By Camille Gillies
Scott Bakay, Psy.D., knows that one of the biggest hurdles to seeking professional help for a personal problem is making the initial call to the therapist’s office.
“I know it can be difficult to make that first call,” concedes Dr. Bakay, a psychologist whose office is on E. Fowler Ave. in Temple Terrace. “That’s probably the hardest part about going to therapy.”
Most of Dr. Bakay’s patients, however, don’t make that breakthrough phone call, themselves — their parents do. That’s because this soft-spoken psychologist specializes in treating children and adolescents ages six through 19.
His areas of expertise include behavioral problems, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), mood disorders, anxiety and child sexual abuse. Dr. Bakay’s services also incorporate a full range of psychological testing for gifted intelligence, learning disabilities, ADHD and conduct disorder.
In 2010, Dr. Bakay earned his Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) degree, with an emphasis on child and adolescent psychology, from the Georgia School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University in Atlanta. He previously earned his Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology in 2006 from Argosy University and his Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Georgian in Athens in 2002. His Master’s coursework included treating depression and anxiety during a year-long internship at Morrison Family Services, a nonprofit community-based mental health center in Portland, OR. He says he chose that particular internship because it allowed him to pursue his interest in community mental health.
After earning his doctorate, Dr. Bakay spent two years in Largo, FL, at Directions for Mental Health, an outpatient community health facility focusing on the treatment of underserved children and families. In 2012, he began consulting with Psych/Care, a Tampa-based concer
n focusing on geriatric mental health. In March of this year, Dr. Bakay opened his own practice on E. Fowler Ave. near I-75, a few minutes south of New Tampa, and he continues to consult with Psych/Care.
He says his areas of expertise include behavioral problems, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), mood disorders, anxiety and treating victims of child sexual abuse. Dr. Bakay also offers a full range of professional testing for gifted intelligence, learning disabilities, ADHD and conduct disorder.
Behavioral Concerns
“Parents sometimes worry about a behavior that’s totally age appropriate, so I offer a free 10- to 15-minute consultation to help them determine whether their
child’s behavior is normal or needs professional attention,” Dr. Bakay says.
How do you know whether your concern warrants a call? Some red flags for parents and caregivers to consider include these signs:
• Youngsters who are struggling academically
• Those who are exhibiting emotional and behavioral problems, such as signs of depression or “acting out”
• Children displaying conduct at school that results in multiple contacts from the child’s teacher
According to Dr. Bakay, it’s best to catch behavioral problems early. For example, if a problem crops up in kindergarten, parents shouldn’t wait until the child reaches the third grade to address that problem.
“A child may be having trouble adjusting from the free-play environment of preschool to the more structured environment of kindergarten,” Dr. Bakay notes, addi
ng that parents often feel responsible for their children’s behavior. “I never judge the parents. Instead, I provide parent training to help them learn new methods or refine skills they may already have. I might suggest a change in disciplinary methods or implementing (and being consistent with) a rewards-based program.”
For instance, if a child won’t do his or her homework, a parent might provide an incentive at the end of the week, such as getting to stay up a bit later, getting to watch an extra TV program or spending special time with mom or dad.
“I suggest that the rewards be free, easy and entertaining for the child,” Dr. Bakay emphasizes, noting that he never advises parents to buy expensive items that can start to add up.
Child Sexual Abuse
Although Dr. Bakay treats depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), ADHD and numerous other mental health issues, he specializes in child abuse, specifically consulting with children who have been victims of sexual abuse. He chose that specialty after completing his practicum at the Georgia Center for Child Advocacy in Atlanta, a nonprofit agency where he conducted psychotherapy with children and adolescent victims of sexual abuse or other trauma. Encouraged by a professor from Argosy, Dr. Bakay found it rewarding to help victims of abuse deal with their trauma as best as possible and return to everyday childhood experiences.
“To see the progress that these kids make and be part of the healing process that makes them want to run and play and become normal kids again, seeing that result and know
ing how resilient they are, makes it easier to hear their stories,” he explains.
Dr. Bakay points out that warning signs of sexual abuse include bed wetting, symptoms of depression and avoiding a particular person. Treatment often incorporates play therapy and using play as words because many young children have difficulty finding their words; acting out a scene with dolls or toys is a more effective means of communication for them.
It’s most beneficial if a child is treated early to prevent future complications of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Similar to the PTSD that many soldiers experience from military combat, triggers in the environment may cause children to re-experience their abuse. Unfortunately, boys tend to hold off on dealing with the abuse until later in life, which is a subject area that Dr. Bakay has studied in detail.
The reasons, according to Dr. Bakay, that boys are more reticent to report the abuse may be due to the stigma attached to it — these children are often confused, not understan
ding or acknowledging that they were abused, they feel ashamed, they fear people won’t believe them and, if they were abused by a man, they fear they might be gay or people will think they are homosexuals.
On the positive side, Dr. Bakay says that even if treatment is delayed, boys can be helped to deal with their abuse, and come to learn that even though someone has abused them, doesn’t mean that they will become abusers, too.
Family/Marital Therapy
In addition to treating individuals, Dr. Bakay also offers guidance to families. In cases of divorce, he meets with parents to discuss strategies that will lessen t
he negative impact on their children, teaching parents to work as a team for the benefit of the kids. He also evaluates how children are adjusting to the divorce.
In all cases, Dr. Bakay focuses on building rapport and trust with each patient, which at first may involve weekly sessions, with the frequency of visits decreasing over time.
“A person might go from seeing me weekly to every other week, to every third week and then just every month,” he explains. “Therapy is not something that should last a lifetime. In fact, research has shown that many people show improvement rather quickly.”
He adds that each patient is still unique and much depends on the problem at hand. “Some people may require only a couple of sessions and an occasional ‘booster shot’ to tweak their skills,” he notes.
Dr. Bakay moved to the Tampa Bay area three years ago and lives with his wife in New Tampa. He has three stepchildren and a newborn son.
For appointments and more information, visit BakayPsychology.com or call 503-5390. Dr. Bakay’s office is located at 6275 E. Fowler Ave. in Temple Terrace.
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