Article archive / July 1, 2015
Originally published: . Volume 6, No. 7. Source pages: 1, 6.
Dr. VanGeffen Named Distinguished Psychologist by La Psych Association
The Louisiana Psychological Association (LPA) named Dr. Kim VanGeffen as Distinguished Psychologist for 2015 at their convention held last month. Dr. VanGeffen is a clinical and neuropsychologist, leader in the psychology community, and humanitarian in the New Orleans area where she resides.
Dr. VanGeffen served as President Elect, President, and Past President of LPA during the 1990s and has also served for the last six years. She currently served as Director on the LPA Executive Council and is Chair of the Professional Affairs Committee.
VanGeffen is also a past president of the New Orleans Neuropsychological Society and has served on the Women in Leadership Committee of the National Academy of Neuropsychology.
VanGeffen has worked in the New Orleans volunteer mental health community for the last 20 years, serving as Vice President, President, and Past President of VIA LINK, a nonprofit social service that serves Orleans, Jefferson, Lafourche, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, St. Charles, St. John the Baptist, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, and Washington parishes.
The agency operates the 211 Information and Referral and Crisis Call Center for the greater New Orleans area and helps individuals and families understand the resources and services available and how to connect to these services, to improving the daily life of those in need as well as helping those in crisis.
VanGeffen has served on the Board of Directors for VIA LINK since 1992 and is now Director Emeritus for the organization.
She also serves on the Board of Directors of the Thomas/McMahan Foundation in New Orleans, a nonprofit organization established in the memory of two New Orleans physicians who died of cancer. The Thomas/McMahan Foundation raises money for and arranges for services for cancer patients to enhance their quality of life while they undergo treatment.
In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, VanGeffen was part of a group in the Far Fund Project New Orleans. The Far Fund is a New York organization which provides grants to various projects. Dr. Kathy Nathan, a New Orleans psychologist, secured a grant from Far Fund after Hurricane Katrina to understand and address the experiences of therapists during and after the Hurricane. VanGeffen helped and participated in discovery of what it was like being a therapist personally affected by Katrina while treating patients who were also affected by Katrina. She is also currently helping with Katrina Anniversary Workshops, coordinated by members of LPA.
Dr. VanGeffen received her doctorate in clinical psychology from Louisiana State University and completed an internship at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. She is a member of the American Psychological Association, Louisiana Psychological Association, the National Academy of Neuro- psychology, the Southeastern Psychological Association, and the Cresent City Association of Psychologists. In her private practice, Dr. VanGeffen provides psychological, neuropsycho- logical and child custody evaluations as well as individual and family therapies.
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