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Board Certified Diplomate in
Counseling Psychology [What is Counseling Psychology?] Nationally
certified in: |
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Board Certified Diplomate in
Counseling Psychology [What is Counseling Psychology?] Nationally
certified in: |
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. 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 clinical psychology internship (affiliated with Widener University) there. He also worked as a training consultant to the University of Medicine & Dentistry of NJ and as a family therapist for a special project funded by the Montgomery County (PA) family court and juvenile justice system.
Presently, in addition to his private practice, Dr. Eichel has a half-time position as a counselor educator/supervisor and Program Assistant for the CACREP-approved M.S. in Community Counseling program at Wilmington College in Delaware. He is also on the faculty of Villanova University's drug & alcohol counseling program, and serves 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 has written articles on child therapy, hypnosis, and cults, and has authored two book chapters.
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 home office in Newark, Delaware, he maintains an office in Philadelphia associated with the Verree Psychology Group & RETIRN.
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For Potential Clients and other Professionals To download Dr. Eichel's curriculum vitae (c.v.), click here.
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Dr. Eichel's credentials include:
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.
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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. fff 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. ffffff 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. 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. fff 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.
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What it means when your Psychologist is Board Certified by the American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP). |
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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:
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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. |
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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. |
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I have a general psychology practice, but over the past 20 years, with additional training and experience, I have developed a number of specialties. Please click on the topics below for more detailed information:
For
information about our smoking cessation programs, click
here. It has become common knowledge
that the mind influences the body, and can be an
incredible asset to fighting illness, controlling pain,
and enhancing general health. I employ proven
psychological strategies for the adjunctive treatment of
chronic pain and illness, and for improving immune system
functioning. VPG I provide forensic examinations
and expert witness testimony in custody matters, and in
legal cases involving undue influence, malpractice,
and/or psychological injury. In 2003, I served as one of
the expert witnesses in the Lee
Malvo (Beltway Sniper) case.
I have worked as a court psychologist for Camden County,
NJ and have been certified as an expert by local, state
and federal courts. I have developed a reputation for
being able to work with difficult and "resistant"
children and teenagers. I was the former Clinical
Director of the St. Francis Homes for Boys, and has been
a trainer of child and adolescent therapists since 1986.
I work with children and adolescents in individual and
conjoint family therapy. I employ accepted behavioral
strategies (e.g., in vivo desensitization, EMDR,
clinical hypnosis) for individuals suffering from anxiety
and panic disorders. Dr. Linda Dubrow-Marshall, Dr.
Eichel's consultant who is practicing in the U.K., was
trained at the famed Agoraphobia Clinic of Temple
University Hospital, and is a Professional Member of the
Anxiety Disorders Association of America.
A safe and effective tool
for powerful change and increase self-control. I utilize
hypnosis in a scientific and ethical manner in which
you are always in control. I follow the strict
guidelines adopted by the American Society of Clinical
Hypnosis and the American Psychological Association with
regard to working competently with memory-related issues
and physical/sexual abuse.
Eye Movement Desensitization
& Reprocessing is a clinically-proven treatment
modality for the treatment and resolution of anxieties,
phobias and traumas that may not have responded to
"traditional" talk therapy. EMDR can be used with adults,
adolescents, and children.
I work to provide a
respectful, whole-person, systems-oriented approach to
substance abuse, addiction, and behavioral compulsions
(e.g., compulsive overeating, sexual
compulsivity/addiction, gambling). I help you discover
the tools that work best for you to break the
chains of addictive behaviors. I am certified in
addictions treatment by the APA College of Professional
Psychology, hold Master Addictions Counselor (MAC)
national certification, and I teach in the addictions
counseling programs at Villanova University.
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Anxiety Disorders Dr. Eichel offers an integrated and individualized treatment approach to help people who have anxiety disorders, including cognitive-behavioral therapy, supportive therapy, insight-oriented therapy, hypnotherapy and EMDR/Reprocessing therapy.
PANIC DISORDERS AND AGORAPHOBIA
It is normal to panic in a life or death situation. In panic disorder, ordinary events produce panic, and there are recurrent, unexpected panic attacks followed by at least one month of persistent concern about having another attack. In agoraphobia, people try to cope with their fear of panic attacks by avoiding situations similar to where an attach has occurred, or requiring the presence of a companion. Agoraphobics worry about being in places from which escape might be difficulty or embarrassing, or in which help may not be immediately available. It is common for panic disordered people to believe that their problems are physically based, and not psychological. Thus, they often first go to an emergency room before going to a psychologist. They believe that they are about to go crazy or die rather than correctly identifying it as a panic attack.
SPECIFIC PHOBIAS
People with specific phobias are extremely frightened of a specific thing that in actuality poses little or no danger. Their irrational fear may limit their lives as they unnecessarily avoid these specific situation or objects. Example are fears of blood, injections, injury, storms, animals, and airplane travel.
SOCIAL PHOBIAS
Social phobias have an overwhelming fear of scrutiny, embarrassment, or humiliation in social or performance situations, which leads to avoidance of many potentially pleasurable and meaningful activities.
OBSESSIVE-COMPULSIVE DISORDERS
Obsessions are persistent ideas,thoughts, impulses, or images that are experienced as intrusive and inappropriate and that cause marked anxiety or distress. Compulsions are repetitive behaviors or mental acts, the goal of which is to prevent or reduce anxiety or distress. In obsessive-compulsive disorder, the symptoms take more than one hour a day or cause marked distress or impairment.
POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER (PTSD)
The person has been exposed to a traumatic event or events and experiences persistent symptoms for more than one month afterwards, which may include nightmares, flashbacks, emotional numbing, depression, anger, and being easily startled. Some people with PTSD may also experience unwanted instances when they feel "spaced out" or "not really there" (dissociation).
GENERAL ANXIETY DISORDER
In this disorder, there are constant and exaggerated worries and anxieties about normal events, lasting at least six months.
TREATMENT In people with uncomplicated anxiety disorders (anxiety disorders without additional problems, such as depression, addictions, or chronic relationship issues) treatment often lasts 10-20 sessions. Complicated situations will often require longer treatment.
In anxiety disorders, delaying treatment can sometimes make a relative uncomplicated problem into a more complicated one that will ultimately require longer treatment.
Treatment is highly individualized and typically integrated, involving cognitive-behavioral, supportive therapy, and insight-oriented approaches. In addition, Dr. Eichel is trained and certified in clinical hypnosis and EMDR/Reprocessing therapy, approaches that have been shown to be highly effective with anxiety disorders. Usually, treatment will eventually involve imaginal and then in vivo (live) exposure to the feared situation or stimulus. You will know when it is time to end treatment when you are able to handle the formerly anxiety-producing situation with little or no discomfort.
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