Meet Dr. Melissa Dingler of Peachtree Psychotherapy in Alpharetta

Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr. Melissa Dingler.

So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I started out by working for other people in their practices. I have worked for Psychiatrists and other Psychologists in the past. I found this to be valuable because I learned how to run a practice from these professionals. Most of my work experience has been in private practice. However, I did work for a group of Physicians for about one year who worked with chronic pain patients. I have also done consultation work for psychiatric hospitals and rehab centers. At one point, I had a local radio show in which I took questions on psychology from the listeners and spoke on topics of psychology. I also gave several talks to the public over the years and also did some seminars for other mental health professionals.

After gaining experience, I decided to develop my own practice. Since 1992, I have had my own practices in various areas. I practiced in Peachtree City for several years and started a practice in Alpharetta in 2008. I have really enjoyed the Alpharetta area because of the diversity of the population and I have developed some solid professional relationships with Psychiatrists and Physicians in the area.

Has it been a smooth road?
It is never a smooth road developing your own practice. The first struggle is getting your name out there enough to develop a full-time practice. It helps to give talks to groups so your name is out in the community where you live. It is very important to cultivate relationships with other professionals in your field, Psychiatrists and Physicians as well. These professionals will refer to you and that helps you build up your patient load. I also think it makes it easier if you get on some insurance panels because insurance companies will direct members to you.

You have to view what you do as a profession. That means you dedicate yourself to your work. You spend many hours cultivating and developing what you do and getting the word out. A good website is very important as well. Many of my patients come to see me because they like my website. Psychology Today is a good place to advertise your practice. I get a lot of views on it and it pays for itself. Some other professionals I have talked to also recommend Kudzu.

So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Peachtree Psychotherapy story. Tell us more about the business.
I provide psychological services to adolescents and adults. I do psychological testing, therapy and hypnosis. I deal with a wide range of psychological issues. The most common issues that I deal with are: Depression, anxiety, ADHD, OCD, PTSD, chronic pain, grief, sexual abuse and alcohol and substance abuse.

I think what sets me apart is my use of mindfulness training and meditation to treat psychological disorders. Although these techniques have been around a long time, they have only just recently been applied to psychological issues. Also, I am known for treating chronic pain and chronic illness with psychotherapy and hypnosis. People with cancer for example, tend to live longer if they go to therapy.

How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
We are seeing a shift towards more holistic approaches with patients. It is often important to assess the nutrition of the patient and encourage healthy eating and exercise as well as therapy when working with depressed patients for example.

We also see a trend towards incorporating neuroscience into therapy. Research in neuroscience helps us select techniques and methods which help patients develop healthier brains as well as healthier moods.

Finally, I see therapists doing more online consultations and therapy sessions in the future. There are already a few companies providing this convenient way to seek help and I think this will expand shortly.

Contact Info:

• Address: 6740 Jamestown Drive, Alpharetta, GA 30005
• Website: www.peachtreepsychs.com
• Phone: 404-735-2399 or 678-339-1221
• Email: [email protected]

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