ENcourage Connection

Seeking individuals in NYC to participate in a 6-week research trial to validate a cognitive-behavioral program to help adults overcome panic disorder. A licensed therapist and behavior coach will conduct sessions via web-based videoconferencing. (No in-person meetings.)

To be considered, you must be:
-- 18 or older;
-- A NY state resident;
-- Willing to be screened for suitability by a psychologist;
-- Available to start the week of 7/27 to participate in 12 sessions over 6 weeks; and
-- Able to provide a current note from your physician stating that your symptoms are not caused by a physical illness, clinically significant depression or requiring of urgent medical care.

You will need reliable access to an Internet-connected computer with a webcam and headset. The price is $200, half of which will be refunded upon your completion of the program. (Comparable services would cost $1,200 or more.)

Interested applicants should email a personal email and cell number to applicant@abilto.com.

• Hey Michael... 06:51:14 07/22/2009 Kate_1 (2)
  • Re: Hey Michael... 07:21:32 07/22/2009 Michael Laskoff (0)
  • Oh, you answered below. Thank you Michael. The name of the therapist is below - if anyone is interested. (n/t) 06:53:06 07/22/2009 Kate_1 (0)
• Are you able to provide the therapist's name, address, telephone and license number? Web site? Program? Fos us to consider this a valid endeavour we will need WAY more info. Thank you. (n/t) 06:05:43 07/22/2009 Kate_1 (1)
  • Re: Are you able to provide the therapist's name, address, telephone and license number? Web site? Program? Fos us to consider this a valid endeavour we will need WAY more info. Thank you. 06:31:17 07/22/2009 Michael Laskoff (0)
• Huh?? 20:53:22 07/21/2009 Why (4)
  • Re: Huh?? 06:20:43 07/22/2009 Michael Laskoff (0)
  • As a *NURSE* I *know* that "Research Studies Do NOT cost the patient. Who are YOU????? (n/t) 22:02:16 07/21/2009 Debbie IN California (2)
    • Re: As a *NURSE* I *know* that "Research Studies Do NOT cost the patient. Who are YOU????? 06:22:45 07/22/2009 Michael Laskoff (1)
      • MEMBERS.... Check it out throughly before giving out any Money. NEVER HEARD of a *research* group asking for MONEY!!!!! (n/t) 13:23:51 07/22/2009 Debbie IN California (0)

In Reply to: Panic Disorder in NYC posted by Michael Laskoff on July 21, 2009 at 14:07:08:

...Thank you for replying and giving out your cell number. Although I am unclear as to how that qualifies you being on the "up and up" so to speak :) As Debbie and Why have said, research usually is done for free - hence our inquisitive nature.

Your company website (AbiLTo) isn't set up yet as far as I can see. And most people with PD will not just ring you up to ask questions, they will do it here, anonymously. I can also see you have an MBA in business (linKed), excellent, except then again I am unsure how that helps a person with PD.

You've mentioned (twice) a licensed therapist, maybe his or her name and number will help out any member from NY who would want to purchase a 6 week therapy session.

For in fact it is not a free research project, and we wouldn't be participants, we would be clients purchasing a service. 200$ may be a minimal cost for your company, but not for a client, so you'll have to up the ante on the info part about who the therapist and CBT coach are.

Most of us would ask A LOT of questions before buying a nice table even if it's on sale :)

Thank you,
Kate

In Reply to: Hey Michael... posted by Kate_1 on July 22, 2009 at 06:51:14:

Kate:

Perhaps a bit of background would help. In my own past, I did everything "right" – good schools, good jobs and well married, but my career was always a roller coaster. I'd get a great job, keep it for six months and lose it. Why? Because I have ADHD and never knew it. The diagnosis was not made when I was 39 years old.

Finding out changed my life. I got treatment – both medication and CBT –which irrevocably and positively changed my life for the better. But as I went through the process, I was also concerned. I had a lot of trouble finding and accessing the right professionals to help me. And even though I owned a business, it was difficult to fit my schedule to theirs. In addition, I had no choice but to explain to some people why there were mysterious holes in my schedule. And while I was never embarrassed about my condition, many people reacted as if I should be.

Finally, all of this occurred in a condition in which I had wasted many thousands of dollars already on 'analysts' – all of whom were well respected but none of whom did a thing to help me recognize – never mind manage – my ADHD.

From all of this, I came to the conclusion, that the infrastructure that is supposed to help those of us in need, actually did a better job serving the need of providers. Their schedule, their location and their availability drives how we get care. This gave me the idea that someone should create a model in which we – the consumers with the problem – are the center of the solution. I founded AbilTo to elevate those of us who need help from the status of patient to that of customer. (Customer's get better treatment.)

As you noted, my Harvard MBA doesn't qualify me to treat people, but it did help me to articulate the issue in a way that others can understand and get excited about. That has meant finding well-qualified people to lead the clinical effort, others to build the infrastructure, attorney's to manage the multi-state regulatory environment, etc. I bring the passion and executional ability, as well as my own experience as a client. (And since, we're just starting out, I do a lot of the other non-clinical jobs that no one is yet available to do.)

In other words, I'm trying to build the kind of company that I would have liked to avail myself of.

Now with respect to your questions about the names and license numbers of the specific professionals: that information will be available to anyone accepted in the trial, but I want to protect their identities as much as that of our clients. As you may know, not everyone who has access to such information uses it respectfully.

Finally, please note that the intent of the fee is to ensure seriousness and commitment. Of the $200, $100 is refundable, but even more to the point, we will happily waive the fee if $100 is too much for an appropriate candidate.

Again, if you'd like to talk, you have both my email and cell number.

Thank you for the great feedback,

MBL

In Reply to: Hey Michael... posted by Kate_1 on July 22, 2009 at 06:51:14:

(no text)

In Reply to: Panic Disorder in NYC posted by Michael Laskoff on July 21, 2009 at 14:07:08:

(no text)

In Reply to: Are you able to provide the therapist's name, address, telephone and license number? Web site? Program? Fos us to consider this a valid endeavour we will need WAY more info. Thank you. (n/t) posted by Kate_1 on July 22, 2009 at 06:05:43:

Kate:

What I can do is share with you Peter J. Pramataris, PsyD, is our head of clinical practice. His NY State license # is: 68 017049. He is the person who has developed our manualized approach to CBT treatments for panic disorder, basing his work off of published, peer reviewed research. By way of phone numbers, I will start by offering you my own: 917.385.6355. Please feel free to call me. If I cannot answer your questions, I will be more than pleased to put you in touch with Peter.

Thank you for the feedback.

Michael Laskoff

In Reply to: Panic Disorder in NYC posted by Michael Laskoff on July 21, 2009 at 14:07:08:

People who participate in research trials usually get PAID because they are donating their time and bodies to help doctors do their research, they don't have to pay! This sounds totally bogus to me.

In Reply to: Huh?? posted by Why on July 21, 2009 at 20:53:22:

AbilTo is a small, self-funded company dedicated to the idea that people with behavioral health needs would benefit from a better alternative to what is currently available.

For us that means better methodology, professional and access. We are only using CBT that are validated by peer-reviewed press. We recruit carefully, screen backgrounds and supervised the work in integrated teams consisting of a licensed therapist and trained behavioral coach. And finally, we have spent our own time, effort and money changing the mode of delivery. A client who can access high-quality help from home an on an inconvenient schedule is more likely to stick with the program.

As to why we are charging a small amount, we are not doing so to profit. Even for this small test, the amount covers only a tiny fraction of our actual costs. Instead, we are doing so in the belief that a small investment weeds out people who would otherwise not be sufficiently committed. And because we are small and self-funded, all of these efforts are critical to us.

Of course, it's hard to know what you and others might consider to be a satisfactory answer, so I invite you to call me on my cell phone to discuss further. My number is 917.385.6355. I am the CEO and will do whatever I can to explain our rationale. Thank you for your response.

Michael Laskoff

In Reply to: Huh?? posted by Why on July 21, 2009 at 20:53:22:

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In Reply to: As a *NURSE* I *know* that "Research Studies Do NOT cost the patient. Who are YOU????? (n/t) posted by Debbie IN California on July 21, 2009 at 22:02:16:

Debbie:

I'd like to make the same offer to you that I did to "Why" and suggest that you call me with any of your questions. Below, I'm copying the text of what I sent to "Why" just a few moments ago:

"AbilTo is a small, self-funded company dedicated to the idea that people with behavioral health needs would benefit from a better alternative to what is currently available.

For us that means better methodology, professional and access. We are only using CBT that are validated by peer-reviewed press. We recruit carefully, screen backgrounds and supervised the work in integrated teams consisting of a licensed therapist and trained behavioral coach. And finally, we have spent our own time, effort and money changing the mode of delivery. A client who can access high-quality help from home an on an inconvenient schedule is more likely to stick with the program.

As to why we are charging a small amount, we are not doing so to profit. Even for this small test, the amount covers only a tiny fraction of our actual costs. Instead, we are doing so in the belief that a small investment weeds out people who would otherwise not be sufficiently committed. And because we are small and self-funded, all of these efforts are critical to us.

Of course, it's hard to know what you and others might consider to be a satisfactory answer, so I invite you to call me on my cell phone to discuss further. My number is 917.385.6355. I am the CEO and will do whatever I can to explain our rationale. Thank you for your response.

Michael Laskoff"

In Reply to: Re: As a *NURSE* I *know* that "Research Studies Do NOT cost the patient. Who are YOU????? posted by Michael Laskoff on July 22, 2009 at 06:22:45:

(no text)