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

Someone
Listen

to

