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Dr. Donald Gieck

Clinical Psychology
Salem, VA
16 years experience male

About

Bio

Hello! Thanks for looking me up. I am a clinical psychologist in southwest Virginia with nearly a decade of experience providing therapy for a range of emotional health concerns, including depression, anxiety, and challenging life circumstances. I have also worked extensively in medical settings providing behavioral management of chronic health conditions, such as diabetes, obesity, needle phobia, insomnia, and smoking cessation. My goal is to help those seeking improved emotional and physical health achieve their desired goals. HealthTap offers a unique platform of care for short-term advice and intervention, and I am please to be a part of the network of providers. For more extended care, my services are also available to citizens of Virginia via several other telemedicine services that include: https://amwell.com/cm/online-counseling/ https://www.livehealthonline.com/psychology Both services are available as a web-link and app. These also allow individuals to utilize health insurance for longer-term behavioral health services. My primary goal in joining HealthTap and other virtual healthcare services is to increase availability of behavioral health interventions for those who have busy lives and cannot easily attend appointments during the typical "8-5" workday, as well as those who may live in an area where behavioral health services are not convenient. To support this goal, my general availability includes evening and weekend hours. If you do not see availability listed that suits your needs, just send me a message and we can coordinate a time that works better. A little more about me: In my free time I enjoy being outdoors and spending time with my wife and 3 year old daughter. I look forward to connecting with you!

Specialties
Doctors may have more than one area of specialty interest. Board certification in a specialty area means the doctor has completed formal training and has practice experience in that specialty, and has passed the certification examination from the corresponding accredited medical specialty board.

Clinical Psychology

Licenses

United States: Colorado, Virginia

Doctor Q&A

244 Answers
130 Agrees
The number of answers this doctor has agreed with.
A 26-year-old male asked:
Dr. Donald Gieck
Clinical Psychology 16 years experience
Certified therapist: When pursuing treatment from a sex therapist it is highly recommended that he/she have a certification/accreditation as a sex therapist. See http://w... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 23-year-old female asked:
Dr. Donald Gieck
Clinical Psychology 16 years experience
Cbti and insomnia: it may also be helpful to enlist the help of a behavioral specialist who specializes in treatment of insomnia with what is called cognitive behavioral... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 17-year-old male asked:
Dr. Donald Gieck
Clinical Psychology 16 years experience
OCD CBT specialist: Rexommend working with a cognitive behavioral therapist who specializes in OCD. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is one of the best treatments for O... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 17-year-old female asked:
Dr. Donald Gieck
Clinical Psychology 16 years experience
Be proactive about: 1) open communication with a partner/spouse or other supportive people about what you are experiencing and thinking. Recommend setting aside time for ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 22-year-old female asked:
Dr. Donald Gieck
Clinical Psychology 16 years experience
Please seek help Now: First and foremost, please get to an ER or call 911 if suicidal thoughts have worsened or if you feel the desire to harm yourself. To answer your ques... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 19-year-old female asked:
Dr. Donald Gieck
Clinical Psychology 16 years experience
Interaction effects: Use of alcohol while on citalopram is strongly discouraged. Several important effects to know about: short-term there is a risk of increased drowsines... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 28-year-old male asked:
Dr. Donald Gieck
Clinical Psychology 16 years experience
Combined treatment: Not knowing your complete history I suggest combined pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy - cognitive behavioral therapy or exposure based therapy. if yo... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 18-year-old female asked:
Dr. Donald Gieck
Clinical Psychology 16 years experience
Difficult situation: Some suggestions: 1) identify the primary concern that provokes anxiety - embarrassment? Fear of the unknown? Fear of talking to a provider? 2) find a... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 27-year-old female asked:
Dr. Donald Gieck
Clinical Psychology 16 years experience
Side effects: Pleased to see that you actively learn about your prescribed medications. If it has not happened already, these concerns are worth a conversation with... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 20-year-old male asked:
Dr. Donald Gieck
Clinical Psychology 16 years experience
Fainting: This is orthostatic hypotension - your blood pressure drops when you rise too quickly decreasing oxygen in the brain. Given this is a recurring experi... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 34-year-old male asked:
Dr. Donald Gieck
Clinical Psychology 16 years experience
Alcohol and STD test: Alcohol will not affect the outcome of the test, if that is your concern. However, if this is your plan it is advised that you do not drive and reduce... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 69-year-old female asked:
Dr. Donald Gieck
Clinical Psychology 16 years experience
Not unexpected...: Iris, what you experienced is a lot for any one person. It is not surprising that you are experiencing low mood, sertraline or not. I admire your resi... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A male asked:
Dr. Donald Gieck
Clinical Psychology 16 years experience
Quiting: It is often helpful to use a supplement such as gum or a patch to quit. check with a provider to make sure it is a good fit. Course for gum is often 1... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 36-year-old female asked:
Dr. Donald Gieck
Clinical Psychology 16 years experience
Hynopompic sensation: Hypnopompic sensations include can include vivid and frightening emotional , visual , or tactile sensations and experiences that occur as the body tra... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 20-year-old male asked:
Dr. Donald Gieck
Clinical Psychology 16 years experience
Would not worry : Yes, Lobotomies were frequent in the early to mid 19th century for a range of conditions that included narcolepsy - these procedures largely went away... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 22-year-old female asked:
Dr. Donald Gieck
Clinical Psychology 16 years experience
Panic : It is important to identify the trigger for panic. Is it the alcohol (which might produce both physical changes and narrowing of cognition that result... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 37-year-old female asked:
Dr. Donald Gieck
Clinical Psychology 16 years experience
Please be careful...: You should be ok from a physical standpoint - one standard drink takes about 2 hours to metabolize; However, it is strongly recommended to avoid alcoh... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 42-year-old member asked:
Dr. Donald Gieck
Clinical Psychology 16 years experience
Resilience : Evaluation will identify an individual's strengths, access to protective factors (ie, soci support), and positive coping methods for stressful events.... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 40-year-old member asked:
Dr. Donald Gieck
Clinical Psychology 16 years experience
Align with values: One way to promote change is to determine how alternative choices align with personal values and what is most important to someone. This is often help... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 34-year-old member asked:
Dr. Donald Gieck
Clinical Psychology 16 years experience
Discuss: With your employer if you feel safe doing so - see what options may develop.. If self employed take some time to gather perspective and evaluate how t... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 45-year-old member asked:
Dr. Donald Gieck
Clinical Psychology 16 years experience
Self management : Activities such as meditation and progressive relaxation may also be of benefit. These lower the stress response making it more manageable. Se the fol... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 20-year-old male asked:
Dr. Donald Gieck
Clinical Psychology 16 years experience
Watch for patterns: It is not uncommon for those with chronic and persistent anxiety to experience physical symptoms due to impact on the immune system. If anxiety is in... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 36-year-old member asked:
Dr. Donald Gieck
Clinical Psychology 16 years experience
Coping methods : There are many - good self care that includes proper sleep, activity and hobbies, and overall healthy eating. With regard to work, achieving a good w... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 38-year-old member asked:
Dr. Donald Gieck
Clinical Psychology 16 years experience
Dementia: Degenerative dementia generally refers to non-reversible loss of cognitive functioning, typically due to certain diseases like Alzheimer's. Dementia o... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 22-year-old female asked:
Dr. Donald Gieck
Clinical Psychology 16 years experience
Yes: A potential side effect does include difficulties sleeping. With continued use this may improve as your body adjusts to the medication. Recommend revi... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 32-year-old male asked:
Dr. Donald Gieck
Clinical Psychology 16 years experience
Recommend evaluation: Brain fog is not uncommon with depression. Other health conditions and medications can also result in brain fog. Would be interested to know if you ar... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 16-year-old member asked:
Dr. Donald Gieck
Clinical Psychology 16 years experience
Not true: Not true unless worrying about germs and diseases somehow makes you more likely to engage in unhealthy and unsanitary behaviors. The only caveat might... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 19-year-old female asked:
Dr. Donald Gieck
Clinical Psychology 16 years experience
Need more info...: Anxiety develops through a combination of physiological changes, cognition (what one is thinking/how you interpret physical symptoms), and environment... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 57-year-old male asked:
Dr. Donald Gieck
Clinical Psychology 16 years experience
Yes: Anxiety presents in the presence of or anticipation of unpleasant events and stimuli. It is not surprising that anxiety increases when you feel nausea... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 48-year-old female asked:
Dr. Donald Gieck
Clinical Psychology 16 years experience
Yes: Increases in diastolic pressure (and systolic pressure) occur during periods of severe anxiety, as anxiety is tied to stress hormones that increase pr... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 24-year-old female asked:
Dr. Donald Gieck
Clinical Psychology 16 years experience
Start with OBGYN: If you have noticed ongoing and recent changes in these symptoms related to your cycle, recommend starting with your OBGYN. They will be able to revie... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A member asked:
Dr. Donald Gieck
Clinical Psychology 16 years experience
Yes...: weight gain is a potential side effect from use of amitriptyline. If this is occurring with a current prescription , please discuss with your provider... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 45-year-old female asked:
Dr. Donald Gieck
Clinical Psychology 16 years experience
Hard to tell : Although a potential side side effect of Prozac (fluoxetine) is weight gain, it might be within normal limits for yourself depending on other factors ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 21-year-old female asked:
Dr. Donald Gieck
Clinical Psychology 16 years experience
Loss and depression: I would recommend that you consider working with a therapist to assess the extent of depression and establish a plan for working through loss and over... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 19-year-old female asked:
Dr. Donald Gieck
Clinical Psychology 16 years experience
Could be depression: ...Or are you exhausted/burned out? The first thing I noticed is that you work 60 hours/week. How long have you been working this much? Depending on ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 23-year-old female asked:
Dr. Donald Gieck
Clinical Psychology 16 years experience
Could be, unlikely: If I read this correctly these twitches only occurred once? And not recurring? If so it may be anxiety if you have a history of that condition. It may... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 27-year-old male asked:
Dr. Donald Gieck
Clinical Psychology 16 years experience
Contact provider: Unless this was prescribed for anxiety that has suddenly returned, What you are describing sounds like withdrawal symptoms from sudden cessation of th... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 19-year-old female asked:
Dr. Donald Gieck
Clinical Psychology 16 years experience
Hypochondria: It may be helpful to discuss options following an evaluation with a psychiatrist, psychologist, or other behavioral health professional. Typical tre... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 19-year-old female asked:
Dr. Donald Gieck
Clinical Psychology 16 years experience
Cbti and insomnia: First see a physician to rule in/out any phsyiological or medical conditions that affect sleep. Second improve sleep hygiene behavior (see link in com... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 17-year-old female asked:
Dr. Donald Gieck
Clinical Psychology 16 years experience
Behavioral treatment: Many options available, specifically in the realm of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and related methods. These target thought and behavioral patte... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 29-year-old female asked:
Dr. Donald Gieck
Clinical Psychology 16 years experience
No...: Your provider should not think you are crazy; rather I expect your provider would be thankful that you are prepared to take steps to improve your heal... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 28-year-old male asked:
Dr. Donald Gieck
Clinical Psychology 16 years experience
Several options: 1. CBT skills training (with a professional or self-help tool/book) can help you learn to (a) recognize these factors as they happen, and (b) identify... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 26-year-old female asked:
Dr. Donald Gieck
Clinical Psychology 16 years experience
As a suggestion...: start with eval by a primary care provider. There are medical conditions that produce depression/anxiety symptoms. The weight loss is concerning and w... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 32-year-old male asked:
Dr. Donald Gieck
Clinical Psychology 16 years experience
SSRIs and anxiety: You are correct that this medication is often cited in the treatment of depression. It is part of a group of medications called SSRIs (selecti... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 21-year-old female asked:
Dr. Donald Gieck
Clinical Psychology 16 years experience
Build confidence: In addition to challenging thoughts build confidence by rehearsal of different parts of the test, including the written test (make flashcards) and dri... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 23-year-old female asked:
Dr. Donald Gieck
Clinical Psychology 16 years experience
Yes: Effective treatment for eating disorders is available. Would recommend seeking a consult to an experienced mental health provider who specializes in e... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 17-year-old female asked:
Dr. Donald Gieck
Clinical Psychology 16 years experience
Ask for help: It can be a scary discussing personal health issues with parents. In general parents want the best for their children. First ask permission to discuss... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 34-year-old female asked:
Dr. Donald Gieck
Clinical Psychology 16 years experience
Overtraining?: What type of exercise, how often, and what duration/intensity? Exercise is associated with posiitive outcomes, however, sudden, rapid increases in hi... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 34-year-old male asked:
Dr. Donald Gieck
Clinical Psychology 16 years experience
It depends...: Rates of Side effects vary by type of antidepressant. These are most likely to present during the first couple of weeks of treatment, but the good new... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 21-year-old female asked:
Dr. Donald Gieck
Clinical Psychology 16 years experience
Exhaustion and sleep: Not unusual to want to sleep more after an exhausting and stressful day. Just be aware that allowing this type of sleep behavior too often can actual... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.

Testimonials
Recommendations and Thank you notes are endorsements given from patients or other doctors.

3
Recommendations
218
Thank you notes
HealthTap member
Oct 7, 2021
I know it's late but I really need somebody to talk to I been trying to get help and it seems like nobody can help me I'm seriously stress from everything that is going on in my life and now it's mess...Read More
HealthTap member
Jan 14, 2017
Very knowledgeable doctor. Provided me a new insight on how to treat my OCD, which I will be discussing with my therapist. I reccomend him 100%.
HealthTap member
Apr 5, 2016
I would tell everyone about him :)
HealthTap member
This was very helpful. Thanks! Thanks they have me on Celexa which I am not really taking I need to find something different and I am I am taking Estroven for hot flashes but I'm just sad that becau...Read More
HealthTap member
This was very helpful. Thanks! Thank you very much! Labs are (frustratingly) normal. I'm pursuing the cause of fatigue when doctors shrug. I want to feel better. Will check coverage for psychologist. ...Read More
HealthTap member
This was very helpful. Thanks! She was to stay 6 months and I have found it to feel impossible but feel I am stuck. Thanks

Education & Training

Medical/Graduate school

Univeristy of Wyoming
Graduated 2007MD

Residency

Salem VA Medical Center
Completed 2007

Awards

Most Influential, Third Place, Roanoke Region - Spring
2015
Thought Leader, Second Place, Roanoke Region - Spring
2015
Top Doctor, Third Place, Roanoke Region - Spring
2015
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