Giving Psychologists the Power to Prescribe

Colleagues, Family, and Friends:

This is an issue that may be important to you or someone you care about.

How are psychiatric medicines currently prescribed in New Jersey?
Currently, when a patient is in need of medication for a psychological concern, they receive a prescription from a psychiatrist or, sometimes, a primary care physician.  Psychologists in NJ are not able to supplement talk therapy solutions with medication.

There are a few challenges with this approach.
1.  There is currently a shortage of mental health prescribers.  Patients have to wait very long periods for appointments and psychiatrists often must focus on brief medicine consultation and not provide psychotherapy.

2.  Patient care can be interrupted.  For patients working with a non-prescribing mental health provider, there can be an interruption in care as an additional referral, exchange of notes, coordination, etc. is needed to bring a psychiatrist into a patient’s treatment program.

3.  This is can be expensive.  Multiple co-pays, additional office visits, patient time, and time to coordinate care among mental health professionals, etc. costs patients and our healthcare system money. 4.  Primary care as substitute.  Many people visit their “PCP” for mental health prescriptions.  PCPs have training and experience in a wide variety of conditions.  Psychological care is typically not a focus for primary care and can be especially challenging when ongoing follow-up and medication adjustments are needed.


Psychologists can (and do) bridge the gap.Did you know that in some states, some government clinics, and some parts of military, psychologists who have been properly trained, prescribe psychiatric medication to their patients?  In fact, they have done so for 20 years!
For many mental health challenges, there is strong science to support that the combination of talk therapy and medication can provide the best outcomes for patients.  Psychologists are in an excellent position to provide this combination of services to appropriate patients.  There are intensive training programs to provide psychologists with training specifically geared toward expertise in prescribing psychiatric medications.

Unfortunately, New Jersey presently does not allow this practice. It’s easy to help.  Takes 1 minute (or less).There have been bills introduced to remedy this situation by allowing properly trained psychologists with the privilege to prescribe psychiatric medication.  Legislators need to hear from you to know that there is support for changing current practice.1.  Please click below and fill in a few text boxes to support the New Jersey Academy of Medical Psychologists in their work to support these important bills.http://www.njamp.net/citizen-action/

2.  Send this note to others who may support positive change. On behalf of Psychological and Educational Consulting (PEC) of NJ, we thank you for considering this important issue and helping to create a positive change for New Jersey.

Warm regards,
Elizabeth Matheis, PhD
Robert J. Matheis, PhD
Psychological and Educational Consulting (PEC)
Web: www.psychconsult.weebly.com 
Office: 973-400-8371

"The various psycho-educational testing Dr. Liz conducted on our son gave us critical clues about where his learning strengths and weaknesses lie so that his needs could be better addressed at home and school. Moreover, because of their warm, kindhearted personalities, both Dr. Liz and her associate, Stephanie, formed an immediate bond with my son. He eagerly looks forward to his weekly therapy sessions. We are so lucky Dr. Liz came into our family's lives when she did! For stressed-out families trying to help their children as best they can, she is a calming voice of reason!"
- Julie C.
"Dr. Matheis has a remarkable ability to understand the unique needs of her patients and address them constructively. She builds strong, meaningful relationships with patients and their families, encouraging trust and collaboration. When working with my son who struggles with autism-related anxiety, she created an environment in which he was able to calm down and open up to her in ways I had not seen before. She was able to reach him and helped him work through his crisis/problem. Most importantly, she empowered him to move forward."
- N.L.
"Dr. Matheis is amazing. She has tremendous resources and loads of energy. She is not willing to accept anything less than the most effective results for her clients. She made me feel as if my son was her top priority throughout the entire process. I would, without reservation, give her my highest recommendations.  Thank you, Dr. Matheis!"
- Anonymous
"Dr. Matheis has an amazing ability to read kids and connect with them. She has been an invaluable resource for our family over the past several years and has helped us with everything from educational consulting, to uncovering diagnoses as well as family therapy. Working with Dr. Matheis never feels clinical and most importantly, our children love and trust her. We can not thank you enough Dr. Liz!"
- Anonymous
"My teenage son had been seeing Dr. Matheis through his senior year of high school, as he was only diagnosed with ADHD at 16 years old.  Dr. Matheis came highly recommended from our pediatrician and she has done wonders for our son as well as our family, navigating new ways for him to deal with his diagnosis without the use of medication.  She taught him ways to organize himself and even when something did not work for him, she patiently continued teaching him new ways to keep himself on track.  She has also helped us as parents to understand how his mind works so that we did not continue to blame his lack of focus on him, rather on his unique way of thinking.  Thank you Dr. Matheis!!!!"
- LG
"Dr. Liz is the best! Our family was directed to her by our Pediatrician to assist with figuring out severe mood changes, severe anxiety, strange new fears and food aversion that had come onto one of our children literally overnight. After just a couple of visits, she suggested that the issues may actually be rooted in a physical issue and suggested we immediately take our child to be swabbed for strep, because Dr. Liz suspected PANDAS (a pediatric autoimmune disorder brought on by strep). The same Pediatrician that suggested Dr. Liz would not do the swab (they do not believe in PANDAS and we no longer go there) but I took my child to my doctor who did the swab and it was positive for strep. When our child went on antibiotics, within 24 hours all symptoms went away and our child was back :-) Dr. Liz then recommended a PANDAS specialist who helped us and our child is in complete remission and is happy and healthy. We are incredibly grateful to Dr. Liz for her knowledge of all things, even the most remote and unusual and for helping us so much! Thank you!"
- Anonymous
"The various psycho-educational testing Dr. Liz conducted on our son gave us critical clues about where his learning strengths and weaknesses lie so that his needs could be better addressed at home and school. Moreover, because of their warm, kindhearted personalities, both Dr. Liz and her associate, Stephanie, formed an immediate bond with my son. He eagerly looks forward to his weekly therapy sessions. We are so lucky Dr. Liz came into our family's lives when she did! For stressed-out families trying to help their children as best they can, she is a calming voice of reason!"
- Anonymous
"Thank you, Dr. Liz. Although we have told you countless times, it will never feel enough. You have listened when J could barely speak and continued to listen when he was sad, angry and confused. You've challenged him and directed us in our roles as parents. You've helped J face his fears while the list evolved and changed, and yet you've stayed committed to 'the course.' We pray that your children realize that time away from them is spent helping children learn and that vulnerability is a sign of strength and bravery."
- June I
"My son was admitted to an Ivy League school when only 2 years ago, you assessed him and saw his struggles, his Dyslexia. We are grateful that he no longer has to carry that deep feeling of inadequacy or shame that must have kept him so self conscious and from reaching his potential. He has the PERFECT program for him. He has A's in high math and economics. He became a Merit Scholar, a Boys State legislature, the HEAD captain of the football team and help a job ALL while studying and managing his classes and disability. I am PROUD of you, a young doctor, who knows and sees the vulnerability of children and helps them recognize "it's NO big deal" God bless."
- Anonymous

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513 W Mt Pleasant Ave, Ste 212,
​Livingston, NJ 07039