Dr. McKnight's Thoughts
Dr. Dennis McKnight is a Ph.D. Clinical Psychologist, licensed by the state of North Carolina. Dr. McKnight is a skilled Cognitive-Behavior Therapist with 25+ years of experience.
I would like to thank you for visiting our website and taking a look at our practice of Psychology. We are a group of highly specialized and trained clinicians who are dedicated to what we do. We specifically focus on research proven therapies including Cognitive-Behavior Therapy, Mindfulness, and ACT. Our evaluations are thorough so we can clearly determine the problem or issue at hand. Our goal is to figure out: What exactly is the problem? Why is it happening? What are the causes? What is needed to remedy the problem or issues? All this is accomplished in a very private and confidential manner. We also consult with a multitude of physicians if medication is warranted. We act as the liaison between a client, their physician, sometimes the insurance company, and the pharmacy to assure the process goes as smoothly as possible.
I hear quite too often we are the first clinicians that have taken the time to fully appreciate and understand a client’s situation, and specifically formulate a plan for treatment. We do not simply sit there and ‘passively listen’. We are very active in this process along with you.
The variety of conditions we specialize in are Mood Disorders, Depression, Anxiety Disorders, ADHD in children and adults, Stress Conditions, and Adjustment Disorders. Individuals may suffer from a variety of types of Mood Disorders, ranging from Depression with significant feelings of sadness, feeling down, blue, flat, along with difficulties dealing with the simplest of tasks. ‘The will to live’ may be questionable. Or the Mood condition may be low grade Depression preventing a sufferer to live a normal, vibrant life. Others may have Mood Swings ranging from the milder side to the severe that can markedly disrupt a person’s functioning.
Anxiety suffers may suffer from debilitating Panic Attacks and Fears, or unrelenting General Anxiety making life difficult on a daily basis. Others may be dealing with strong Obsessions with Rituals and Compulsions they feel must be performed to feel normal. The Social Anxiety sufferer struggles with significant self-consciousness, always feeling judged by others. Or maybe there are specific fears people try to cope with that get in the way of a normal life. We can live a relatively normal life being afraid of snakes, but not such a normal life if we fear flying, elevators, driving, or crowds.
Adjustment problems and disorders cause difficulties for many people. This may involve having struggles adjusting to a new job, career, marriage, children, school, or an unwanted transfer to a new city. Financial changes, loss of a loved one, illnesses, or difficult family struggles can overwhelm even the most resilient individual. Many individuals with Adjustment problems struggle with symptoms of Depression and Anxiety.
We not only treat a variety of conditions that people suffer from, but also assist clients in the multitude of life struggles we all can go through. This may include troubled marriages (we are Marital Therapy experts), parenting issues, adjustment problems, relationship issues, self-esteem struggles, family problems, work struggles, career decisions, or desires for personal growth. We also have clients who suffer from stress conditions. Unfortunately, most of us do not grow up learning how to handle stress. Unmanaged stress can cause all kinds of problems from the emotional to the physical. There are a number of physical problems and diseases related to unmanaged stress. Often, emotional problems are triggered by unrelenting stress.
Fortunately, with the appropriate help, these conditions and life struggles can be significantly improved or resolved. The question then becomes, ‘How does one find the appropriate help?’ I believe the first consideration is to find Psychologists or therapists who specialize in what you are struggling with. Do a thorough search to find a practice and check their reviews. Ask others for referrals. The profession has grown into specialties rather than all Psychologists and Therapists treat all things. After you have identified potential clinician, it is important to decide if they are the right fit for you. Can I easily talk to them? Can they relate to me? Are they doing an evaluation to understand me and figure out how to help me, or do they just sit there and listen to me talk? Am I feeling confident they know what they are doing and I can trust them? Do they freely answer my questions? Do they explain things to me?
I promise if we can assist you, we will tell you. If we cannot, or you are not comfortable with who you are seeing, we will find the right clinician for you. We do not take that personal. It is all about getting you the help you need with a clinician you feel good about.
Dennis L. McKnight Ph.D.
I hear quite too often we are the first clinicians that have taken the time to fully appreciate and understand a client’s situation, and specifically formulate a plan for treatment. We do not simply sit there and ‘passively listen’. We are very active in this process along with you.
The variety of conditions we specialize in are Mood Disorders, Depression, Anxiety Disorders, ADHD in children and adults, Stress Conditions, and Adjustment Disorders. Individuals may suffer from a variety of types of Mood Disorders, ranging from Depression with significant feelings of sadness, feeling down, blue, flat, along with difficulties dealing with the simplest of tasks. ‘The will to live’ may be questionable. Or the Mood condition may be low grade Depression preventing a sufferer to live a normal, vibrant life. Others may have Mood Swings ranging from the milder side to the severe that can markedly disrupt a person’s functioning.
Anxiety suffers may suffer from debilitating Panic Attacks and Fears, or unrelenting General Anxiety making life difficult on a daily basis. Others may be dealing with strong Obsessions with Rituals and Compulsions they feel must be performed to feel normal. The Social Anxiety sufferer struggles with significant self-consciousness, always feeling judged by others. Or maybe there are specific fears people try to cope with that get in the way of a normal life. We can live a relatively normal life being afraid of snakes, but not such a normal life if we fear flying, elevators, driving, or crowds.
Adjustment problems and disorders cause difficulties for many people. This may involve having struggles adjusting to a new job, career, marriage, children, school, or an unwanted transfer to a new city. Financial changes, loss of a loved one, illnesses, or difficult family struggles can overwhelm even the most resilient individual. Many individuals with Adjustment problems struggle with symptoms of Depression and Anxiety.
We not only treat a variety of conditions that people suffer from, but also assist clients in the multitude of life struggles we all can go through. This may include troubled marriages (we are Marital Therapy experts), parenting issues, adjustment problems, relationship issues, self-esteem struggles, family problems, work struggles, career decisions, or desires for personal growth. We also have clients who suffer from stress conditions. Unfortunately, most of us do not grow up learning how to handle stress. Unmanaged stress can cause all kinds of problems from the emotional to the physical. There are a number of physical problems and diseases related to unmanaged stress. Often, emotional problems are triggered by unrelenting stress.
Fortunately, with the appropriate help, these conditions and life struggles can be significantly improved or resolved. The question then becomes, ‘How does one find the appropriate help?’ I believe the first consideration is to find Psychologists or therapists who specialize in what you are struggling with. Do a thorough search to find a practice and check their reviews. Ask others for referrals. The profession has grown into specialties rather than all Psychologists and Therapists treat all things. After you have identified potential clinician, it is important to decide if they are the right fit for you. Can I easily talk to them? Can they relate to me? Are they doing an evaluation to understand me and figure out how to help me, or do they just sit there and listen to me talk? Am I feeling confident they know what they are doing and I can trust them? Do they freely answer my questions? Do they explain things to me?
I promise if we can assist you, we will tell you. If we cannot, or you are not comfortable with who you are seeing, we will find the right clinician for you. We do not take that personal. It is all about getting you the help you need with a clinician you feel good about.
Dennis L. McKnight Ph.D.
