Dr. William Mulligan, Clinical Psychologist
Welcome!
I hope this website is helpful to you in your search for a Psychologist, by providing you with useful information about Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), our professional training, and the psychological assessment and counseling services provided by our professional staff.Let Me Introduce Myself and My Professional Staff
I am broadly trained and experienced, having practiced as a Licensed Clinical Psychologist for more than 40 years. I received a BA in Psychology from Stanford University, a PhD in Clinical Psychology from Yale University, and was the Founding President of the Tidewater Academy of Clinical Psychologists. I am a Life Member of the American Psychological Association and have been a Member of the National Register of Health Service Psychologists, since it’s inception in 1974.
“Bermuda Beach” by William Mulligan
My staff and I provide counseling and psychological evaluations to children, adolescents and adults. We also provide marital and family therapy. We are participating providers with most of the leading health insurance plans, including Optima, Anthem, FEP BC/BS, Tricare, Aetna, Cigna, Value Options, Medicare, and others.
Please refer to our Professional Staff, Insurance Plans, and Contact Information pages for maps and more detailed information.
“The Thinker” by Auguste Rodin
What is CBT?
We employ a variety of therapies, best described as Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT). We help patients by showing them (1) how their problems (behaviors and emotions) are controlled by irrational, self-defeating patterns of thought and (2) how to replace negative, irrational thoughts with more positive, rational thoughts. We also help patients replace dysfunctional behavioral habits with more functional and effective behaviors. Today, CBT is regarded as the “Gold Standard” in psychological treatments. Research has verified the effectiveness of CBT in the treatment of a wide range of psychological disorders.
Please see our Problems Treated and Professional Staff pages for more information about psychotherapy, CBT, and specific problems treated by our staff.
Our Patients and Problems Treated
We provide psychological assessments (including standardized psychological testing), and therapy for individual clients of all ages (children, adolescents, adults, and the elderly). Children are usually treated with a strong emphasis on parenting and family therapy. We teach our clients Assertive Communication Skills; Conflict Resolution and Problem-solving Skills, Stress Management and Anger Management. We address issues specific to women and men, marriage and family, dating, relationship and mate-selection concerns, career concerns and job-related stress; Retirement, Mid-Life Crises and other life transitions.
The types of problems treated and services provided include the following:
Individual Therapy with Adults: We treat a broad array of disorders, such as PTSD, Anxiety and Panic Disorders, Social Anxiety, Phobias, Depression, ADD/ADHD, Bipolar Disorder; addictive, compulsive and self-destructive behaviors; low self-esteem, Sexual dysfunctions, chronic pain and psychosomatic disorders, etc.
“Dance” from the “Joy of Life” by Henri Matisse
Marital Counseling: The treatment of individual patients is often facilitated by the participation of a spouse or other family member(s). In these cases, we include marital or family therapy as a component in the overall treatment of individual patients. However, insurance plans do not cover any type of therapy, unless there is an identified patient with a clinical diagnosis. For couples who want marital therapy only, and when there is no identified patient with a clinical diagnosis, we provide marital counseling on a self-pay basis. For these couples, we provide pre-marital and marital counseling, which may address the following areas: compatibility and mate selection; communication, problem-solving and conflict resolution skills; financial mismanagement; complaints of sexual dissatisfaction or infidelity; jealousy; parenting concerns; problems with extended family members; balancing career and family; adjusting to retirement and other life changes, etc.
Children, Adolescents and Family Therapy: We offer a wide range of evidenced-based psychological treatments for children and adolescents with the following problems: Anxiety Disorders and OCD, Depression, Test Taking Anxiety, Nightmare Disorders, Anger Management, Social Anxiety, ADHD and Learning Disabilities, Procrastination, Adjusting to Divorce, Behavioral Problems, etc. When treating individual children and adolescents, we often involve parents and place a strong emphasis on Parent Management Training, especially with younger children.
Psychological Testing and Evaluations: We provide standardized psychological testing for ADHD (children and adults); personality, intellectual and learning disabilities; Veterans; Social Security Disability and Workers Compensation, and selected forensic evaluations.
The Therapist’s Role
Functioning much like coaches and family mediators, we strive to motivate, support and educate our clients to become more confident, happy and successful in their careers and relationships. Working together, we and our clients identify specific goals and develop plans to realize these goals by changing dysfunctional thoughts, behaviors and emotions.
“Embracing Life” fired stoneware by William Mulligan
Practice Information
Our offices are located in Chesapeake, Virginia. Maps and directions are available on our Contact Us page.
1403 Greenbrier Parkway, Suite 215
Chesapeake, VA 23320
(We are in the Farmers Bank Building, at the intersection of Greenbrier Pkwy and Eden Way)
Telephone: (757) 410-0700
Office Hours
Our normal business hours are shown on our Contact Us page. Please check the Insurance and Fees page for a list of insurance plans we participate with. Our receptionists will help you obtain the necessary insurance pre-authorizations. You may also email Dr. Mulligan directly if you encounter any difficulties scheduling appointments (See our Contact Us page).