Article archive / November 1, 2016
Originally published: . Volume 7, No. 11. Source pages: 14.
The Monitor, magazine for the American Psychological Association, included two Louisiana psychologists among their feature, “9 Rising stars: Meet a group of early career psychologists who confronted problems and found unique ways to solve them.”
Dr. Kristin Callahan and Dr. Michelle Moore were showcased in the Rising Stars article, published in October. The authors wrote that today’s “crop of early career psychologists may be the most entrepreneurial and creative in the field's history.”
The Monitor authors noted the challenges of rapid changes in systems of care and the need for innovation that the early career psychologists are handling with new approaches.
Showcased was Dr. Kristin Callahan, Assistant Professor at the Louisiana University Medical School. After working in a Head Start center in New Orleans Callahan was propelled to find better ways to meet the needs for early intervention and psychotherapy in young children, said the Monitor authors.
Dr. Callahan linked with Gulf Region Health Outreach Program funded from the Deepwater Horizon Medical Benefits Class Action Settlement for Lafourche Parish. With that funding she was able to provide services to 15 Head Start centers in the parish.
Callahan leads a team of LSU Health Sciences Center clinicians that provide services, which include observing classrooms, advising teachers on behavior management and referring children who need further assessment or counseling to the LSUHSC clinic, said the authors.
Most of the children are dealing with multiple stressors at home as a result of parental unemployment or income loss after the oil spill. Many of those parents also developed addiction problems. “I’ve never seen parental drug use like this; it is an epidemic in this community,” Callahan said in the Monitor.
Dr. Michelle Moore was also highlighted in the national magazine and named a Rising Star.
“New Orleans psychologist Michelle B. Moore, PsyD, has created a novel way to help young children find their words in therapy: a coloring book that describes how such emotions as anger and embarrassment feel and helps children understand how their feelings affect their minds and bodies,” wrote the Monitor authors.
“Moore based her ‘Colorful Emotions’ coloring book on drawings she sketched as an intern working with a 9-year-old boy who was withdrawn and exhibiting depressive symptoms. One day, Moore drew the lines of a sad face for him and asked how the person in the drawing felt. The boy started to color the picture, and his words began to flow.”
Dr. Moore is a licensed clinical psychologist with a certificate in Infant Mental Health Specialist Certification, and is also Clinical Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, at LSU Health Sciences Center, Department of Psychiatry, Section of Psychology, in New Orleans. At the Center she is also Associate Director of Pre-Doctoral Training.
Using her strong background in psychotherapeutic and educational techniques, Moore created and produced a therapeutic tool that can be used to help youngsters express and label their emotions, but which also is entertaining and appealing.
The book as become a popular tool among New Orleans elementary school counselors said the Monitor. It is also popular with parents in Moore’s practice who often say they struggle with finding the right words to speak to their children.
Moore has extensive background in instruction and teaching and the text draws on her experience with youngsters and parents. Dr. Moore has worked in the Louisiana Rural Trauma Services Center research project funded by Mental and Behavioral Health Capacity Project-Louisiana. Colorful Emotions: A Workbook to Help Children Express Their Feelings is available from Amazon.
Dr. Michelle Moore (R) with Sarah Scalese at a past conference. Dr. Moore and Dr. Kristin Callahan were showcased in the American Psychological Association’s October Monitor.
This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.