Viewpoint Psychology provides
tele-health services to help people
frayed by the quarantine
P
eople having a difficult
time in their lives may find
solutions and relief by con-
sulting a licensed psychologist.
Viewpoint Psychology &
Wellness can be that understand-
ing therapeutic partner. The
practice, based in Commerce
Township and West Bloomfield,
offers individual, group, family
and couple’
s therapy.
“We work with all ages and
all mental health concerns,”
said Melanie Schwartz, a Psy.D.
psychologist. She co-owns
Viewpoint with her husband,
Glen Schwartz, who handles
the business and marketing
duties.
Psychological help might be
especially needed during the
coronavirus pandemic, accord-
ing to Melanie. “
COVID has
taken us to a whole new level.
It’
s a scary time, and people are
understandably having a hard
time coping with the circum-
stances.
”
Since Gov. Gretchen
Whitmer’
s executive order for
Michiganders to “
shelter in
place,
” Melanie and a rotating
roster of 20 associated clinicians
are working from home. They
are seeing their clients online
via professional tele-thera-
py, using a secure, HIPPA-
compliant platform. Those
who aren’
t comfortable with
the technology may still talk
with a therapist on the phone.
Service hours are 8 a.m.-9 p.m.
weekdays and 8 a.m.-3 p.m.
weekends.
“Some of the insurance com-
panies will pay the deductible
and co-pay if the sessions are
related to COVID-19,” Melanie
said, “
and very rarely are we
not talking about COVID-19
and their difficulty with the
situation.”
Raised in Farmington Hills,
Melanie is the only child of
Marilyn and Melvyn Gvazda.
She and Glen have sons Avery,
8½, and Ari, 6, students at Hillel
Day School in Farmington
Hills.
Melanie graduated from
North Farmington High School,
Michigan State University
and the Illinois School of
Professional Psychology in
Chicago with her master’
s
degree in clinical psychology
and doctorate in psychology.
Melanie’
s areas of expertise
include anxiety disorders,
depression and mood disor-
ders; perfectionism and OCD;
trauma, grief and loss; and
self-esteem, family and relation-
ship issues. She works mainly
with pre-teens/adolescents and
adults.
Parent training is another
specialty, in which she teaches
moms and dads effective skills
for parenting.
“I believe our problems
develop, and continue, as a
result of self-defeating thoughts
and behaviors,” Melanie said.
“I work with clients to iden-
tify unhealthy thinking and
behavior patterns that could
contribute to their problems. I
then teach effective strategies
to develop healthy thinking
and behavior patterns.”
Melanie offered tips to cope
with staying home during this
crisis.
“Give yourself time to be sad,
angry or anxious,” she said.
“Be kind to yourself. Don’
t put
pressure on yourself to be per-
fect. Getting some fresh air is
important when you are stuck
inside all day, every day. Stay in
close communication with oth-
ers as much as you can. Try to
develop some kind of structure
or routine, even if you have
nothing to do that day.
“These strategies will help
manage your mood during this
difficult time.”
VIEWPOINT PSYCHOLOGY
& WELLNESS
2075 E. West Maple Road,
Suite B-208
Commerce Township, MI 48390
7035 Orchard Lake Road,
Suite 800
West Bloomfield, MI 48322
Text Hotline: (248)274-4334
help@viewpointpw.com
(248) 669-9500
www.viewpointpw.com
SPONSORED BY VIEWPOINT PSYCHOLOGY & WELLNESS
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