Psychologists Treating More Patients Since Oil Disaster

Foley licensed psychologist Dr. Kimberly Whitchard is seeing dozens of new patients...patients seeking help since the Gulf oil leak.

"A lot of depression and anxiety, a lot of marital problems because of this," says Whitchard.

Counselors across the Gulf Coast are treating new patients who have been affected emotionally and financially since the Deepwater Horizon explosion.
Orange Beach charter boat captain Chris Garner is one of Dr. Whitchard's new patients.

"It's been consuming, absolutely consuming," says Garner. "Trying to cope with things in my marriage and my household, it's turned rocky to say the least. Without a place to vent and someone to talk to, I wouldn't have been able to make it."

"I believe that when God closes doors, he opens windows," says Whitchard. "I tell clients all the time this, too, will pass. We recovered from Ivan and things will change as bad and as gloomy as it seems, there's always tomorrow."