Article archive / January 1, 2013
Originally published: . Volume 4, No. 5. Source pages: 1, 10, 11, 12, 13.
The 2012 news year was characterized by some interesting politics in the mental health and educational segments of the community, but in many areas things were fairly quiet. Perhaps people were knuckled down and coping with the economy. The bright spots in the 2012 news were the individuals, who pushed ahead with contributions and innovations in science, practice, education, and training, aimed at making the world a better place. The national tragedy coming late in the year, and that set the country reeling, may direct many of the discussions for 2013 in the psychology community. Here is some of what we reported.
JANUARY
LSBEP Says No Dice to LPA President – The LSBEP (Louisiana State Board of Examiners of Psychologists) responded negative to a request from LPA President Dr. Phil Griffin of the Louisiana Psychological Association (LPA) about discussing ways to bring psychology back from under medicine. Dr. Tony Young wrote, “This is a legislative matter and is not the responsibility of the LSBEP to change.” The request came from a resolution by LPA members, years in the making, to seek certain changes in Act 251.
Tulane’s Dr. Adrienne Colella took on the President role for the Society of Industrial and Organizational Psychology (SIOP), the largest group of IO psychologists in the country.
Dr. Lisa Tropez-Arceneaux, New Orleans licensed clinical psychologist, returned from a trip to Honduras where she assisted youngsters recovering from burns.
FEBRUARY
DDS Director Cautions About LPA Seminar – Executive Director of Louisiana Disability Determination Services sent a message to consultative examination providers cautioning them about a presentation hosted by the Louisiana Psychological Association (LPA), where Dr. Michael Chafetz gave information about his research about malingering. Throughout 2012 the Times asked repeatedly for explanation but the government has yet to respond.
Dr. Speier Named Asst Secretary OBH – Psychologist Dr. Anthony Speier became the New Assistant Secretary for the Office of Behavioral Health.
Boards Get Ready For Sunset Law – Everyone braced for Sunset, but it never came. The Sunset process was pushed forward to July 2017.
LPCs Continue to Work on 320 Rules – Members of the Licensed Professional Counselors (LPC) Board continued to discuss revisions to rules for Act 320, legislation passed in 2011 that clarified and expanded the scope of practice for counselors, but required collaboration and consultation with someone licensed under the state medical board when treating individuals with “serious mental illness.”
LAMP Has New President – Dr. Cathy Castille, Baton Rouge medical psychologist, became the new President of the Louisiana Academy of Medical Psychologists, replacing Dr. John Bolter.
Southeastern Psychological Association Meets in New Orleans – Presenters included Dr. Susan Thorson-Barnett, Chair of Psychology at Northwestern State U.; and Drs. Mary Livingston, Alice Carter, Jerome Tobacy, and Angela Kennedy, from Louisiana Tech.
MARCH
Senate Bill 185 – The “Board Certified Behavioral Analyst Practice Act,” designed by the LSBEP and led by Dr. John Courtney, medical psychologist, became a slow motion train wreck, crystallizing opposition and dislike toward the psychology board and perhaps psychologists in general.
The issue would come to define the 2012 political scene after eliciting heavy opposition in autism parent groups, some of the education departments, and many behavior analysts. Opponents fended off several attempts by LSBEP to push the legislation through, and it came to an end in May when Senator J.P. Morrell, a parent also, created a commission that worked throughout the year on ideas for regulation.
The reason for the 2012 legislative move by the LSBEP was not explained in their minutes, nor did a vote ever appear to have been taken on the matter.
By the end of the year, the commission members would vote to place the behavior analysts under the LPC board, the main issue seeming to be a general distrust of the psychologists. While parent groups appeared most concerned about costs and restriction of providers, some old wounds in the psychology community also seemed obvious in the vote. (See story this issue.)
SB 216 – LPCs Successful In Removing Requirement – Licensed Professional Counselors were able to remove a requirement that their clients had to be under the care of a professional who prescribes medication, wording that came about in the changes to the Mental Health Counselors Licensing Act in 2011, but that had caused the LPC board to file emergency rules throughout the last year to deal with the requirement. Leaders in LPA did not oppose the bill, but a dust-up occurred between the psychology and LPC board attorney’s over statements by the LSBEP Executive Director.
HB 326 – Supported by the Louisiana Psychological Association, 326 amended the Children’s Code Articles regarding emergency certificate admission, allowing psychologists and some nurse practitioners to make emergency admissions. The medical psychologists tagged along for the ride.
The Louisiana School Psychology Internship Consortium (LAS*PIC), a program of the Human Development Center of the LSU Health Sciences Center in New Orleans, celebrated 20 years of excellence.
Dr. Burnett Captured Top Spot in LSBEP Election – Dr. Darla Burnett, the only medical psychologist running, received ten more votes than LSUS Chair Gary Jones for the LSBEP election. Dr. Arnold James was third. Burnett was appointed by the governor later in the year. Her appointment would maintain a majority of medical psychologists on the psychology board.
LSU’s Dr. Gouvier Wins Sage Science Award – Dr. William Gouvier, Randee Booksh, Russell Pella and Ashvind Singh were recognized for theie study, “Ability of College Students to Simulate ADHD on Objective Measures of Attention,” by Sage.
APRIL
Medicaid Psychologists Respond to DHH – Medicaid psychologists wrote to DHH Medicaid Director about concerns of utilization of psychologists in the new Medicaid program.
LPA Investigates Risk To Interns – Dr. Alicia Pellegrin, Secretary and Legislative Affairs Chair for Louisiana Psychological Association, contacted ASPPB (Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards) to ask about Louisiana’s unique regulatory situation and its impact on psychology interns in Louisiana. The ASPPB Director said, “… I am concerned that any number of boards may not recognize psychologists licensed by a medical board as licensed psychologists regardless of the law in Louisiana.” The supervision issue resulted from the reversal of an earlier opinion, led by Dr. Joe Comaty, after he was contacted by the president of LAMP and the Executive Director of the state medical board to reconsider the position.
Louisiana Psychological Association Convention featured Dr. Suzanne Chabaud, A&E television expert on Hoarders, from New Orleans, Dr. Cam Melville from McNeese on behavior analysis, and Dr. John Pickering on mindfulness, among others. Dr. John Fanning was chosen as the next president. A resolution to bring psychology by medical psychologists back under the state psychology board, was corrected by Dr. Tom Hannie, who explained that his original wording had been changed by the medical psychologist who recorded the 2011 motion.
LAMP Conference – Louisiana Academy of Medical Psychologists (LAMP) held their spring conference. Dr. Cathy Castille refused to provide any details about speakers or dates. Later the Times later obtained the information. Presenters included Drs. Joe Comaty, Claire Advokat, Cecil Reynolds, and Kim Gratz. The LAMP conference was scheduled on the same dates as the LPA conference. Undisclosed sources noted to the Times that the agenda for LAMP activities is confidential and restricted to dues paying members. .
The LSBEP held a town hall meeting at the LPA convention. Board members attempted to resolve parents’ and analysts’ doubts about the LSBEP legislation to put behavior analysts under the psychology board, at a town hall meeting. Later reports by parents suggested the effort to ease fears did little. State psychology board Executive Director Ms. Kelly Parker and Dr. Tony Young listen to comments at the April town hall type meeting that the board held to hear comments by parents and behavior analysts. While the meeting allowed for some interactions, it did not resolve concerns about the board.
Governor Jindal Reappoints Dr. Armelie To Commission – Dr. Aaron Armelie, health science specialist at the Southeast Louisiana Veterans Healthcare System, was reappointed to the HIV, AIDS, and Hepatitis C Commission by the governor.
LA Team Leads Successful CE Program at SWPA – Dr. Lawrence Dilks headed up the planning committee for Southwestern Psychological Association with the assistance of intern Burton Ashworth, student Jackie Bourassa, and doctoral student Billie Meyers. Dr. John Simoneaux was a Preconference Speaker
Dr. Ally Presented For APA – Louisiana medical psychologist, Dr. Glenn Ally, presented for APA “Clinician’s Corner.”
Dr. Muse Launched MensanaPublications.com Dr. Mark Muse, Louisiana medical psychologist and author of Handbook of Clinical Psychopharmacology for Psychologists, launched an online continuing education resource.
Dr. Pickering &Thay Dao Quang Offered “Mindfulness Day” – Dr. John Pickering, clinical psychologist from Baton Rouge, and practitioner of Zen Buddhism and meditation for over 40 years, joined Thay Dao Quang, Zen- trained Buddhist monk and Abbot of the Tam Bao Buddhist Temple in Baton Rouge, to offer a day of training.
MAY
Merger of LSUS to LaTech Failed – A proposed law aimed to transfer Louisiana State University at Shreveport from the LSU System to the University of Louisiana System. The plan was ultimately abandoned for want of a supermajority.
LSUS School Psychology Receives Accreditation – The Specialist in School Psychology (SSP) program at LSU Shreveport earned a seven-year accreditation and full approval from the National Association of School Psychologists, Dr. Kevin Jones explained.
Dr. Tiffany Stewart Launches “App” For Healthy Behavior – In her role as co-founder of a science- based technology company, Body Evolution Technologies, Dr. Tiffany Stewart helped to launch a new commercial app named The Body Image VoiceTM.
Dr. Chafetz Named LPA Distinguished Psychologist 2012 – Louisiana Psychological Association named Dr. Michael Chafetz, board certified clinical neuropsychologist from New Orleans, as its Distinguished Psychologist for 2012.
Zero-To-Three Names Tulane’s Dr. Heller To Leadership Group – The national organization for the well-being of infants and toddlers named Dr. Sherryl Heller to its 2012 Class of Leaders for the 21st Century.
UNO’s Dr. Reed In Best 300 Professors – Dr. Gilda Werner Reed of the U. of New Orleans psychology department has been named in the nation’s top-rated professors, according to Princeton Review’s The Best 300 Professors.
LaTech IO Student Works with Golf Digest – Luke Simmering, an industrial-organizational psychology graduate student from Louisiana Tech teamed up with Golf Digest to survey golfers nationwide on certain attitudes.
Louisiana Researchers Present at APS May – A host of psychological researchers presented at the Association for Psychological Science, including Kendall Eskine from Loyola, Jennifer Thibodeaux, Walter Buboltz, and Tillman Sheets from La Tech, and Sean Lane and Leslie Butler from LSU.
JUNE
School Psychologist Tweets Draw Sharp Criticisms – A Jefferson Parish school psychologist drew strong criticism from a number of sources for his comments on Twitter and NOLA.com.
Dr. Lemoine Commended – Dr. Randall “Randy” Lemoine was commended by the Legislature for his thirty-five years of distinguished service with the Department of Health and Hospitals.
UNO’s Dr. Laird Looks At Family To Improve Teen Driver Safety – Dr. Robert Laird, associate professor at the University of New Orleans (UNO) earned a $515,000 grant from the W. T. Grant Foundation to study teen drivers.
LSBEP Board Member Files Suit Against Angie’s List and a Psychiatrist for Libel – John Courtney, PsyD, MP, filed a lawsuit against Bartholomew Vereb, MD, and against Angie’s List, Inc., in March for comments that he was a “joker” and a “quack.” Angie’s List was later dismissed from the suit based on legal protection for blogs.
LPC Board Posts New Rules for Marriage & Family Therapists – The Licensed Professional Counselors Board of Examiners published 11 pages of rules for the regulation of Marriage and Family Therapists.
Times’ Request for 251 Memo Rejected Again by LSBEP – The Times was again denied the memo discussed during two key board meetings in 2009, about Act 251. And the board did not answer the questions about an earlier rationale about preparing for ligation.
Pennington’s Dr. Stewart Wins $2.3 Million NIH Grant To Study Health of Female Athletes – Pennington Biomedical Research Center and Dr. Tiffany Stewart was awarded a five- year, $2.3 million grant by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to investigate a program designed to improve the health and well-being of female collegiate athletes.
Tulane Faculty Member Dr. Beth Wee Honored – Psychology faculty member Dr. Beth Wee has received the John Stibbs Award for Outstanding Faculty Member from Tulane’s undergraduate Student Government.
JULY
School Psychology Internship Program Threatened – An eleventh hour message that the Louisiana School Psychology Internship Consortium (LAS*PIC) was to be cancelled prompted a number of actions by the program director and concerned colleagues. These efforts helped forestalled the Department of Education’s apparent decision to cancel funding. “For now,” a source told the Times.
Forensic Psychologists Questioned New Procedures As State Restructures – Forensic psychologists who work with state clients formed a task force to study the newest decisions in state programs. Led by Dr. Jesse Lambert and supported by LPA, the team began analyzing quality issues regarding the Louisiana Behavioral Health Partnership, a coordinated system of care involving the Department of Health and Hospitals, Department of Education, Department of Children and Family Services, and the Office of Juvenile Justice. The task team is concerned that the medical insurance contractor Magellan is structuring legal decisions to be made by individuals who are not qualified to make high stakes forensic determinations.
New CE Guidelines Were Reviewed for Psychologists – The psychology board continued with their goal of updating the continuing education guidelines tracking the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPPB) ideas. The changes were published in the LA Register and drew comments from the community, mostly about the reduction in traditional training hours allowed. More kinds and types of continuing development were generally accepted.
Psychology & Cyberspace – Dr. Rick Stevens, associate professor of psychology at the U. of Louisiana of Monroe, uses the technology of the “virtual world” to help him with his research and teaching.
VA Hires 1,600 Mental Health Professionals – To deal with growing mental health issues in veterans, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs moved to hire more help. Position postings began to appear at the VA centers in Shreveport, Alexandria, Baton Rouge, and New Orleans for psychologists, social workers, and psychiatrists.
HOLA – “Hola” visited the Louisiana State Board of Examiners of Psychology at their June meeting. The Goldendoodle pet of Dr. John Courtney needed a place to crash and the board adjusted.
PT Interviews New LPA Pres -Dr. Bryan Gros told the Times that one of his main objectives for his presidency: “An overall, broad strategic vision is one of my main objectives. We could benefit from better defining, or better understanding, who we are, where we are, who we want to be, and where we want to be in the future.”
AUGUST
BP Settlement Funds Health Projects in LA Coastal Community: LSUHSC Professors Lead Mental and Behavioral Health Project. A legal settlement for health issues provided $105 million to projects aimed at increasing the availability of healthcare to the coastal communities in Louisiana and four other states. As part of the 432-page class action medical settlement between plaintiffs and BP, which set out compensation procedures for those with illnesses arising from the spill, BP agreed to allocate $105 million for four projects to support residents’ primary and psychological care.
LSU Combines Six Schools Into College of Human Sciences & Ed – LSU combined the School of Education, the School of Human Resource Education and Workforce Development, the School of Kinesiology, the School of Library and Information Science, the School of Social Work and the University Laboratory School.
LA Presenters at APA in Orlando – Louisiana psychologists and researchers who presented at the American Psychological Association included Dr. Darlyne Nemeth, Dr. Michael Cunningham, Dr. Glen Ally, and Dr. Kelly Ray. Dr. John Robinson won the Matarazzo Award. Tulane students Laura Marques, Alison Lubin, Dr. Douglas Walker, Laura Danna, Shereen Naser, Claire Mendez, and Dr. Stacy Overstreet presented research. Dr. Mark Muse and Dr. Bret Moore presented on their Handbook.
Gov Announces Appointments To LPC Board of Examiners – Kathy Lammert, LPC from Metairie, Military Program Coordinator and lead therapist for Dual Diagnosis Inpatient Program for River Oaks Hospital, and Dustin Dowling, public member, were appointed to the board.
LSU Education Professor and Psychologist Dr. Culross Spoke In London During the 2012 Summer Olympics – Dr. Rita Culross, LSU College of Education professor and licensed psychologist, spoke at the Oxford Roundtable at Harris Manchester College in the University of Oxford in Oxford, England, on talent development in Olympic athletes.
SEPTEMBER
Who Paid for Act 251 and Why? – The Times did an investigative story about some of the missing information around Act 251, a law that repealed the landmark 2004 Act 11 and moved medical psychologists and their practice of psychology under the authority of the medical board.
Dr. Overstreet Takes Over Chair at Tulane, Dr. Ruscher Takes On Associate Dean – Dr. Stacy Overstreet, a professor, licensed school psychologist, took over the duties of the Chair of Psychology as Dr. Janet Ruscher who led Tulane Psychology for 9 years, was named to Associate Dean of Graduate Programs in Tulane’s School of Science and Engineering.
ULM Partnering With Pennington to Study Dementia Prevention – Dr. Karen Kopera-Frye, department head of Gerontology, Sociology and Political Science at University of Louisiana Monroe (ULM) helps lead a joint project between ULM and Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Baton Rouge, part of the LSU System. “
OCTOBER
Dr. Hutto Takes On New Department at U. of LA Monroe – Dr. Cecil Hutto was appointed Chair for the newly created Department of Behavioral Sciences at the University of Louisiana – Monroe (ULM). Dr. Hutto takes over from retiring Dr. David Williamson, in an expanded department.
Psych Bd Asks AG To Expedite ABA Opinion – The psychology board has requested that the state Attorney General expedite an Opinion regarding the practice of applied behavioral analysis.
The Power List 2012 – Using an idea from the Independent News (Pensacola) the Times conducted a rough focus group to discover who is perceived as having power. Dr. James Quillin received the most nods.
Dr. Stewart Interviewed by Huffington – Dr. Tiffany Stewart was interviewed by Huffington Post Healthy Living writer, Jean Fain, MSW, who was inspired by Stewart’s work in the video, Body Image Project video.
Dr. Rizzuto Joins LSU College of HS & ED – Dr. Tracey Rizzuto joined the School of Human Resource Education & Workforce Development in the newly organized LSU College of Human Sciences & Education. She left her position as assistant professor in IO at LSU Psychology.
NOVEMBER
AG Opinions Clarify LMFT Scope of Practice, ABA Issues – The Louisiana Attorney General issued Opinions for the LSBEP about rules for Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFTs), and the practice of applied behavior analysis. The Attorney General (AG) found no problem with the LMFT rules, and basically answered that while the board had the right to put injunctions on behavior analysts, it would be up to the judges to determine if it was reasonable or not.
Dr. Simpson Launches Kid’s Dashboard – The Children’s Cabinet launched its “Louisiana Kid’s Dashboard” a continuing step in the Cabinet’s efforts to coordinate and engage the statewide community to help for Louisiana’s children. Dr. Tiffany Simpson, a graduate of the University of New Orleans psychology department, is the Executive Director of the Cabinet.
LA Psychologists Note Issues For Understanding Military Life – The Times spoke with two Louisiana psychologists for Veterans Day, Dr. Dana Boose and Dr. Andrew Thrasher, about their perspectives. Dr. Dana Boose is a Clinical Psychologist in the Post Deployment Healthcare Clinic at the Alexandria VA Healthcare System, and Dr. Andrew Thrasher is a veteran and member of the Give An Hour program.
Psychological Science in Public Interest Webinar Presented by LPA – Dr. Michael Chafetz presented a special review of his research on malingering in social security disability for Senator Thomas Coburn’s Congressional Office members.
Southern U. Psychology Department Hosted Research Conference – The Psychology Department at Southern University hosted the 13th annual Behavioral and Social Sciences Undergraduate Research Conference. Dr. Murielle Harrison, psychologist and professor, is Chair of Psychology at Southern.
DECEMBER
Commission Heated Up – Psych board offered an unprecedented two positions on the LSBEP in rushed negotiations after the parent chairs listed an “Established Economic Conflict of Interest,” and “Mistrust/Antagonistic Relationship” with the psychology board. A proposed a merged board arrangement for LPCs and behavior analysts prompted the surprising offer from the LSBEP.
UNO’s Dr. Weems Drew National Media Interest – University of New Orleans psychology professor Dr. Carl Weems and his graduate students Brandon Scott, Donice Banks, and Rebecca Graham, drew national attention for their study about stress, television, and disaster coverage, published in Psychological Science, the highest ranked empirical journal in psychology.
Louisiana School Psych Assn Hosts 200+ Attendees – Over 200 school psychology professionals took on the critical topics of how to help at-risk youngsters at the Louisiana School Psychological Association (LSPA) conference. LSPA President Dr. Yael Banai told the Times that this year’s theme, “Resilience and Reconnection,” was chosen to help spotlight the particular strengths that students have. Presenters included Drs. Stacy Overstreet, Michael Cunningham, Conni Patterson, and Bonnie Natasi, from Tulane, Dr. Alan Coulter of LSUHSC, Dr. Kevin Jones, LSU Shreveport and past president of LSPA, and Dr. Rebecca Nolan, also from LSU Shreveport, school psychologist and medical psychologist.
U of LA Monroe Researchers Begin Assessment Of Academic Psychologists & Students – Researchers from the University of Louisiana Monroe (ULM) launched an effort to better understand the needs of academic psychologists and students of psychology last month in collaboration with members of LPA. Dr. Karen Kopera-Frye, Ms. Janease Traylor, Ms. Sandra Dillion, Dr. Bill McCown, Interim Provost at ULM, Dr. Susan Dardard, Membership Chair of LPA, and Dr. Gail Gillespie, are helping.
Dr. Courtney Resigns from LSBEP – Vice Chair of the psychology board, Dr. John Courtney, stepped down from his position on the Louisiana State Board of Examiners of Psych- ology in December.
Dr. Schechter Speaks To USA Today About Stress and Sandy Superstorm – Dr. Lynn Schechter, Baton Rouge psychologist and native of Oceanside, New York, was interviewed for a USA Today article on the psychological impact of the storm.
UNO’s Dr. Gilda Reed Honored – Excellence in Teaching – The U. of New Orleans Inter- national Alumni Association named Dr. Gilda Reed recipient of its Excellence in Teaching Award.
This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.