Dr. Irgang

Dr. Lisa Irgang is a Clinical Psychologist and the Owner of Relationship Solutions Center. She provides a variety of services to meet her clients needs. Dr. Lisa has worked with people throughout Chicagoland, helping with adjusting to significant life changes, ADHD, Alternative Sexualities, Anxiety Disorders, Bipolar Disorder, Dealing with Chronic Illness, Depression, Low self-esteem, Parenting special needs children, Relationship concerns, and Trauma. She's a graduate of Argosy University Chicago and a Fellow at CLII - Collaborative Law Institute of Illinois.

4 May 2020

What is a psychologist and what do we do?

Over the course of the month, I will be talking about various mental health concerns. Before doing so, I thought it would be helpful to define psychology and what a psychologist does.

Psychology is the scientific study of the mind and behavior. To use the title of Psychologist, a person must have a doctoral degree and pass all the competencies named below.

While in graduate school, the candidate takes classes on:

Clinical issues
Creating, conducting, analyzing, and writing about research topics.
Learning how to conduct, analyze and write reports using intellectual, psychological, and personality tests.
In addition to passing classes, candidates must pass additional competency exams at various stages of education.
Using research to write and defend a dissertation.

In a Psy.D. program (Doctor of Psychology), which is the type of degree I have, there is a significant emphasis on clinical training involving:

A year-long, part-time practicum conducting psychological testing.
A year-long, part-time practicum as a therapist.
A year-long full-time internship.

After completing all these steps, the candidate receives their doctoral degree. An internship totalling 2,000 hours follows.

The next step is to pass a national competency exam covering 11 areas of psychology. Some states require an additional exam for their specific laws and ethical codes.

Once becoming a Licensed Clinical Psychologist, we are required to demonstrate continuing education in multi-cultural issues, ethics, and clinical knowledge/skills. In Illinois, psychologist must obtain 24 hours over the course of two years to maintain their license. Phew! That’s a lot to read through, isn’t it?

Clinical psychology involves the application of what we learn through scientific study. We focus on treatment of:

Neurodevelopmental disorders such as intellectual disabilities, autism spectrum disorders, ADHD
Psychotic disorders including schizophrenia and delusional disorders
Mood disorders such as bipolar disorder, depression, and anxiety disorders
Sleep disorders
Food related disorders in childhood and older including pica and anorexia nervosa
Sexual dysfunction
Gender dysphoria
Addictions or substance use concerns
Neurocognitive disorders due to Huntington’s or Parkinson, as well as dementia
Personality disorders
Pedophilia and other paraphilic disorders
Relationship problems including family conflict, abuse
Other concerns including educational problems, problems related to finance.

Psychologists treat the whole person. We take into consideration your environment, cultural/ethnic background and how your concerns are impacting various areas of your life.

The issues I discuss this month might not always be directly or obviously related to the disorders I have identified above. I will show you, though, how they are connected to the problems and the overall impact on your/our lives.

1 May 2020

May is Mental Health Awareness Month

With the 1st also being a day to celebrate Mother Goose, the author of fairy tales nursery rhymes we love.

In that spirit, I’ve written my first rhyme. I hope it works and you like it.

As mental health awareness month begins,

It’s time to think about what comes from within.

Our thoughts and views,

We’ve learned not just from news.

Competency, confidence and managing stress

Are crucial to your mental success.

And with success we have a drive

To help ourselves and others strive.

For relationships that have lots of value.

Feeding self-love, healthy connection and renewal.

Look ahead in this month to come

For thoughts and ways to become,

The one you love.

With continued growth and authenticity,

Your mental health will bloom abundantly.

1 Apr 2020

Collective Vulnerability due to the COVID Pandemic

Across Illinois, and the United States, we are watching the number of cases and deaths due to the coronavirus grow. Multiple times a day, there are reports about projections and warnings for how to keep safe.

Last night, Illinois Governor Pritzkzer extended the stay-at-home order through April 30th.

Collectively, folks are struggling with fear, while also trying to maintain some sense of normalcy in their daily lives.

Brene Brown shared her thoughts about the impact of this pandemic on us and the collective experience of vulnerability.

Over the next several weeks, I will be sharing thoughts and tips for managing anxiety, how to spend time at home and balancing our focus on the coronavirus with other concerns we have.

Please feel free to comment if there are particular concerns or questions you would like me to speak about.

25 Mar 2020

Federal Advocacy Needed

To help all people to have access to telepsychology.

Currently, the federal government has approved the use of telepsychology as long as folks have access to technology that MUST include video and audio.

Many of our older generation (covered by Medicare) do not have access to this technology and are not comfortable using it even if they do.

Psychologists and other mental health professionals across the country are sending letters to their Senators and Representatives requesting they support the use of phones without video capacity.

PLEASE follow this link and send the letter to your congressional representatives. Thank you!

https://www.votervoice.net/APAPRACTICE/campaigns/72923/respond

24 Mar 2020

Telepsychology & Essential jobs

Hello everyone!

I hope you are doing well and managing your anxiety and boredom during the stay-at-home order.

If you are not aware, the Governor’s stay-at-home order put in place this past Saturday, March 21st, identify

Mental Health providers as essential

This means I am still in the office conducting some face-to-face sessions.

At the same time, I have spent the past week tending to the extensive “to do” list getting ready to provide telepsychology.

This means the ability to conduct sessions securely and safely while still protecting your rights to confidentiality.

Over the past week, I have:

Followed the Health Care Reimbursement Committee of the Illinois Psychology Association through our list-serve. They worked tirelessly to ensure telepsychology benefits would be paid through various insurance companies. We all appreciate their hard work and availability to keep psychologists up-to-date so we can provide ethical and confidential services to our patients.
I have individually confirmed coverage for each patient.
I have confirmed updated billing codes to use, which will make sure they are reimbursed properly.
I confirmed compliance with, and coverage through, my liability insurance company.
I have completed over 12 hours of training on telepsychology and the steps to take in order to provide HIPAA compliant, confidential services.
I created a special Informed Consent form for the use of telepsychology.
Finally, I researched and chose a HIPAA compliant platform to use to conduct sessions. I am excited to see how easy it will be for you all.

All of this means

as of today, I will transition my practice to telepsychology

to do my part in creating a safe environment for all.

I want to thank all of your for your patience while I set this up and for working through any snafu’s that comes up while we all get used to using the appropriate technology.

If you know of anyone who would benefit from help during this time of crisis and/or hade pre-existing concerns, please reach out and let them know help is available. I love doing my part in helping folks reach optimal mental, physical, relational and emotional health.

Thank you and have a good day!

28 Feb 2020

Happy Metamour Day!

I invite you to celebrate Happy Metamour Day by learning something about

non-monogamy

A metamour is a partner of your partner, but with whom you don’t share a romantic relationship.

So, a metamour can be a spouse, girlfriend, boyfriend, play partner, dominant, submissive, etc. There are many types of relationships your partner can be involved in (outside of friends and family) that will also touch your life.

Related to a metamour, you might hear folks talk about compersion. Compersion describes the joy a partner feels when they view or experience their partners joy with a metamour.

If you would like to celebrate Happy Metamour Day, here are some cards for you to use! (courtesy of the National Coalition for Sexual Freedom and positivelypolyanna.net)

https://www.positivelypolyanna.net/metamourday.html

26 Feb 2020

Handling Stress in Everyday Life

Stress

happens when we perceive an event as disturbing or threatening.

Feeling “stressed” or anxious can occur when:

you feel overwhelmed by responsibilities.
you experience loneliness or rejection.
you fear losing something important to you.
you experience an adverse natural event, or
you feel your safety or survival is threatened.

There is no way you can avoid stress completely. Ideally, you would stay between the yellow and orange range of the Bell Curve (25% – 75%).

If your “stress” is below 25%, it is likely it will be hard to motivate yourself to complete tasks.

When your stress level is above 75%, you will feel overwhelmed and unable to complete tasks.

So, the questions becomes…

How do you stay within those yellow and orange zones?

I typically suggest these techniques to start.

Take 5 deep breaths – inhale deeply down to your abdomen for 5 seconds, hold for 5 seconds and release for 5 seconds.
Learn to say NO. Whether at work, school or in your home life, it’s likely you are taking on too many tasks. It is helpful to figure out your priorities and limit the “yes” to 1 or 2 tasks that fit within those priorities. (Remember to think about the level of time and commitment required for each one.)
From there, it is about time management. Over the past 20+ years, I’ve learned people often forget to include sleep, meal prep and eating, and taking care of personal hygiene. From there include work and school commitments. Finally, you get to fit in any other activity.
Most of all, don’t forget to include time for self-care! If you don’t leave time to refresh and revitalize, you will get into that green tail of the Bell curve! When you are in the green tail, you can’t work at the optimal level.

Do you know what type of self-care works best for you?

Do you like to relax while engaging in a hobby?
Do you like to spend time with friends?
Do you like to pamper yourself?

Self-care if something you do for you. It does not fill either a “have to” or “should.” It is a “want to” or “would make me feel better.”

Feel free to reach out if you need some ideas of which types of self-care work best for you. Our phone number is 630.912.2908 or you can email info@rscil.com.

Have a low stress day!

21 Feb 2020

Presenting…

at the Illinois Association of Marriage and Family Therapists Conference

Saturday, April 4th

Dr.Lisa Irgang

along with Attorneys

Eva Matela-Kogust

and

Jessica Malmquist

Defining Family: Issues in Kink, Polyamory, and LGBTQ divorce/parenting and estate planning.

18 Feb 2020

You ARE Worthy!

Brené Brown is such an inspiration to living authentically. As someone who also works to live authentically and believes in the power of stories, she is always an inspiration. Remember, you are worthy.

12 Feb 2020

Loving Yourself this Valentine’s Day

This week can trigger a lot of sadness for those without a romantic partner.

Hearts are everywhere this week. For many, this is a time of joy and celebration of a special someone in their lives. At the same time, there are many for whom this time of year brings sadness.

With the focus on romance, women and men without a special someone can feel lonely, sad and even worthless. So, I’d like to talk about ways to deal with those difficult emotions.

How can you experience the emotions and then manage them in a healthy way? Some choose to:

Arrange an alternate celebration with single friends OR

You could do something to celebrate self-love.

How do you like to pamper yourself? Do you like to:

Spend time outdoors at a favorite location?
Explore something new?
Schedule some type of pampering, such as a massage or mani/pedi?
Go out for a nice meal?

I have found making sure to do something outside of the house is imperative.

Did you know sitting at home generally leads to focusing on the negative thoughts.

If you need help generating ideas or find you are struggling and help in any way, please feel free to contact me. There is a contact form on the site or you can email (drirgang@rscil.com) or call me (630.912.2908) directly.