This conversation explores the services that behavioral health professionals deliver to residents in skilled nursing facilities, more commonly referred to as nursing homes. Dr. Sherie Friedrich, our guest, is a psychologist and the Chief Psychology Officer for a company that works with patients in these settings, primarily through telehealth. In this role, Dr. Friedrich manages a team of psychologists, provides clinical services to patients, and oversees policy, training, and program development for her company. We will discuss the types of psychological issues that patients present with, challenges in getting patients the services they need, and the extraordinary barriers to care that have been imposed by COVID. We will also address the complications that family members face during this pandemic, how telehealth services differ from face-to-face visits, and how other professionals can develop consulting relationships with the nursing staff.

Mini Bio

Dr. Sherie Friedrich completed her undergraduate studies in Psychology at the University of New Hampshire and received her Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Antioch University. She completed an APA internship at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in NYC, working with adult patients on a long-term secure psychiatric unit. Additional training experiences include a formal Postdoctoral Fellowship at Seacoast Mental Health Center and a one-year advanced Psychotherapy Fellowship at Boston Psychoanalytic Institute. Her past work experiences have been in psychiatric hospitals, community mental health settings, and in private and group practice. Over the past year Dr. Friedrich has worked in the capacity of Clinical Director at MediTelecare, focusing on the growth and development of the Department of Psychology. Her clinical interests include ethics, the psychological implications of trauma, personality formation, group dynamics, and lifespan development.