Dr. Steve K. D. Eichel received his B.A. from Columbia University, and his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Pennsylvania. He has been a licensed psychologist since 1982. After completing a clinical psychology internship at the Devereux Foundation, he worked for six years as a child and family psychologist at the Irving Schwartz Institute for Children & Youth, followed by several years as the director of child and family services for a large urban mental health center in Camden, NJ. He was then appointed consulting forensic psychologist to the Family Court and juvenile justice systems of Camden County (NJ). Returning to Pennsylvania, Dr. Eichel served as Clinical Director of the St. Francis Homes for Boys from 1989-1994, and directed the well-regarded Widener University-affiliated clinical psychology internship there. He also worked as a training consultant to the University of Medicine & Dentistry of NJ and as a family therapist for Community Centered Treatment, a multisystemic family therapy program funded by the Montgomery County (PA) family court and juvenile justice system.

Dr. Eichel was associated with the Verree Psychology Group (formerly Dubrow-Eichel Psychological Associates) in Philadelphia from 1983 to the end of 2006.

Presently, in addition to his private practice, Dr. Eichel is on the faculty of Villanova University's drug & alcohol counseling program. From 2004-06 he was a counselor educator/supervisor and Program Assistant for the CACREP-approved M.S. in Community Counseling program at Wilmington College in Delaware, and he served through 2006 as a Clinical Supervisor and Consulting Psychologist to St. Francis/St. Joseph's Homes for Boys. From 1998-2000, he was President of the Greater Philadelphia Society of Clinical Hypnosis (GPSCH) and he has served on the Board of Directors of the American Psychotherapy and Medical Hypnosis Association. Dr. Eichel is the 2006-07 President of the American Academy of Counseling Psychology, one of the national academies of advanced practitioners (ABPP Diplomates), and is a mentor to future ABPP candidates. He is the President-Elect of the Council of Presidents of Psychology Specialty Academies and is active in the Independent Practice Section of the Society for Counseling Psychology (APA Division 17). He has written articles on child therapy, hypnosis, and cults, and has authored two book chapters; he has presented over 150 workshops, papers and panels to local, state, regional and national professional associations.

Dr. Eichel is licensed in the states of Pennsylvania and Delaware, is listed in the National Register of Health Service Providers in Psychology, and holds the Certificate of Professional Qualification in Psychology (CPQ) issued by the Association of State & Provincial Psychology Boards. In addition to his psychology practice in Newark, Delaware, he is associated with RETIRN in Newark, Lansdowne and Pontypridd, Wales, U.K.

• Board Certified Diplomate in Counseling Psychology, American Board of Professional Psychology.

• Certified, National Register of Health Service Providers in Psychology.
• Certified & Approved Consultant in Clinical Hypnosis, American Society of Clinical Hypnosis.
• Certified in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing), EMDR International Association.
• Certification in addiction treatment by the APA College of Professional Psychology.
• Master Addictions Counselor & National Certified Counselor, National Board for Certified Counselors; Approved Clinical Supervisor, Center for Credentialing & Education.
• Certified Group Psychotherapist, National Registry of Certified Group Psychotherapists.
• Fellow and President (2006-2007), American Academy of Counseling Psychology, American Board of Professional Psychology.
• Fellow, Pennsylvania Psychological Association.
• John G. Clark Award for Distinguished Scholarship in Cultic Studies (1990), American Family Foundation (International Cultic Studies Association)
• President (1998-2000), Greater Philadelphia Society of Clinical Hypnosis.
• Board Member (2003-2005), American Psychotherapy & Medical Hypnosis Association.

Dr. Eichel serves on the Volunteer Professional Board of the International Cultic Studies Association (formerly the American Family Foundation) and on the Editorial Board of the Cultic Studies Review.

E-MAIL TO DR. STEVE K. D. EICHEL

 

 

 

 

What it means when your Psychologist is Board Certified by the American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP). Like all lawfully practicing psychologists, Dr. Steve K. D. Eichel is licensed by the states he practices in (the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the State of Delaware). But in addition to basic licensure, Dr. Eichel has taken the extra step of becoming Board Certified by the American Board of Professional Psychology. He has therefore earned the designation of Diplomate in Counseling Psychology, and the right to use the initials "ABPP" and "FAACoP" (Fellow of the American Academy of Counseling Psychology) after his name and degree. To become Board Certified, Dr. Eichel first had to meet stringent eligibility criteria, which included appropriate doctoral-level education and a minimum of at least two years of supervised practice in the specialty. Next, he had to submit written and videotaped work samples for peer review. Upon acceptance, the next and final step involved taking and passing an examination administered by the specialty board. To pass this examination, Dr. Eichel had to demonstrate that he can practice the specialty of counseling psychology at an advanced level of competency. The American Board of Professional Psychology was established with the cooperation of the the American Psychological Association as the premier credentialing agency for psychology practitioners. Since 1947, it has been dedicated to promoting the highest standards of professional training and ethics for those engaged in the delivery of psychological services. Board Certification is considered by the American Psychological Association to be the highest credential that can be earned by a professional psychologist. By seeking and obtaining the ABPP Diploma, Dr. Eichel has taken this voluntary step to assure clients of a commitment to the highest standard of care. The format of the examination usually involves a "professional conversation" based upon the candidate's work samples; fundamental knowledge expected in the specialty; situational content representative of the specialty; and professional issues/ethical problem solving capacity of the candidate. Diplomates in the specialty of counseling psychology have been recognized as pioneers and leaders in the delivery of clinical services in mental health, and in vocational and life skills development and counseling, as well as in research. The American Academy of Counseling Psychology (of which Dr. Steve is the President during 2006-08) looks to further ABPP's tradition of leadership in the examination and recognition of excellence in the practice of counseling psychology and the specialty's continuing development as a force within the psychology profession.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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What is the Importance of Proficiency Certifications?

In addition to being licensed as a psychologist, Dr. Eichel is certified to deliver a variety of specific services. Why is this important? What is the purpose of obtaining certifications?

Certification is your guarantee that a therapist has had his/her expertise reviewed and evaluated by a panel of peer experts, and that he/she has been judged as having fulfilled the requirements necessary to practice in a specific area of psychology, psychotherapy or counseling. This does not mean that a therapist who is not certified in a particular area is not competent to deliver a specific service. Certification is a voluntary process; it is generally not a requirement to practice a particular skill. What certification provides is an objective verification of a professional's claim to have specific skills

Most certifications are time-limited, and must be renewed periodically. To renew a certification, your therapist usually has to fulfill continuing education requirements in that specialty area. Therefore, in addition to initially verifying a therapist's skill, certification is your guarantee that your therapist is remaining up-to-date in his/her specialty area by obtaining ongoing training and education.

Dr. Steve is certified in several areas. These include:

	Hypnosis Dr. Steve is certified as an Approved Consultant in Clinical Hypnosis by the American Society of Clinical Hypnosis (ASCH). "Approved Consultant" is the highest level of certification offered by ASCH; it recognizes individuals who have obtained advanced training in clinical hypnosis and who have extensive experience in utilizing hypnosis within their professional practices. Approved Consultants are qualified to provide individualized training and consultation for those seeking Certification. ASCH is one of only two national hypnosis associations recognized by the International Society of Hypnosis and all major national and international health associations (like the American Medical Association and the American Psychological Association). To become certified as Approved Consultants by ASCH, professionals must show proof of current licensure in their professions, must undergo a formal training process that includes a minimum of 100 hours of workshops, must obtain at least 20 hours of supervision and must have at least 5 years of clinical hypnosis experience. Once certified, the professional must obtain ongoing training to maintain their certification.
Reprocessing Therapy/EMDR Dr. Steve is certified in Reprocessing Therapy/EMDR (Eye Movement Densitization & Reprocessing) by the EMDR International Association (EMDRIA). Like ASCH hypnosis certification, EMDR certification requires a set amount of formal (both Level I and Level II) training and supervision. Ongoing training is required to maintain EMDR certification.
	Group Psychotherapy Dr. Steve is certified by the National Registry of Certified Group Psychotherapists (NRCGP), a certification program sponsored by the American Group Psychotherapy Association (AGPA). Steve is also a Clinical Member of the AGPA. To obtain this certification, Steve had to demonstrate that he had supervised experience as well as formal training (coursework and workshops) in group psychotherapy. Ongoing training is required to maintain NRCGP certification.
Addictions Dr. Steve is certified by the American Psychological Association College of Professional Psychology (APA-CPP) in the diagnosis and treatment of substance use disorders (drug abuse and addiction). Obtaining this certification required documentation of at least 2 years of experience providing addiction treatment, after which they had to pass a rigorous national exam. In addition, Steve is also certified as a Master Addictions Counselor (MAC) by the National Board for Certified Counselors. Again, ongoing training is required to maintain these certifications.
	Counseling & Clinical Supervision Dr. Steve is certified in professional counseling by the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) and as an Approved Clinical Supervisor (ACS) by the Center for Credentialing and Education (CCE), which is affiliated with the NBCC.

 

 

What is Counseling Psychology? Counseling psychology as a psychological specialty facilitates personal and interpersonal functioning across the life span with a focus on emotional, social, vocational, educational, health-related, developmental, and organizational concerns. Through the integration of theory, research, and practice, and with a sensitivity to multicultural issues, this specialty encompasses a broad range of practices that help people improve their well-being, alleviate distress and maladjustment, resolve crises, and increase their ability to live more highly functioning lives. Counseling psychology is unique in its attention both to normal developmental issues and to problems associated with physical, emotional, and mental disorders. Populations served by Counseling Psychologists include persons of all ages and cultural backgrounds. Examples of those populations would include late adolescents or adults with career/educational concerns and children or adults facing severe personal difficulties. Counseling Psychologists also consult with organizations seeking to enhance their effectiveness or the well-being of their members. Counseling Psychologists adhere to the standards and ethics established by the American Psychological Association.   What Do Counseling Psychologists Do? Counseling Psychologists participate in a range of activities including teaching, research, psychotherapeutic and counseling practice, career development, assessment, supervision, and consultation. They employ a variety of methods closely tied to theory and re! to help individuals, groups, and organizations function optimally as well as to remediate dysfunction. Interventions may be either brief or long-term; they are often problem-specific and goal-directed. These activities are guided by a philosophy that values individual differences and diversity and a focus on prevention, development, and adjustment across the life span which includes vocational concerns.   Where Do Counseling Psychologist Work? Counseling Psychologists are employed in a variety of settings depending on the services they provide and the client populations they serve. Some are employed in institutions of higher learning--including counseling centers--as teachers, supervisors, researchers, and service providers. Others are employed in independent practice providing counseling, psychotherapy, assessment, and consultation services to individuals, families, groups, and organizations. Additional settings in which counseling psychologists practice include community mental health centers, Veterans Administration Medical Centers and other medical facilities, family services centers, health maintenance organizations, rehabilitation agencies, business and industrial organizations, and consulting firms.

How Does One Become a Counseling Psychologist? Most counseling psychology training programs are accredited by the American Psychological Association. The list of accredited programs appears each year in the journal, the American Psychologist. Both accredited and non-accredited training programs are listed in the book, Graduate Study in Psychology. The APA accords accreditation to doctoral programs in counseling psychology that meet certain criteria with respect to faculty, curriculum, facilities, and other considerations. Counseling psychology programs usually are housed in departments of psychology or educational psychology or in colleges of education. Counseling psychology doctoral programs usually require at least four to five years of graduate study, involving coursework and integrated training experiences in a variety of topical areas and professional skills. These include (a) instruction in the core areas of psychology (biological, cognitive/affective, and social bases of behavior; individual differences; history and systems of psychology); specialized instruction in theories of counseling and personality, vocational psychology, human life span development, psychological assessment and evaluation, psychopathology, measurement and statistics, research design, professional ethics, supervision, and consultation; (c) supervised practica focused on the development of counseling, psychotherapy, assessment, and consultation skills; (d) the equivalent of a one year full-time predoctoral internship in professional psychology; and (e) completion of an original psychologically-based dissertation. Entrance to doctoral programs in counseling psychology is competitive and selective; there are far more applicants to the programs than can be admitted. Factors important in the selection process include a bachelor's (and possibly master's) degree earned from an accredited college or university, consistently high college grades, and coursework and/or volunteer or work experience that match the orientation of the particular doctoral program to which one is applying. Scores on standardized scholastic aptitude tests such as the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) usually are considered as well.   Would You Like to Learn More? For more information on the training and professional activities of Counseling Psychologists, the following sources can be consulted: The Counseling Psychologist (the official journal of Division 17 [Counseling Psychology] of the American Psychological Association), Journal of Counseling Psychology, (published by the American Psychological Association), the American Psychological Association (Located in Washington, D.C.), and various textbooks on counseling psychology. Prepared by The Education and Training Committee (Now the Continuing Education and Regional Conferences Committee) of Division 1 7 - Counseling Psychology American Psychological Association

*This brochure was first drafted in 1984. It was revised in 1992, based on the report of the Ad Hoc Committee on the Definition of Counseling Psychology, and again in 1993 and 1994 by the Education and Training Committee and the Executive Board of Division 17.

Zoloft D. Katze (Steve's cat)