Article archive / January 1, 2013
Originally published: . Volume 4, No. 5. Source pages: 8, 9.
Three psychologists are running for the Louisiana Board of Examiners of Psychologists beginning when Dr. Lee Matthews completes his term in June 2013. The ballots were mailed recently and must be returned by January 25, 2013. The Times contacted the three candidates, Dr. Joe Comaty, Dr. Phil Griffin, and Dr. Lynn Schechter, by email and asked them some questions. Griffin and Schechter responded, Comaty did not.
The three candidates have a number of differences. Dr. Comaty is the only medical psychologist running, and he is the only one of the three who has already served on the board. He completed a five-year term in 2011. On his application Comaty noted that he is with the Office of Behavioral Health in the Department of Health and Hospitals in Baton Rouge, but retiring in January 2013.
Comaty has been engaged in teaching and training. His current positions are as part of the teaching faculty at the Southern Louisiana Internship Consortium, as noted on his application. He is a site reviewer for American Psychological Association (APA). He notes that he is also Chair of the APA RxP Designation Committee. He earned his PhD from Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science in Chicago in 1992. He is a member of APA and the Baton Rouge Area Society of Psychologists. He did not list himself as a member of LPA or LAMP, but he has contributed to the LAMP and sources say that he was in LPA at one time. He is listed as a faculty member for the psycho- pharmacology program at Alliant University, according to the website.
Comaty’s overall objective, as stated on the nomination form, is to address “… greater risk to the public which faces an ever broader array of professionals who claim to be able to provide services usually restricted to licensed psychologists. It is even more important that the Board act to protect the public from the illegal practice of psychology.”
Dr. Comaty was serving on the LSBEP in 2009 when the psychology board reviewed Act 251 and discussed matters about the bill, but took no action.
The second candidate is Dr. Phillip Griffin, clinical psychologist who is engaged in institutional practice, teaching/training, and research, according to his application form. Griffin is the Professor and Chief of Psychology at the Psychiatry Department of LSU Health Sciences Center, DePaul Hospital, in New Orleans. He earned his PhD from the U. of South Carolina. He has been licensed since 1978. He is the only one of the three who holds a diplomate in clinical psychology. He is the only candidate who is a member of Louisiana Psychological Association, for which he has twice served as president.
He notes his community service at the Charity Hospital, saying, “I have always served the underserved.”
If he is appointed, he says he would like to see psychologists licensed immediately post internship. And, he wants to retain traditional types and amounts of continuing education activities, and also wants to add the newer options for continuing development.
The Times asked Dr. Griffin how he felt about Act 251 and also about the supervision of psychology interns by medical psychologists who do not have state psychology licenses.
“I have found that Act 251 does not personally affect me in any way,” he said. “I did not like the move of Medical Psychologists to the Medical Board at all when it was initially revealed. I have since come to understand some of the reasons for the move and now believe that it was necessary for self- preservation. The secretive manner in which the transition took place offended many of us but that was the strategy of those involved at the time.” He noted, “I am still amazed at the number of people who won’t let this thing go and who would still choose to meddle with the chosen direction of the MPs.”
Regarding the supervision of psychology interns by medical psychologists not licensed by the state psychology board, Griffin said, “Interns and pre-licensed psychologists being supervised toward licensure are to be supervised by an LSBEP licensed psychologist. MPs can choose to keep their LSBEP affiliation so they would definitely qualify.”
The third candidate is Dr. Lynn Schechter, the only one of the three in private practice and the only licensed school psychologist running this time. She earned her PhD from Columbia University in New York and was first licensed in New York in 2002. She includes in her list of service to the profession assistant professor at LSUHSC, Clinic Director for Infant, Child, and Family Center at the Capital Area Human Services, and private practice with mostly low-income families. She has provided services to survivors of 9/11 in New York, in shelters post-Katrina, and post Gustav.
Schechter indicated that she has been a member of LPA, APA, and NASP but is not a member of any of these currently.
She writes on her application that she is concerned about the changes that impact lower income children and families in the state. And she is also concerned about the divisions that have erupted in the state between medical and non- medical psychologists.
When asked about Act 251, Dr. Schechter said, “I have mixed feelings about Act 251.” She noted that “… it does seem to make sense that the medical board would have to play some role in regulating their [medical psychologists] practice since medication (which can potentially have dire physical risks and side effects) …”
“From a personal standpoint,” she noted, “much of what bothered me concerning Act 251, from what I have read and from what I have heard, concerns the lack of transparency which seemingly occurred in order to enact it. I believe that caused a lot of unnecessary division, anger, and problems of trust within our state's profession as a whole, which does not strengthen the public's perception of our capabilities.”
Regarding supervision of interns, she explained that if the intern is to pursue a career only as a medical psychologist, and “… will become licensed under the medical board, … it would make sense.”
“… however, I would think that it could potentially be a problem for the young, aspiring psychologist who ultimately needs to be licensed by LSBEP, and not to the medical board.” She explained that it would make sense for an intern who has no interest in becoming a medical psychologist to be supervised by a regular psychologist who is licensed under the psychology board.
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