Dr. Dennis O’Grady
Interviewed by Jon Cleveland, Ph.D.
1) What inspired you to choose a career in psychology?
- The suicide of a high school mentor.
- The guidance of my high school speech teacher.
- Difficult family dynamics.
- The sensitive ability to listen intentionally.
- Wondered why people do what they don’t want to and don’t do what they want to.
2) What is a typical workday like for you?
- I am a full-time private practice psychologist (Generalist).
- I own my own small business.
- Each day is unique.
- Couple sessions, individual sessions, family sessions, executive coaching sessions.
- About 8-11 client sessions per day.
- Monitoring treatment plans.
- Coordinating with executive assistant about insurance submittals and payments.
- Accounting and payment of bills, screening clients, returning phone calls, etc.
3) What is your favorite part about being a psychotherapist?
- My clients…best in the world.
- Helping clients change against the odds.
- Hearing touching life stories.
- Learning how the mind works.
- Developing my own therapy effective communication system called TALK2ME©.
- Writing self-help psychology in our latest book Communicate Like a PRO.
4) What is the most challenging aspect of your work?
- Absorbing negativity from clients.
- Hearing griping/blaming with no intention to change.
- Lack of self-awareness. “It’s nothing I did … it wasn’t my fault.”
- Prejudices about humans and behavior.
- Confidentiality requirement. Can’t tell anyone except supervisors about my work.
5) What do you think are the most valuable skills a psychotherapist can have?
- Being curious.
- Good listener.
- Compassionate.
- Values personal growth “walks the talk”.
- High ethical standards.
- Gratitude attitudes.
Contact information:
Dennis O’Grady, Psy.D.
New Insights Communication
7085 Corporate Way
Dayton, OH 45459
(937) 451-3613