Phone: (814) 834-9722
Fax:  (814) 834-9723

Helpwise is a subsidiary corporation of Dickinson Mental Health Center, Inc.
Helpwise provides private, confidential Psychiatric Services as well as Employee Assistance
Program Services.

NEWS
Helpwise Using Unique Eye Therapy to Help Trauma Victims
 

Psychiatric Physician Services: Psychiatric evaluations determine if, in the course of treatment, medication would be beneficial. These evaluations are also useful to clarify exactly what the problem is and to obtain specific recommendations.

Counseling Services:
We now live in an age filled with many life stresses which can create feelings of being out of control, over-anxious, angry, depressed and hopeless as well as produce tension in our relationships with others. The counselors at Helpwise are trained professionals who will listen, make an assessment, help sort things out, and share recommendations. Services are tailored for individuals, couples, or family. Drug and alcohol assessment and counseling is also available.  

Employee Assistance Program (EAP):  Progressive companies and organizations contract with Helpwise to provide services for employees. Employee assistance is designed to assist employees with personal problems that may affect job performance. This program addresses a wide range of employee problems: stress, marital difficulties, alcohol/drug problems, grief and more. In addition to counseling, the EAP may provide employee education and training.

How Do I Pay for Services?  
Helpwise is a participating provider with the Blues of Western Pennsylvania and with additional insurances. Self- pay is available on a fee for service basis. If Helpwise is your employee assistance program, a number of sessions with a counselor are paid for by your employer.

How do I get more information or make an appointment?
If you have an employee assistance program, you may contact your company representative or directly call Helpwise. If you have insurance or are self-pay, call the office directly. For appointments in St. Marys, call 814-834-9722. For appointments in Coudersport call 814-274-3347.

How do I get more information about the Employee Assistance Program?
To find our more about EAP, contact Leah Dippold at 814-834-9722

Article by: John Pozza, Dir. of Grants & Outreach

Helpwise, a private, psychiatric counseling and employee assistance service at 220 Parade Street in St. Marys, can assist individuals suffering from anxiety, stress and trauma through a unique and successfultherapy that helps them refocus on positive thoughts.

The treatment, called Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR), is a form of “eye movement therapy” designed to resolve symptoms resulting from exposure to a traumatic or distressing event. Clinical trials have demonstrated EMDR’s efficacy in the treatment of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. In some studies it has been shown to be more effective than cognitive behavioral and exposure therapies, and more effective than some alternative treatments. Although EMDR-trained clinicians Leah Dippold and Ed Badeau at Helpwise may use the therapy for various problems, its research support is primarily for disorders stemming from distressing and traumatic life experiences.

At Helpwise, EMDR, according to Dippold, has primarily been used for those suffering from post-traumatic stress. It can be used for anyone having flashbacks or strong memories of reliving a traumafrom their past.

“Memories of the trauma impact their day-to-day experiences, either at home or at work, effecting concentration, communication, sleeping, or even issues with trust,” Dippold said. “People suffering with these issues feel stuck because often the trauma doesn’t go away without getting the proper help.”

Trauma, said Dippold, is often broken down to “Little T” traumas and “Large T” traumas. Little T’s can involve negative things someone may have said to you back in grade school, either by a peer or an authority figure. They may be Little T’s to us, Dippold added, but they are large to the person traumatized. Large T’s tend to be major events, ranging from war, fires, tornados, or other natural disasters, to an unplanned event, such as a car accident, rape, or the loss of a loved one.

Before the eye movement therapy starts, the therapist must first determine the negative cognition or belief the person has about themselves. In recognizing the memories that contribute to the negative belief, positive thoughts are then introduced to determine what the person would rather believe about themselves. The therapist then replicates rapid eye movements while targeting the problematic or intrusive emotions that resulted from the trauma. Additional positive thoughts can be introduced during the therapy that include improving feelings of responsibility, safety and having control of choices.

“I’ve been using this therapy for fifteen years and am amazed at how successful and effective it has been in reducing symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder,” Badeau added. “People seem to be able to fully re-integrate those experiences in a way that they can look to the future without having the
past get in the way.”

EMDR can also be used as therapy for pain management and bereavement, with separate protocols followed for each. It is also being used within the military, with over 500 military and Department of Veteran’s Affairs clinicians being trained in basic EMDR, most recently at Marine installations at Miramar in California and Camp Lejeune in North Carolina. EMDR is listed in the new Department of Veterans Affairs & Department of Defense Practice Guidelines as "highly recommended" for the treatment of trauma. It has received the highest level of recommendation by the American Psychiatric Association and by the mental health departments of Israel, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom, France, Sweden and more.

For more information on EMDR or to schedule a private appointment, contact Helpwise at 220 Parade St., St. Marys, PA 15857, or at 814-834-9722.