Catholic Psychologist in Overland Park & Kansas City
I’m Dr. Eric Gaughan, a Catholic psychologist serving Overland Park and the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas, as well as Kansas City and the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph.
For many of my Catholic clients, finding a clinician who respects their beliefs, ethics, and spirituality was one of their top reasons for beginning therapy with me.
As a Catholic, I understand your spiritual concerns, and I offer psychotherapy services that are grounded in your faith life if that’s important to you. Keep reading to learn more about working with a Catholic psychologist.
A Psychologist Who Understands & Respects Catholic Teachings
While research and practice demonstrate that Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) interventions are among the most cutting edge and effective methods of treatment for a range of psychological conditions, their benefit can be further amplified when paired with the truths and treasures of the Catholic faith. Integrating the guidance of scripture and Catholic principles and the examples of the saints with sound psychological treatment provides a firm foundation for developing new, more helpful ways of understanding and responding to the problems and sufferings we face.
Whether you just want the added comfort of knowing that I understand your religious background or you actually want to incorporate spirituality into your therapy sessions, I’m happy to accommodate you. The main reason Catholic clients enjoy working with a psychologist who has a similar faith background is simply the benefit of shared experience. You know that you can communicate with me about faith issues, and I will know where you’re coming from and be equipped to dialogue with you about issues specific to Catholicism.
How Therapy Helps
My scope of expertise involves helping people achieve relief from anxiety, depression, anger, and addiction. Our thoughts, emotions, and actions are all interconnected. As a specialist in CBT, I’ll l help you to understand, change, and learn new ways of relating to the inner thoughts and beliefs that contribute to your emotional and behavioral struggles. I commonly assist clients suffering from:
- Chronic worry
- Disruptive fears
- Social anxiety
- Obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviors
- Scrupulosity
- Persistent sadness and hopelessness
- Low self-esteem
- Recurrent frustration and resentment
- Relationship problems
- Alcohol and drug issues
- Pornography struggles
Faith-Based Approach to Therapy
For those who wish to integrate faith and spirituality into their psychotherapy process, I have the experience to do this, and for many, the Catholic Church is an important source of community and hope that improves the overall change experience associated with the therapy process. However, even if you are a Catholic, you do not need to incorporate faith or religious elements into your sessions if you don’t want to.
Moreover, my approach to psychotherapy does not mean that you must be a practicing Catholic to benefit from my services. For those of other or non-religious backgrounds, I am able to provide the same empirically validated psychological interventions to help you move toward healing and wellness by changing negative thought and behavior patterns, improving emotional health and relationships, and solving current problems.
Telepsychology Solutions for Kansas & Missouri Residents
As a licensed Clinical Psychologist in both Kansas and Missouri, I am able to provide therapy through video (aka telepsychology sessions) via a HIPAA compliant telehealth platform to residents of both states.
While telepsychology sessions are available for local clients, this format is particularly valuable for individuals from smaller communities outside the greater Kansas City metropolitan area who may lack Catholic mental health professionals with advanced training in their region.
Schedule Your Introductory Session
If you’re interested in learning more about Gaughan Psychological Services or what it’s like to work with me, please get in touch. We’ll get started with a short, complimentary consultation over the phone. This session gives you the opportunity to ask questions and discuss your psychotherapy solutions before your first full session. It’s a great first step toward investing in your long-term goals.
Getting Started with Psychotherapy
I do my utmost to make the intake process simple and stress free. When you contact Gaughan Psychological Services, we’ll begin the psychotherapy process with a complimentary phone consultation to discuss the issues you are seeking help with, questions you may have about the practice, and whether we might be a good fit to begin work together.
To schedule the initial consultation:
- Please call (913) 562-9588 or email me at drg@kcpsychologist.com
- Leave your name, phone number, and a few good times to reach you that you’ll have enough privacy to briefly discuss the issues you hope to work on in therapy.
- I will return your call, typically within 24 hours unless you have specified another time, to conduct the free brief consultation that lasts about 10 minutes.
Fees & Payment
Payment may be made by debit/credit card, HSA/FSA card, check, or cash and is collected at the time of service.
If the price of treatment is the only thing getting in the way of starting work with me, I invite you to contact me. There are options available to help those with need to fit the cost of psychotherapy into their budgets. It is my goal to offer as much flexibility and accessibility as possible to ensure those who would benefit from psychotherapy can work with me.
Additionally, I encourage individuals to think of psychotherapy as a short-term investment in long-term happiness. Therapy involves a significant commitment of time and money but also gives you the tools to achieve relief that lasts. My goal with every client is to help them to become their own therapist, so they can effectively manage their anxiety or depression on their own.
Individual Psychotherapy Session
45 minutes: $185
Sessions will typically be scheduled for 45 minutes. Occasionally, we may decide to continue with a session beyond your 45 minute appointment, rather than stop or postpone work on a particular issue. Extended sessions will generally be charged on a prorated basis in 15-minute increments.
Insurance
I am considered an “out-of-network” provider, and I don’t participate in any insurance plans. Although I don’t accept insurance as a form of payment, many insurance plans will reimburse their members a percentage of out-of-pocket expenses after a deductible is met, and you may be able to seek reimbursement from your insurance company for your treatment depending on your coverage.
Through my patient portal, you can access and download a billing statement for your sessions that includes all the information necessary to submit a claim to your insurer to apply for reimbursement. You will then be reimbursed directly by your insurance company based on the terms of your policy.
Please keep in mind that if you choose to utilize your insurance, a psychiatric diagnosis is typically required for reimbursement.
If you plan to independently file claims for reimbursement, I recommend you contact your insurance company to better understand your benefits and reimbursement procedures. You can start by asking:
- Do I have out-of-network behavioral health benefits to see a psychologist?
- If so, what is the coverage amount per therapy session?
- Do I have a deductible for mental health benefits (a deductible is a set amount that you must pay before your insurance company begins providing benefits)?
- If so, how much of the deductible have I met?
- How many therapy sessions are covered, and for what time period?
- How do I submit requests for reimbursement?
For Medicare Beneficiaries: Please note that Gaughan Psychological Services is not a covered provider under Medicare. Medicare-eligible patients may not seek reimbursement from Medicare or their supplemental coverage for services provided.
Notice of Privacy Practices
The Notice of Privacy Practices provides information about your rights and protections related to the use and disclosure of your identifiable health care information. You can download and read the Notice of Privacy Practices below. Since you will complete all necessary forms, including the Notice of Privacy Practices, using the patient portal, there is no need to print and complete this document unless you would like to do so for your own records.