Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, we are currently offering only Teletherapy Sessions which most insurance companies are now covering.
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We also offer certification for people to have an Emotional Support Animal; this allows you to have your pet even in No Pet housing and to fly with your pet in the cabin of most passenger airlines.
We are also accepting new patients.To make an appointment please call (480)225-3236.
Our Main Concern is
Your Mental Well Being
About Me
Dr. McGowan did his internship at Illinois' oldest APA approved internship site, Chicago Read Mental Health Center. Here he conducted psychotherapy, psychological and neuropsychological testing on hospitalized patients. He completed 2 years of post-doctorate residence training; spending one year with SouthWest Behavioral Health where he counseled adolescents and children and families.
He spent his second year with the Arizona Department of Corrections where he performed over 6,000 psychological evaluations on inmates and carried a psychotherapy caseload of 50 inmates being treated for severe mental illness.
Additionally, Dr. McGowan has worked in private clinics in Chicago, and on the inpatient addiction and mental illness floor at Hines VA hospital in Chicago.
He has also consulted with a medicare affiliated agency where he performed over 350 psychological evaluations of clients who are receiving medicare disability payments. All of these clients had severe physical disabilities.
Specializing in Anxiety Disorders, Depression, PTSD
Anxiety
Anxiety is a normal reaction to stress and can be beneficial in some situations. It can alert us to dangers and help us prepare and pay attention.
Anxiety disorders differ from normal feelings of nervousness or anxiousness and involve excessive fear or anxiety. Anxiety disorders are the most common of mental disorders and affect more than 25 million Americans. But anxiety disorders are treatable and a number of effective treatments are available. Treatment helps most people lead normal productive lives.
Depression
Depression (major depressive disorder) is a common and serious psychological illness that negatively affects how you feel, the way you think and how you act. Fortunately, it is also treatable. Depression causes feelings of sadness and/or a loss of interest in activities once enjoyed. It can lead to a variety of emotional and physical problems and can decrease a person’s ability to function at work and at home.
PTSD
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a psychiatric disorder that can occur in people who have experienced or witnessed a traumatic event such as a natural disaster, a serious accident, a terrorist act, war/combat, rape or other violent personal assault.
PTSD has been known by many names in the past, such as “shell shock” during the years of World War I and “combat fatigue” after World War II. But PTSD does not just happen to combat veterans. PTSD can occur in all people, in people of any ethnicity, nationality or culture, and any age. PTSD affects approximately 3.5 percent of U.S. adults, and an estimated one in 11 people will be diagnosed PTSD in their lifetime. Women are twice as likely as men to have PTSD.
People with PTSD have intense, disturbing thoughts and feelings related to their experience that last long after the traumatic event has ended. They may relive the event through flashbacks or nightmares; they may feel sadness, fear or anger; and they may feel detached or estranged from other people. People with PTSD may avoid situations or people that remind them of the traumatic event, and they may have strong negative reactions to something as ordinary as a loud noise or an accidental touch.
A diagnosis of PTSD requires exposure to an upsetting traumatic event. However, exposure could be indirect rather than first hand. For example, PTSD could occur in an individual learning about the violent death of a close family. It can also occur as a result of repeated exposure to horrible details of trauma such as police officers exposed to details of child abuse cases. Complex PTSD is very common and originates usually from negative experiences that occurred earlier in your life.
Insurance and Payment
Dr. McGowan is contracted with most insurance companies and also accepts Medicare, and Armed Forces health insurance. For services not paid for by insurance companies, the patient is required to pay out of pocket.
Before your first visit it is important for you to contact your insurance company and find out what your mental health benefits are. Often companies contract with one insurance company for mental health and a separate one for medical treatment. You should know how many sessions your insurance company covers and if required you must obtain an authorization number. Medical and Mental Health co-pays are always different. We need to know your insurance information before your first session. If for some reason your insurance does not pay for your session, then you will be responsible for payment. Patients may have a deductible which must be met before the insurance company will pay for counseling. Be sure to check on your deductible, as we will require you to pay out of pocket for services not covered by insurance.
Usually insurance companies will pay for one 45-50 minute therapy session per day. If you should need a longer session or more than one session per day, you will be required to pay for these sessions out of pocket, unless you receive approval and proper reimbursement from your insurance company.
Dr. McGowan accepts insurance payment, credit cards and personal checks for copay's and non-insurance covered services. Any services not covered by insurance must be paid for at the time of your appointment. We request payment of your copay at the time of your visit.
Unfortunately we are unable to bill for services rendered, so we appreciate your understanding and cooperation with our business practices. Please be aware of the details of your insurance coverage before your first visit.
All patients are required to give us a credit card which will be charged for services not covered by insurance. We require an advance notice for cancellations by patients. All patients must contact us to change appointments or cancellations by 10 am of the prior business day. Monday appointment cancellations must be received by 10 am on Friday.
We have this cancellation policy, since we are very busy, and have a waiting list of patients trying to get an appointment. It is not fair to hold this appointment for one patient; when with proper notice we could offer it to another patient.