
- Aspen Pointe provides medical and counseling services. Aspen Pointe accepts a variety of insurances, both commercial and public. Please call 719-572-6100 to obtain the specific services available by insurance company. Over the years, Aspen Pointe has provided PsyHarmony's clients (who are also Aspen Pointe patients) with access to psychopharmaceutical medications. There are usually fees charged.
- Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA). DBSA is an important resource in our community to provide support to those who have been diagnosed with clinical depression and forms of Bipolar disorder. Ongoing peer counseling is provided by trained facilitators. The information and moreover, the sense of support through community is invaluable to those dealing with chronic mental health issues. They also have wellness-related resources to aid in maintaining recovery. For more information, phone 719-477-1515 or e-mail them at help@dbsacoloradosprings.org, or drop by (call first!) their offices at 2132 E. Bijou St., Suite 112, Colorado Springs, CO 80909. You might also find their website helpful: www.dbsacoloradosprings.org
- National Alliance on Mental Alliance (NAMI) is "the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to improving the lives of persons living with serious mental illness and their families. Founded in 1979, NAMI has become the nation’s voice on mental illness, a national organization including NAMI organizations in every state and in over 1100 local communities across the country who join together to meet the NAMI mission through advocacy, research, support, and education. Here is the local contact information: https://namicoloradosprings.org/about-nami-colorado-springs/, phone 844-493-8255. The contact information for the national organization is www.nami.org and their phone # is 800-950-6264. IN A CRISIS? TEXT NAMI TO 741741. Both the local and national contact information is provided because the local organization can advise you about their services and register you for their peer-led groups for family members and clients. The national organization can provide you with invaluable information regarding legal issues, medication, and other common challenges which require knowledgeable advice.
- Peak Vista: "Peak Vista Community Health Centers is a nonprofit Federally Qualified Health Center providing exceptional medical, dental and behavioral health care. Peak Vista accepts a wide variety of insurance plans and its website indicates a willing interest in serving those without financial resources to cover all their medical/ behavioral needs." You may be interested in the 340B program which provides discounted pharmaceuticals at participating pharmacies. For more information, contact them at http://www.peakvista.org/about-us or phone (719)632-5700.
- SET Clinics. "SET is a nonprofit medical clinic providing care to the uninsured, under-insured, homeless and Medicaid populations in our community." "SET Family Medical Clinics serves all low income, uninsured and underinsured people, regardless of their ability to pay full price for services. There are multiple clinic sites in El Paso county. SET Family Medical Clinics are authorized to treat acute and chronic illnesses, minor injuries, and mental health issues accompanying medical conditions. Under certain circumstances they can dispense psychopharmaceutical drugs and/or write prescriptions for outside pharmacies.
SET Family clinic has a discounted sliding fee schedule for those with limited financial resources https://www.centura.org/locations/set-family-medical-clinic. Contact information: 9100 E. Mineral Circle Centennial, CO 80112 , phone 303-290-6500.
- Tri-Lakes Cares. Tri-Lakes Cares can provide financial assistance, including rent/mortgage, utilities, transportation, medical bills and co-pays, post-secondary education assistance, and child-care, emergency assistance, including food, car repair, or home repair, self-sufficiency programs, including Getting Ahead, Individual Self-Sufficiency Plans (ISP), budget counseling, and job search and interview skills, and seasonal programs, including school supplies, holiday food, and holiday gifts for children and seniors. TLC cannot provide a specific service or the funding may not be available for specific issues, they can provide referrals to other service organizations, for example:• LEAP (Low Income Energy Assistance Program)• Budget Counseling• Mental Health Counseling• SNAP (Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program)• TEFAP (The Emergency Food Assistance Program)• Senior Assistance and • Health Insurance Assistance. If you are in need, please go this website: https://tri-lakescares.org/ or contact one of the people below to find out if they can help:
For Information for Last Name A-L: Email Sabrina Pacheco at CaseManager@Tri-LakesCares.org 719-481-4864 ext. 102
For Information for Last Name M-Z: Email Paula Blair at CaseManager2@Tri-LakesCares.org 719-481-4864 ext. 112
Note: not only do they serve eligible residents in the Tri-Lakes area, they also extend their services to Air Force Academy residents.
Pikes Peak Suicide Prevention. (719) 573-7447 Monday-Friday 9:00AM-5:00PM. After hours, phone 911. A call center staffed with highly-trained volunteers serving people of all ages. Repeat callers not discouraged to call again.
Pikes Peak Suicide Prevention. (719) 573-7447 Monday-Friday 9:00AM-5:00PM
Websites for Particular Disorders
- Bipolar Disorder: Symptoms and causes - Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/bipolar-disorder/
- Anxiety and Depression: the Anxiety and Depression Association of American (ADAA" " is an international nonprofit organization dedicated to the prevention, treatment, and cure of anxiety, depressive, obsessive-compulsive, and trauma-related disorders through education, practice, and research." If you are suffering from one of these disorders, it would be well worth your time to give them a click: https://adaa.org/adaa-online-support-group.
Schizophrenia and Other Psychotic Disorders
- The Schizophrenia Support Group: (https://schizophrenia.supportgroups.com/). Actually, their name under-represents the 20+ disorders for which they have organized online support groups.
- Schizophrenia and Related Disorders Association of America: (SARDAA). Peer and family support for those persons affected by schizophrenia and related psychotic disorders. Contact information: 240-423-9432, website: https://sardaa.org/
- National Alliance for Mental Health (NAMI): See entry above.
Post-Trauma Support Groups
- The website Psych Central has cobbled together a lovely list of online support groups for PTSD: https://psychcentral.com/resources/Post-traumatic_Stress/Support_Groups/. While you are there, cruise the website for information written by mental health professionals on a wide variety of mental health topics and conditions. It really is a gold mine of useful information.
- Google Meet-up Groups:https://www.meetup.com/topics/ptsd/. Ok, let's say you've never accessed a Meet-up Group on Google. It's time to consider doing just that. Click on the above link, and follow the directions. You'll be able to bring up PTSD support groups by the area they serve. Most will be free or ask for a nominal donation to cover the host's costs. Yes, that means they are in-the-flesh programs. No, it doesn't mean you have a long term commitment. C'mon, try it. You know you want to...
- Wounded Warrior Project: Offering support services for veterans and their families, this is an important set of services designed to help the whole person (and their families) recover. Contact info: https://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/programs/peer-support.
- TESSA: https://www.tessacs.org/. Therapeutic support groups for domestic violence and sexual abuse survivors. Phone 719.633.1462.
Location & Hours
Address:
1840 Woodmoor Dr, Suite 100, Monument, CO 80132
Find us on Google Maps HERE
Phone:
719-413-4700 Main
719-413-4800 Fax
Email:
Please send email through our secure contact form HERE. However, the clinic is permanently closed so you may not receive a response to your request.
Clinic Hours:
The PsyHarmony clinic is now closed and no longer accepting any new appointments.
PsyHarmony Secure Contact Form
Thank you for your interest in PsyHarmony! Please click on this link HERE to fill out your contact info. Your personal health information (PHI) is safe with us as we store it using a secure encrypted method.
Our Practice Manager will reach out to you shortly to get further information prior to your first therapy session. Thank you.
