Dr. Bidwell is the founder and director of Meridian Behavioral Health, which opened its doors in April of 2010. He holds a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology, and a post-doctoral M.S. in Clinical Psychopharmacology. Dr. Bidwell's training background includes specialized training in integrating therapy into medical interventions (maximizing benefit from combining psychotherapy and medications), and the treatment of Police and Military issues.

Dr. Bidwell moved to Illinois from Florida in 2007 and has volunteered as the Associate Director of the Center for Rural Psychology in Elburn, Illinois since 2008. His desire to provide a highly trained group of mental health professionals located within reach of the rural communities west of the Chicago Suburbs is related to his role with CRP. He is also the director of the training branch of Meridian Behavioral Health, which is known as Meridian Clinical Training, Inc.

Therapy Style:
Dr. Bidwell tends to begin from a very practical and problem-solving orientation in therapy to reduce the impact of the things that can be changed right away. Some symptoms can be addressed in a short period of time (like insomnia) and others require a long-term focus (such as mending troubling relationships). He feels he is able to be very directive in therapy when it will benefit the goals of his clients, and can be very non-directive and empathic when what is most needed is a supportive environment to explore one's difficulties. Dr. Bidwell believes that the highest level of satisfaction one can achieve comes from learning to form and maintain healthy and happy relationships, and to get to a point in life where we can make decisions based on our goals rather than our fears.

Specialties:
Mood Disorders
Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy
Marital / Couples Therapy
Police and Military Issues
Psychological Testing

Personal Interests:

"“I started scuba diving when I was 14 years old. Living in southern Florida, I had the unique opportunity to train as a freediver with Freediving Instructors International. Freediving professionals are able to achieve a physiological state that represents the extreme opposite of the “fight or flight” response triggered in PTSD (Posttraumatic Stress Disorder). My training with them taught me to dive over 100 ft. deep while holding my breath and becoming relaxed enough to continue to hold my breath for over 4 ½ minutes...” If you find it interesting, go check out Martin's world record videos at his website (www.FreeLikeNoOther.com) I love the physiology and cognitive components of what these guys can do!