When I attended the Karl Menninger School of Psychiatry for my residency training in psychiatry, one of the real treats was having the opportunity to meet with the school's namesake, "Dr. Karl," himself. He along with his brother Will and his father C.F. founded the Menninger Clinic in the early part of the 20th Century in Topeka, Kansas. The clinic and hospital along with the training programs served as shining lights to those who wished to pursue a career in psychiatry and other related mental health disciplines. [Read More]

As August comes around, our thoughts tend to turn away from summer fun and drift more toward the start of yet another school year. I certainly remember the days when the school year basically went from Labor Day to Memorial Day and that schedule still exists in certain parts of the country. However, more and more schools are beginning earlier and earlier in August. This gives students a better chance to complete a semester before the winter break and not have to return for a short time period before taking finals. Also, with all of the days the kids have off for everything from teacher workdays to holidays to mid-winter breaks, it's no wonder why classes begin earlier to factor in those off days. These "Back to School" days can be very trying for students, parents, and even teachers. [Read More]

When patients come into the office for a session, the conversation often turns at some point to how things are at work. Sure, we go over compliance with the treatment plan, whether it relates to cognitive approaches or medication, but to me that's simply not enough. I have always believed that every meeting with a patient is a therapy session in its own way, even if the patient is there ostensibly for medication management. [Read More]