PRA was founded in 1991 by Emmanuel A. Perakis, MD and Steven J. Resis, MD, both psychiatrists that believed in comprehensive, qualitative and responsive care for those in need of psychiatric services. Building relationships and partnerships with patients, primary care physicians, schools and other community organizations has resulted in the highest quality of care.
In 2000, Dr. Donna Woods, a board certified child psychiatrist, joined PRA adding the treatment of a child population to the practice and became the third partner of PRA as of July 2003. In the summer of 2007, PRA added Dr. Robert Fabsik as an additional adolescent/adult psychiatrist. Dr. Fabsik graduated from the Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine and Northwestern University. He completed his residency at Lutheran General Hospital and specializes in the treatment of Mood and Anxiety Disorders. In August 2011, Dr. Robert Fabsik became the fourth partner of PRA.
PRA's philosophy is to provide treatment that is problem centered and solution focused. We also seek to help individuals work through the underlying motivations that contribute to and sustain their current problems. PRA strives to build the individual's own skills in order to increase personal insight and control. Our goal is to provide the client with a greater understanding of self and the ability to make changes in their own lives.
Psychological testing sounds intimidating, but its actually designed to help you. Psychological testing is like a medical test. If you, or someone you know, are presenting with symptoms, a medical doctor may order an X-ray or a blood test to help them understand what might be causing those symptoms, and the results of the test help the doctor develop a treatment plan.
Psychological evaluations work in the same way. Psychologists use tests and other assessment tools to measure and observe a patients behavior to find a conclusion regarding diagnosis or overall functioning, which helps guide treatment.
Psychological testing can be ordered for a myriad of reasons. For example, if a child is having difficulty in school, a counselor or teacher may ask for testing regarding the students aptitude or to assess if there are any learning disabilities present. The results of the testing can be used to create an individual education plan that emphasizes the students strengths, and to help put a system in place so the student can learn in the more supportive environment possible.
Additionally, if someone is having difficulties at work or in school, or even in personal relationships, tests can help a therapist understand whether their client might have issues with anger management or interpersonal skills, or if certain personality traits are present that might be contributing to the problem. Psychological testing can also be used to evaluate if a person is experiencing emotional disorders, like Anxiety or Depression.
For many people, the cause of their symptoms or problems is not always clear. Psychological testing can help create a better picture of a persons overall functioning. Its not meant to be scary, and its not something you can study or prepare yourself for to get a better score. Think of it as an opportunity for your provider, whether its a psychiatrist or a therapist, to have an opportunity to improve the quality of treatment they are providing for you.
