Meet Dr. Angela Snyder, Licensed Clinical Psychologist

Reprinted from Awesome Businesses, November 28, 2012

SFP Editor: What inspired you to establish a private practice as a clinical psychologist?

Dr. Angela Snyder: I love the opportunity to work with people more frequently and for longer periods of time, which isn’t always possible in other settings. While people can certainly come to me for short-term work, I also have people who I’ve seen for several years and for multiple times a week. This type of work is very rewarding for me as the practitioner as well as (hopefully) for the patient. I also appreciate the autonomy of working for myself.

SFP Editor: What is your approach to mental wellness?

Dr. Angela Snyder: I believe in the importance of meeting a client where they are in their life, psychologically speaking, and helping them to do the same through listening and understanding (affectively as well as intellectually) what’s brought them to where they are in their lives.

This involves helping the person to slow down so as to attend to their inner world. We all have certain assumptions and automatic ways of viewing ourselves and others and behaving according to these beliefs. When someone reaches the point where they are distressed or feeling stuck, these underlying belief systems and ways of coping might not be working any longer for them. In therapy, I work with people to better understand what might be operating unconsciously that leads them to make choices that are unfulfilling or downright self-destructive.

This involves looking at the person’s history and childhood, as well as current relationships and lifestyle. Through this process, I help people develop better coping skills, which can include increasing one’s ability to identify, regulate, and manage emotions as well as to cognitively think about their life and choices with more freedom and compassion.

SFP Editor: What steps should one take in choosing a psychologist?

Dr. Angela Snyder: There are many ways to find a therapist. The DC area is lucky to have many insightful, dedicated therapists. One could first ask a trusted friend or physician if they know of a psychologist with whom they’ve had a good experience and/or heard positive reviews of. People can also search on the internet for names of people that are convenient to where they work or live. Someone would then call and set-up an initial appointment. Getting started is often the hardest part. Therapy is a process that requires a commitment of time and money, so certainly investing in a therapist that one feels comfortable with is important. If the first therapist you meet with doesn’t seem like a good fit, I, and most therapists, should be supportive and encouraging of you taking the time to look for someone who does.

SFP Editor: What do you enjoy the most about being a psychologist?

Dr. Angela Snyder: I love that I am able to touch people’s lives and be there for them in some of their most difficult times. The people who are my patients entrust very intimate aspects of their lives to me with the hope that I can help them to feel better and live more fully. I find joy in this connection with others. Listening and bearing witness to one’s life can be powerfully healing, and it is quite an honor.

SFP Editor: What type of training does one need to be a psychologist?

Dr. Angela Snyder: My patient (adjective, not noun) friends can attest to the years and years of training required! To become licensed as a psychologist, and therefore work providing clinical services in private practice and many other settings, one needs to earn a doctorate in psychology. Doctoral programs typically are 4–5 years long and include coursework clinical work, and often, research. Upon completion of graduation, one must work for an additional one to two years, depending upon the state, under the supervision of a licensed psychologist. This can be done through a formal post-doctoral program or employment. Once one has obtained the appropriate number of hours of clinical work under supervision, then he/she must take a state exam and a national exam, and pass both in order to be licensed. In DC, only people who have completed all of this can call themselves a “licensed, clinical psychologist" or a “clinical psychologist.”

SFP Editor: What is the process of participating in therapy treatment?

Dr. Angela Snyder: Along with individual therapy, I also work with couples & families, and I’ll be starting a therapy group this fall. For now, I’ll speak to the process for an individual. When a person initially calls, we decide on a time to meet for an initial appointment. We meet for one “therapy hour,” which is actually 50 minutes in length. I discuss my office policies and confidentiality, and then ask people to share what brings them into therapy – what they are struggling with and wanting help with, and what they hope to attain by seeking therapy. Generally, the first two sessions I conduct an intake process, which entails my asking many questions to understand the nature of their problem(s) and their personal history with regard to their mental health and their family. Once we’ve completed the intake process, I offer some feedback with regard to how I think therapy can be beneficial to them and how I will work with them. Then we set up a regular, weekly time for an appointment and begin meeting regularly.

SFP Editor: What common obstacles do most people face in deciding to seek therapy?

Dr. Angela Snyder: As much as therapy has become more common, especially in metropolitan areas like DC, there is still a stigma attached to seeking treatment. People often think that they should be able to “do it on [their] own,” or they worry that going to therapy means they are weak. In fact, I think it’s the opposite-it takes strength to be able to look at yourself honestly and trust in someone else to look with you at parts of yourself that you might be ashamed of, disappointed in, or unhappy with. Also, because I believe that every person has a lot going on unconsciously that motivates behavior, I think “doing it” on one’s own can be really difficult, if not impossible. Of course, the process of therapy can be painful and difficult; sometimes people feel worse before they get better. So it’s understandable that a person has to be at the right place in their life before they are ready to seek help.

SFP Editor: How long does a therapy process take?

Dr. Angela Snyder: This really varies depending upon the person and their goals. I have had patients with whom I’ve met weekly for three months who feel satisfied and desire to end treatment. I’ve also had patients with whom I’ve worked for years, and they continue to find benefit from therapy. Neither is right or wrong, both long-term and short-term therapy can be beneficial. That being said, I am partial to longer-term treatment as I think this often can lead to more lasting change.

SFP Editor: How can therapy improve one’s life?

Dr. Angela Snyder: Therapy can help people in many ways. People who have serious mental illnesses can learn how to better understand, manage, and cope with the struggles of their illness. People have also reported feeling less depressed, less anxious, more hopeful, and better able to develop closer, more fulfilling relationships. People can also feel freer and more able to make choices that are in align with who they want to be and how they want to live.

SFP Editor: What brought you to the DC area?

Dr. Angela Snyder: I originally moved from Oregon to DC to study international affairs at American University. I had always been intrigued by the east coast and I desired to live in a metropolitan area filled with people of many cultures. After graduating, I worked in international education for seven years before I left the field to pursue full-time doctoral studies in psychology. However, I continued working with people from other countries. For three years, I worked with an immigrant population providing child, adolescent, and family therapy. I continue to work with a diverse population in my private practice.