Article archive / July 1, 2015
Originally published: . Volume 6, No. 7. Source pages: 2.
Sacred Trusts by J. Nelson
The torpedoing of Dr. Comaty’s appointment can be viewed as the working of democracy, two points for the underdogs, or even a dish served cold, since the only other black-balling in recent history was LAMP going after the incorruptible John Simoneaux in 2010. I’ve told John that that was a badge of honor––a sure sign of his integrity and that LAMP viewed him as not being soft-headed enough to manipulate.
While the sheep grew some teeth and LAMP got, for once, some of its own RxP, this type of thing is nothing for us to be proud of. With it, we’re getting down and rolling around in the dirt along with LAMP.
We’re social-emotional fish; the waters in which we swim become part of us. Consider the group dynamics going on. The psychology board claimed to put forth a “clean-up” bill and figured it could delete LPA from providing “a list” of names to the Governor. This little gold nugget of power came into sharp focus and a concerted political effort by the psychology board to remove LPA and somehow include LAMP, ensued. This included some strong-arming in both content and group process, and also, by the way, violations in Open Meetings and Public Records Laws, and their role in lobbying. But hey, who’s watching?
The goody-goodies over in LPA, presumably unconvinced by game theory, have offered several democratic solutions. Not surprisingly the board has politely spit them back in their faces.
My point is: Who does the board look more like in group climate? Closed, defensive, unconscious, autocratic, power-hungry? Hummmm, could it be Laaaaaammp?
Abraham Lincoln said, “… if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.” Well, here is our test. We are up to our eyeballs in it.
And, what is LAMP doing? Why do they continue to hang out in psychology, tormenting the rest of us and sucking up energy? Is it because––news flash–– there is no fight over under medicine? Medical psychology will never have a seat at the physicians’ table. Rank and file MPs are trapped. They pay LAMP $1500 for their CEs and they wind up supporting the LAMP leadership who needs a political battle somewhere. Otherwise, why pay Courson & Nickel $75K/year, what fun would it be without them?
Or, is the agenda to drag mental health under medicine? Tacking on the medical board to the practice of the counselors and family therapists suggests that maybe LAMP imagines and would enjoy a hierarchy in mental health, with them on top of course. Then everyone can be “mid-level providers” with the medical model and big pharma in the catbird seat for healthcare.
All of this demands we think of better, more decent ways to resolve our problems than “politics,” the euphemism for power games, which, if you’re not fighting terrorists, are mostly unconscious, archaic motivations that get in the way of good judgment and decision-making.
I recently attended the LPA convention and a good friend said, “What are you fighting now?” This hurt, because I don’t come to my role in our community with any sense of real comfort. It’s been hard on me and hard on my family. And I’ve gotten criticisms from colleagues: “You’re divisive,” “You’re a trouble-maker.” Some people say, “Can’t you just move on?” I’ve thought about that a lot.
When Don Glad chose me to join this scientific profession, I experienced that as a very great privilege. I looked up to him, and to Joe Dawson, and Art Riopelle, and Tom Stigall, and others. Through some lucky accident I was accepted into this amazing group. I took it seriously then, and I take it seriously now.
I took it as a sacred trust, a duty, to carry the ideals and principles of the science and practice of psychology into the community, into the future, as best I could with the talents I was given. I even helped with the psychology law that stood until Act 251.
For me, this duty, once embraced, has been a jealous lover. I either can’t or won’t put these ideals away and I feel a clash between the principles I cherish and what I see happening.
But I also get plenty of praise: “You’re courageous,” “You’re brilliant,” “You’re a great psychologist.” The fact is, I’m none of these things––at least no more and no less than anyone else. I’m not smarter than anyone else, I’m not more courageous … I’m retired.
Those of us who understand what’s at stake here, and who can take the risk as proxies for the younger psychologists, need to come forward. Psychology might be one of the only professions where wisdom is as or more important than knowledge, given the human psyche. Perhaps LPA can create a structure for this. Call them. Or call me. Or call Susan Dardard.
I’ve never cared one way or the other about RxP, but I do care about what blew in the window with it. Those of us who believe that psychology is best served by its principles and not by power games, should come together and reinstall our ideals.
Principles are what we have to depend on when our mind turns to mush as it inevitably will, during group-think, power issues, or the speeded up pace of our fast-think lives. So we can’t compromise them, or sooth, or try and get along, if it requires a compromise of our principles.
We should all be “divisive,” at these times. Martin Luther King has been quoted to say, “Never be afraid to do what’s right.” Our principles, given to us by our collective fathers, are the water in which we swim. We must keep the waters pure.
Have a Happy July 4th.
This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.