Dr. Mark Thomas Summerson, PHD is a psychologist in Pullman, WA specializing in psychology.
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Anxiety
Anxiety is a generic name given to a variety of conditions characterized by unusual amounts of fear and worry, especially unrealistic fears and tension. People who suffer from anxiety often are aware that their fears are irrational, but that knowledge does not make the feeling of being scared and anxious go away. To qualify as anxiety, symptoms must last for 6 months or more and interfere with the way a person lives their daily life. Some cases may be mild, where, for example, a person simply avoids certain situations. Other cases can be severe enough to be disabling.
Some of the specific conditions covered under the general label of anxiety include:
Collectively, anxiety disorders are the most common mental health issues diagnosed in the United States -- even more common than depression. Women are more likely than men to be diagnosed with anxiety, and it is extremely common for a person with anxiety to have another illness at the same time, such as depression, a physical illness, or substance abuse.
Treatment for anxiety usually involves medication and psychotherapy together. Medications used may include antidepressants (which also work for anxiety), anti-anxiety medications, or beta blockers (which can be used to control the physical symptoms of anxiety). Psychotherapy can be useful to teach patients new ways of thinking and reacting so that they can manage their feelings of worry and fear. Support groups can also be very effective for anxiety, and they can be a form of treatment themselves for social phobias. Stress management, relaxation techniques, and meditation all help reduce feelings of anxiety or of being out of control. Finally, having a strong support network of family and friends is an excellent way to help manage the difficulties of life with anxiety.
Depression
Everyone knows what it feels like to get the blues once in a while. But depression is a serious illness that is more severe than a bad day and lasts much longer. Symptoms of depression stop a person from being able to function and enjoy daily activities for weeks or months at a time. It can happen to anyone, and it isn't something that people can control by force of will or "snap out of it."
Some common symptoms of depression include:
We don't yet know what causes depression, but it's thought that it is a combination of genetic, biological, environmental, and social influences. Because of this, the most effective treatments for depression combine medication with psychotherapy. Therapy, especially cognitive-behavioral therapy, can be extremely helpful in resolving the negative thoughts and feelings that come with depression. It gives patients new tools that they can use themselves to cope when their depression is making them feel down.
Some of the common medications used to treat depression include antidepressants such as SSRI's (Prozac, Paxil, Zoloft) or atypical antidepressants (Cymbalta, Wellbutrin). It's important to remember that these medications have different effects on everybody, and no one medication works right for everyone. Patients may have to try a couple before finding the one that works just right for them. If the first medication they try doesn't work, they should talk to their doctor about trying something else. In extreme cases where medication is not enough, electro-convulsive therapy and hospitalization may be the answer to keeping a severely depressed person safe.
Depression is a difficult illness to deal with, but it is more common than believed and there are many people who can help. With the right treatment, individuals with depression can get back to fully enjoying life again.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health disorder that people may develop after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event. PTSD causes recurring nightmares, flashbacks, and disturbing memories about the traumatic event. It is frequently triggered by particularly intense and life-threatening incidents. For example, someone involved in a serious car accident may have severe anxiety about the accident months or even years later. War veterans and people involved in armed conflict are particularly prone to developing PTSD. In decades past, PTSD was called shellshock and was used to describe the negative emotions that soldiers endured from war. Today, medical professionals who treat PTSD recognize that it can occur in all types of people and can result from all types of traumatic incidents. It is not known exactly why some people develop PTSD, although PTSD frequently arises from:
People who have experienced significant and repeated trauma are more likely to develop PTSD. Those who have disorders like depression or a family history of depression may also be more prone to PTSD. PTSD symptoms typically begin one month to one year following the traumatic event. There are four main categories of PTSD symptoms:
The intensity and frequency of these symptoms can vary over time. PTSD symptoms may suddenly return after disappearing for years. Many PTSD patients find treatment helps to gradually reduce their symptoms over time.
The most common treatments for PTSD are psychotherapy and oral medications. Psychotherapy for PTSD can include cognitive therapy (therapy to change thought patterns), exposure therapy (therapy to confront memories of the traumatic incident) and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy (EMDR). EMDR integrates exposure therapy with guided eye movements to help patients confront and process their trauma. Certain oral medications may help with PTSD, such as antidepressants and anti-anxiety medications. Self-care, support groups, and relaxation may also benefit those with PTSD.
The path to overcoming PTSD can be long and challenging and people with PTSD can benefit greatly by seeking professional treatment from a mental health care provider. Treatment can reduce PTSD symptoms, provide essential coping strategies, and improve one's quality of life.
The top procedures that Dr. Mark Thomas Summerson, PHD treated as a psychologist in Pullman, WA during 2012 were mental health therapy.
Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Mark Thomas Summerson, PHD for Medicare patients.
| mental health therapy | 214 |
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The top procedures that Dr. Mark Thomas Summerson, PHD treated as a psychologist in Pullman, WA during 2014 were mental health therapy.
Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Mark Thomas Summerson, PHD for Medicare patients.
| mental health therapy | 181 |
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Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Mark Thomas Summerson, PHD.
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The top procedures that Dr. Mark Thomas Summerson, PHD treated as a psychologist in Pullman, WA during 2015 were mental health therapy.
Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Mark Thomas Summerson, PHD for Medicare patients.
| mental health therapy | 239 |
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Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Mark Thomas Summerson, PHD.
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The top procedures that Dr. Mark Thomas Summerson, PHD treated as a psychologist in Pullman, WA during 2016 were mental health therapy.
Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Mark Thomas Summerson, PHD for Medicare patients.
| mental health therapy | 224 |
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The top procedures that Dr. Mark Thomas Summerson, PHD treated as a psychologist in Pullman, WA during 2018 were mental health therapy.
Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Mark Thomas Summerson, PHD for Medicare patients.
| mental health therapy | 196 |
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Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Mark Thomas Summerson, PHD for Medicare patients.
The highest averages for the top procedures that Dr. Mark Thomas Summerson, PHD treated as a psychologist in Pullman, WA were mental health therapy.
| mental health therapy | 210 |
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Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Mark Thomas Summerson, PHD.
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He has a state license in Washington.
Licensed In: Washington
Dr. Mark Thomas Summerson, PHD appears to accept the following insurance providers: CIGNA PPO, Aetna, Blue California, Medicare and OptumHealth Behavioral Solutions (United Behavioral Health).
According to our sources, Dr. Mark Thomas Summerson, PHD accepts the following insurance providers:
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Dr. Mark Summerson practices psychology. Clinical interests for Dr. Summerson include personal growth and development, depression, and coping with life changes. He usually is in-network for Blue California, Cigna, and Aetna, as well as other insurance carriers.
