Originally published: . Volume 5, No. 10. Source pages: 16.
July 16, 17, 18 Annual Mental Health Summer Symposium Quickly Approaching
The Summer Symposium is fast approaching but there are still a few seats available says the staff at Professional Training Resources. Dr. John Simoneaux reminds us that participants can receive 23 CEs over three days, including ethics.
The 12th Annual Mental Health Summer Symposium, sponsored by Professional Training Resources (PTR), will be held July 16–18 in Lafayette, Louisiana at the Hotel Acadiana.
Highlights for this year’s conference include McNeese’s Dr. Dena Matzenbacher, Teri Theaux, LPC, and Dr. Bryon Simoneaux.
Owner and Director, Dr. John Simoneaux will present on the Diagnostic V-Codes and Other Conditions that are outlined in DSM-5.
Dr. Byron Simoneaux will present a workshop on PTSD.
Teri Theaux, LPC, will present a workshop to help mental health professionals learn how to work with parents
Dr. John Simoneaux on Antisocial Personality Disorder, one of the more frequent diagnoses he encounters in his forensic practice.
The third day includes Dr. Dena Matzenbacher, Psychology Chair from McNeese State University. Matzenbacher will discuss implications of extended adolescence.
The symposium concludes with training on Ethics, this time discussing ethical problems relating to the beginning and ending of therapy.
“Over 200 mental health colleagues in Louisiana have found the Symposium to be a great way to have fun while earning 23 continuing education hours on a variety of practical and useful topics,” Dr. Simoneaux said. “With the Symposium, you will learn in a relaxed atmosphere, you will laugh, and you will gather all of the hours you need.”
Participants are encouraged to dress very casually and to join the staff in the evenings for music, refreshments, and connections.
The popular training activity fills up every year, so for information contact PTR at 318- 443-0845 or 888-229-8128, or go to their website.
This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.
Originally published: . Volume 5, No. 10. Source pages: 4.
A measure to allow a change from the term “intern” to “provisional licensed” in both the case of counselor interns and marriage and family therapy interns, passed the Senate Chamber on May 29 with a vote of 35 to 0, having returned from the House’s 92 to 0 vote and amendments.
It should now go forward to be signed by the Governor. Once signed, the Act will be effective May 1, 2015.
Most of the amendments were minor, Cindy Nardini explained to the Times. Nardini is the Louisiana Counseling Association Governmental Relations Chair.
Nardini explained in a previous interview that the Counseling Association had been approached for several years by interns who asked for the change. The reason was because the word “intern” was confusing for the public. The word "provisional" was felt to more accurately describe the experience and training.
The bill was a collaboration between the Louisiana Counseling Association (LCA) and Louisiana Association of Marriage and Family Therapy (LAMFT). The two groups worked with the board to iron out any problems.
This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.
Originally published: . Volume 5, No. 10. Source pages: 5.
HB 614 was sent to the Governor for his signature. The new law states that if the public body has a website, the public body shall post on its website a copy of the minutes made available pursuant to Paragraph (1) of this Subsection (The minutes shall be public records and shall be available within a reasonable time after the meeting) and shall maintain the copy of those minutes on the website for at least three months after the posting. If the public body is required to publish its minutes in an official journal, the public body shall post its minutes on its website as required by this Paragraph within ten days after publication in the official journal. If the public body is not required to publish its minutes in an official journal, the public body shall post its minutes on its website as required by this Paragraph within a reasonable time after the meeting. The inability of the public to access the public body's website due to any type of technological failure shall not be a violation of the provisions of this Chapter.
This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.
Originally published: . Volume 5, No. 10. Source pages: 5.
A Senate Resolution created a Task Force on the Prevention of Sexual Abuse of Children within the Department of Children and Family Services based on “Erin’s Law.” Erin was sexually abused and began a crusade her senior year of high school in 2004 to end the silence and shame around sexual abuse. She was instrumental in passing a law in her home state of Illinois to address sexual abuse of children known as "Erin's Law"
The Task Force shall include members from government, law enforcement, education, the executive director of the Ls Violence Prevention Authority, executive director of the National Association of Social Workers, La Chapter, and others.
This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.
Originally published: . Volume 5, No. 10. Source pages: 5.
House Bill 421 amends the definition of a "treatment program" as used in the Post-Separation Violence Relief Act to include a treatment program comprised of a minimum of 26 in-person sessions that follows a model designed specifically for perpetrators of domestic abuse. The law passed and has been sent to the Governor.
New additions to existing law require the mental health professionals providing therapy to have certain experience and training. Specifically, the provider of the program is to have experience in working directly with the perpetrators and victims of domestic abuse, experience in facilitating batterer intervention groups, and training in the causes and dynamics of domestic violence, characteristics of batterers, victim safety, and sensitivity of victims.
This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.
Originally published: . Volume 5, No. 10. Source pages: 6.
The Illinois legislature passed Senate Bill 2187 amending the Clinical Psychologist Licensing Act to include certification for certain doctoral level psychologists to perscribe medications.
The final bill was an outcome of numerous negotiations between various factions both for and against the measure. The final result is noted by some to include numerous of concessions by those supporting the measure, especially in the level of training required for the credential. But is said by some supporters to be a step in the right direction.
The law will require psychologists to have a current license to practice in the psychology. The required education includes the following:
(A) specific minimum undergraduate biomedical prerequisite coursework, including, but not limited to: Medical Terminology (class or proficiency); Chemistry or Biochemistry with lab (2 semesters); human Physiology (one semester); Human Anatomy (one semester); Anatomy and Physiology; Microbiology with lab (one semester); and General Biology for science majors or Cell and Molecular Biology (one semester);
(B) a minimum of 60 credit hours didactic coursework, including but not limited to: Pharmacology; Clinical Psychopharmacology; Clinical anatomy and Integrated Science; Patient Evaluation; Advanced Physical Assessment; Research Methods; Advanced Pathophysiology; Diagnostic Methods; Problem Based Learning; and Clinical and Procedural Skills; and
(C) a full-time practicum of 14 months supervised clinical training of at least 36 credit hours, including a research project; during the clinical rotation phase, students complete rotations in Emergency Medicine, Family Medicine, Geriatrics, Internal Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Pediatrics, Psychiatrics, Surgery, and one elective […]
The law requires the prescribing psychologist to maintain on-going collaboration with a physician or psychiatrist, and also sets out a number of restrictions, including patients younger than 17 or older than 65, pregnant patients, patients with serious medical conditions, and the prescribing of benzodiazepine Schedule III controlled substances or narcotic drugs as defined by Illinois law.
The law allows medical psychologists from others states, such as from Louisiana, to apply for the Illinois credential. However, they must meet the same educational requirements outlined in the law for Illinois psychologists. One group initially opposing the “APA Model” for prescribing psychologists, the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), changed from opposing the measure to supporting it when the stronger training was included. In the NAMI Illinois legislative update, they said to their advocacy networks that the agreed upon bill was written by the Medical Society, and “… is a well-negotiated product, agreed to by all professional groups. NAMI Illinois applauds their endeavors and the outcomes of this lengthy debate.”
However, in an accidental post on the Illinois listserve, an APA Division 55 leader said those he had talked to were essentially seeing the Illinois prescribing bill as a “total loss” to the national objectives, and a “massive step backwards.”
The degree of training has been compared by some to be close to what is required of a physician’s assistant.
Louisiana medical psychologist Dr. Nadia Webb has provided education assistance to the RxP leaders in Illinois and to help them with their objectives. Current President Elect for the Louisiana Psychological Association also has presented at their conference, with Dr. Webb, clarifying how psychologists and medical psychologists can benefit from working together.
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Legislature Ends this Week License for Specialist in School Psychology Amended, Passed, and Signed by Gov. Jindal
A measure that will provide an optional credential, the “Licensed Specialist in School Psychology,” was passed into law when Governor Jindal signed the bill on May 22, turning it into Act 136. The new credential will fall under the state psychology board and the law will go into effect on August 1, 2014.
The bill sailed through the legislative process without significant changes until it reached the House floor on May 7, where an amendment by Senator Julie Stokes from Kenner added medical psychologists to those who supervise the new school psychology specialists. The bill passed 93 to 0, and was returned to the Senate floor, where it passed in final form, 38 to 1. The new law does not limit the duties of those school psychologists certified by the state. And, those with the new license will not diagnose mental disorders as defined by the DSM or ICD, or work independently in private practice. However, the credential may provide more options for specialists in school psychology and services overall.
“Relative to my viewpoint,” noted E. Francoise Parr, Past- President for the Louisiana School Psychological Association, “it appears that many PhD level, as well as specialist level school psychologists are in support of the Act for two primary reasons: It will allow those who seek licensure as Specialist School Psychologist to enter into contract with charter/private/parochial schools to provide LA Bulletin 1508 compliant evaluations and other school psychological services –within the scope of school psychology practice.
“And,” she said, “it will offer more billing opportunities with Medicaid reimbursement in the public school systems for services which school psychologists already provide.”
Parr was a member of the task force formed by the state psychology board and led by Dr. Rita Culross of Louisiana State University. The group produced a report about the issues in the state regarding school psychology services that highlighted a severe shortage of psychological services for school children throughout the state. They reported that there are only 69 psychologists with a specialty in school, licensed by the psychology board and residing in the state. And, only 17 of the 64 parishes have a local school psychologist in the area. While there are 240 certified school psychologists in Louisiana, none of these can practice outside of a public school.
The task force members also pointed out that in a population of 690,000 students in Louisiana schools, the ratio of certified school psychologists to Louisiana students is 1 to 2875 and the ratio of licensed school psychologists is 1 to 10,000 or greater.
Psychology Board Executive Director Kelly Parker told the Times last month that the board is already preparing to work on Rules to go with the new law.
Above, Executive Director Kelly Parker provides information as Senator Martiny listens. Members of the LSBEP task force and psychology board staff who helped on the issues of school psychology specialists. (L to R) Dr. Stephen Welsh, Kelly Parker, Deborah Harkins, and Dr. Rita Culross. Here they completed providing information to legislators about a bill or to be on hand if needed.
This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.
Originally published: . Volume 5, No. 10. Source pages: 6.
In a 5 to 4 decision on May 27, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that states must not use a rigid cut-off score on IQ tests when it applies to the death penalty. The court’s decision gives greater protection to the death row inmates who might be ineligible for the death sentence based on intellectual disability. Currently some states, such as Florida, may execute an individual who scored 71 on an IQ but not a person scoring 70, in capital murder cases.
Justice Kennedy wrote, “Persons facing that most severe sanction must have a fair opportunity to show that the Constitution prohibits their execution. Florida’s law contravenes our nation’s commitment to dignity and its duty to teach human decency as the mark of a civilized world.” Kennedy pointed to a review from the American Psychological Association that said IQ tests should be read as a range of numbers rather than a specific figure.
Writing for those who disagreed, Justice Samuel Alito said that this would present a change from allowing states, not professionals, to make determinations.
This is the first review of state laws having to do with mental disability in capital cases since 2002, when the court found that executing intellectually disabled individuals was a violation of the U.S. Constitution’s prohibition against cruel and unusual punishment.
This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.
Researchers from LSU, Tulane, UL–Lafayette, UNO, and Xavier Tulane’s Dr. Cunningham Chairs Invited Symposium at Association for Psychological Science 26th Annual Convention
Tulane’s Dr. Michael Cunningham chaired one of the special Invited Symposiums at this year’s Annual Convention for the Association for Psychological Science (APS), held May 22 through 24, in San Francisco.
Cunningham, Professor of Psychology and African & African Diaspora Studies at Tulane University, helped presenters from across the country examine, “Race and Parenting in African Americans: An Examination of Gender and Context.”
“Overall,” Dr. Cunningham told the Times, “the panel did a great job of distinguishing between myths and facts on research with African Americans. In doing so, each of the papers highlighted theoretical models that had empirical examples that focused on gender and context. The papers were well received by the participants,” he said.
The symposium brought together experts from across the country to look at how parenting strategies occur in direct and indirect ways in many African American families.
“Dupree et al., presented on a Dual Axis Model of Vulnerability that assists researchers in understanding the interactions of risk and protective factors,” Cunningham explained. “The presentation had an enlighten- ing and important focus on skin color,” he said. Commenting on research by Fegley, and others, he noted how “… light skinned adolescents were just as likely to prefer their own skin color as they were to prefer another skin color.” But, “In contrast, medium complexioned adolescents were more likely than their light and dark skinned peers to prefer a skin color other than their own. Dark skinned adolescents were more likely than their light and medium complexion- ed peers to prefer their own skin color.”
“In summary,” Cunningham noted, “students are complex and they can recognize strengths and challenges in the context and link the experiences to how they develop concepts about the self, in particular their respective identity,” he said.
Other topics in the special Invited Symposium included “Multidi- mensional Perspectives on African American Fathers’ Parenting Practices: Implications for Adolescent Well-Being,” and “Overweight concerns, mental health, and family process: Implications for health promotion of Black girls.”
Spencer used the phenomen- ological variant of ecological systems theory to discuss girls’ body esteem and linkages to significant others, explained Dr. Cunningham. “She reported that overweight concerns may be important to consider in relation to depressive symptoms among overweight and non-overweight Black girls despite evidence that suggests high levels of body satisfaction among Black females.”
Two teams of researchers from the University of Louisiana Lafayette (UL Lafayette) presented their research for the APS convention.
In “Parenting Stress Potentially Explains Why Parental Depression Relates to Child Behavioral Problems,” part of the offerings in the Developmental research presentations, researchers Elizabeth Jeffery, Dr. Hung-Chu Lin, Dr. Valanne MacGyvers, and Dr. Robert McFatter, all from UL Lafayette, presented data from 58 mother-child dyads. Their results indicated that parental depression, parenting stress, and child’s behavioral problems were positively correlated with one another. “Controlling for parenting stress, however, rendered the relation between parental depression and child’s behaviors nonsignificant.”
The results suggested that parenting stress might mediate the relation between parental depression and children’s behavioral problems, the researchers said.
UL Lafayette Professor Dr. Hung-Chu Lin, told the Times, “My students and I share research interests ranging from affect organization in parenting, development of self-conscious emotions, and temporal coordination of different emotions,” she said. “Our lab is equipped with state of the art Noldus Observer XT system that allows examinations of interpersonal dynamics at the microanalytic level. For the Preschoolers’ Empathy project, for example, we recruited preschoolers and observed their empathic responses to simulated distress in other social partners,” she explained. “The Observer XT permits moment-by-moment behavioral coding using recorded images from different cameras which are synchronized in time.”
Another team of researchers from UL Lafayette presented “The Effect of Familiarity on Preschoolers’ Empathy towards Distress in Social Partners.” Phillip Richard, Dr. Hung-Chu Lin, Dr. Valanne MacGyvers, Janna Bourque, and Ashley Schaff, presented research that examined preschoolers’ responses to distress in their parents, a stranger, and a crying infant, a life-like doll. They found that other-oriented behaviors indicating empathy towards the parent were negatively correlated with self- comforting behaviors towards the stranger and infant. Cognitive empathy and social inhibition predicted girls’ self- oriented behaviors in response to infant crying, noted the researchers.
“Something that is very special about our lab,” Dr. Hung–Chu Lin said, “is that it is not only comprised of psychology majors. We also have some students coming from biology and nursing departments,”
University of New Orleans’ researcher Farrah Golmaryami presented in another APS Symposium, “Innovations in Research in Adolescent Psychopathy,” on May 23. Co- authors in this work included Dr. Paul Frick, Laura Thornton, and Annie Crapanzano, all from the University of New Orleans.
Golmaryami looked at the interaction between bullying and victimization for the prediction of callous- unemotional (CU) traits in 284 students in the 4th through 7th grades. Results indicated stronger associations between bullying and CU traits for those lower on victimization, suggesting that CU traits may denote a particularly cruel bully typology.
Developmental psychologist, Dr. Patricia Sirois, from the Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, along with ten researchers from across the country, presented “Learning and Memory in Youth with Perinatal HIV Exposure and/or Infection.” Youth with perinatally acquired HIV show poorer performance in verbal learning and delayed recall compared to perinatally HIV- exposed but uninfected youth. Differences are largely accounted for by caregiver characteristics. However, associations with measures of disease severity suggest ongoing subtle effects of HIV with the potential for long- term impact, noted the researchers.
Louisiana State University’s Catherine Lemieux, joined with researchers to present “Character strengths and deep connections: Modeling resilience for disaster volunteers.” Their study examined a conceptual model with two pathways, one for altruism and one for perceived spiritual supports, leading to resilience among Hurricane Katrina-Rita volunteers. They noted these are indicators of character strengths Kindness and Spirituality. The results showed that the two indicators may have served as a protective mechanism for the whole sample despite volunteers’ different racial-cultural backgrounds. The researchers used structural equation modeling with a sample of 554 volunteers from those enrolled in metal health profession studies at five universities in the disaster-affected areas.
Doctoral student David Doyle from Tulane, in collaboration with other researchers, presented “Black Swans: The Impact of Dance Style on Objectification and Eating Disorders.” The researchers reported evidence for the general model of objectification theory and body image disturbance among male and female professional dancers in elite dance companies. Training and performing in classical styles (ballet vs. modern dance) correlated with objectifying cues and these cues correlated with body shame and eating disordered behaviors.
Amy Luthanen from Xavier University, joined with researchers from around the country to present, “The Mediating Effect of Self- Awareness on Supervisor Burnout and Workgroup Climate,” in the Industrial- Organizational subject area. The researchers found that supervisors with high self-awareness were more able to self- regulate and more likely to reorganize resources, better coping with burnout and alleviating negative effects on workgroup climate.
Dr. Mike Cunningham (L) and Dr. George Hebert at School Psychology Assn. Dr. Cunningham was the Chair of a special Invited Symposium at the recent APS Convention.
This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.
Originally published: . Volume 5, No. 10. Source pages: 6.
The new Behavior Analyst board has processed 82 applications so far, explained the board’s Executive Director Kelly Parker recently. Through May this year, the board has received 82 applications for the Behavior Analyst, 7 applications for Assistant BAs, and 340 applications for line technicians.
This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.
Dr. Yael Banai Goes Up, Up, and Away to the Alaskan Bush “What I Did on My Winter Vacation.”
[Editor’s Note: Dr. Banai has joined the Times’ staff and launches with this delightful travel and photo review of her year in Alaska, working in the schools.] I always knew that in post retirement, I would continue to do something, whether it be pursue my passion in photo- graphy or simply private practice/consulting. However, when my colleague Erin Powell did not show up for the Executive Council Meeting of Louisiana School Psycho- logical Association in the fall of 2012, and I was told she had taken a job in Alaska, I was intrigued by the possibility. As those who know me can attest, I have always had a taste for adventure. What could be more adventurous, I wondered, than a year's sojourn in a land known for it's spectacular landscapes and wide expanses? As a southern girl born and bred, the fact that I had never seen more than a temporary snowfall of more than three inches in my life did give me at least momentary pause; however, the lure of the unknown proved too strong and I was up for a new phase in my life. The organization that I worked for is the Southeast Regional Resource Center (SERRC) formed by the Alaska legislature to provide itinerant professional resources (occupational, physical, and speech therapists, and school psychologists) to the far-flung native communities in the Alaskan bush. The areas I served ranged from the Aleutian chain in the south, to the vacation spots of Cordova and Valdez on the coast, to Aniak and Dillingham in the interior. Although English is the official state language and is virtually universally spoken, the older generation does continue to speak their native tongue, whether Yu'pik, Athabascan, or any other of a myriad of local dialects. The local English is spoken in a lilting, almost lyrical tone.
In the bush, the school is usually the largest and most substantial building in the entire community, although often the total student population might be as low as 10 students. Given the remoteness of the location, the facilities bristle with technology: satellite dishes, a computer lab filled with Macintosh computers, and an iPad for each student. E- therapy is also popular with speech therapy frequently conducted via this means.
In places like Dutch Harbor (the location of the TV show “Deadliest Catch”), Cordova and Valdez, the population is typically of Scandanavian or Russian descent, the local occupations being either in the fishing or the oil industry. Hundreds of Philipino workers rotate in and out seasonally to work in the canneries. Elsewhere, the village populations are primarily native Alaskan, with a sprinkling of Caucasians.
He who would travel throughout Alaska does so by air, either in the 20-30 seat prop jets, or into the bush proper via 4-8 seater Cessnas. Alaska bush pilots are a cross between cowboys and New York cabbies: often colorful yet irascible fellows, excellent fliers, who fly in all but the worst weather. In my early journeys in the fall, I was invariably accompanied on these small planes by burly, bearded men in camo with a variety of hunting rifles who of course had come to hunt bear or moose.
However, there was one more mode of travel which is available only about 5 months of the year which is of course transversing the frozen rivers in an SUV. On one of my last trips to Aniak, we did indeed make the 40 mile journey on the “ice road” of the Kusquoquim River to Kalskag— interestingly divided since the 1940's into “Upper” and “Lower”, a division prompted by religious conflict between the Roman Catholic and the Russian Orthodox populations.
Insofar as school psychological services are concerned, we were primarily consumed with evaluations. In many of these communities, the special education population runs as high as 50% of the total. In terms of the Response to Intervention paradigm, the practice I encountered was virtually identical with what I found in Lafourche Parish after completing my doctoral work: high referral rates and all students received a standard battery of tests. Though RTI [Response to Intervention] is spoken of, and indeed, there are some districts in which a staff member is charged with implementation, Louisiana has a much more highly articulated and implemented system.
There is a story they tell in Gambell (in the Bering Straits) which is likely apocryphal, but telling nonetheless: that in the 20s a biplane landed with various trading goods along with a crate of bibles and a crate of liquor. The proof in this pudding is reflected in the abysmally high rate of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (some estimates put it at 30% higher than in the lower forty- eight) and the equally appalling youth suicide rate.
In working with students, with rare exception, they virtually all desire to remain with their villages post school completion. Of course, “home is home” no matter how remote or forbidding the environment. Yet, the employment opportunities are few. Aside from what they call “subsistence” (which is hunting, fishing and trapping), the primary employment opportunities lie in the school (which may only have one teacher and an aide) or the local native store.
As one might imagine, there is a tremendous staff turnover in the schools, likely running at 50% in some places. Staff typically consists of folks seeking a year of experience, idealistic retirees, or the religiously motivated. Although there are certainly some native Alaskan staff, they are by far in the minority.
Much to my great disappointment I found that the primary mode of transport consists of four-wheelers, driven by everyone from the age of 14 and up. (Dog teams tend to be maintained by dedicated Caucasian hobbyists, but have virtually disappeared in the bush.) Upon arriving at the bush airstrip, you and all your gear (test kits, food and water, and a bit of clothing) are transported to the school, in the fall through the mud, and in the winter through the snow, straddling behind your “driver” who may himself be a student at the school.
The parameters of the school population were remarkably similar to those I encountered in Lafourche Parish so long ago: intellectual profiles a standard deviation below the mean with spotty educational performance, as well as a breathtaking dropout rate. Complicating issues was also rampant student absenteeism: with little parental supervision, the kids are often buzzing about on four- wheelers during the days of the midnight sun. In winter as the light wanes (and dawn may be at 9:30 AM), students play video games all night. I remember encountering students who simply lay down in the hallways and slept. The free breakfast and lunch might be their primary sustenance for the day. Caseloads were also daunting: I found a statistic on the National Association of School Psychologists website stating that the average caseload for a school psychologist was 70 evaluations per school year (along with other services). By the end of October, I had completed 74 evaluations with essentially back-to-back trips, pausing perhaps for a day or two in Anchorage to do laundry and replenish food stores. In addition, SERRC required a two week turnaround on reports. Needless to say, there were many long nights in remote schools, hunched over a laptop as wolves howled in the distance.
I did, however, receive two bits of advice: always carry your “Bear- Bell” (which is just what it says), and keep a tree between you and a moose! Other than the wildlife viewed from the air in the bush planes, my only wildlife encounter occurred in Anchorage when a female moose wandered through our neighborhood and munched on low-hanging foliage. As you might imagine, while we in Louisiana have the familiar road signs for deer crossings, in Alaska, the crossing signs are reserved for moose.
Happily, the people I met were engaging and laid back souls, rather unexpected on my part. Perhaps it is the forbidding nature of the environment: no one, for example, would pass you by if you were stalled by the side of the road. Or it may be that a substantial percentage of the population has come from elsewhere, which may breed a sensitivity and compassion for the newcomer. However, my personal impression was of helpful pleasant folk who freely offered a helpful hand when needed, or a ride to or from the airport when all other modes of transportation were unavailable.
It was an irreplaceable experience, one that I highly recommend!
Winter sunrise at Togiak, Alaska. Dutch Harbor in the Aleutians, Alaska. Bering Straits, Savoonga Dr. Yael Banai (R) on the Tundra and a map of Alaska, courtesy of Mapsopensource.com. If you enlarge the page you will find the Aleutians at the bottom left, a string of small islands out from the lower mainland.
This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.
Louisiana State Board of Examiners of Psychologists (LSBEP) has latched on to an appeal made by a candidate for a position on the board, medical psychologist Dr. Joe Comaty, and run with it all the way up to the state Ethics Administration.
In an unprecedented move, the psychology board asked the state Ethics Administration to give them an Advisory Opinion about whether someone who has information about certain cases would present an “obstacle” for the LSBEP if appointed.
The board’s line of reasoning mirrors that from a January letter sent by Comaty to Boards and Commissions, where he argued that Dr. Constance Patterson “has a direct conflict of interest.” His line of reasoning was that because she has certain information about cases, she would have to recuse herself, impairing the board’s ability to function.
Whether out of caution or an attempt to influence the outcome of the Governor’s appointment, the LSBEP picked up Comaty’s ideas and elevated the matter to the state Ethics Administration. However, they failed to note the low number of recusals that would be expected from this situation, and continued to blur the lines between ethics and board efficiency, that characterized Comaty’s original complaint.
This latest action follows the LSBEP April 25 letter to the Louisiana State Psychological Association, warning of their concern about the “integrity of the election process” and suggesting to some that the board might still challenge the outcome of the election. The basis of the concern was the idea that opponents to Comaty would resort to election fraud.
However, when the votes were counted on April 26 and Patterson the clear winner, the issue regarding honesty and accuracy of the voting process seems to have faded, and this new issue, about Patterson and recusals, is taking its place.
This most recent issue prompted an emergency meeting by the LSBEP that was held off-schedule on Tuesday, May 6. Attending the meeting were Drs. Rita Culross, Marc Zimmermann, Darla Burnett, and Executive Director Kelly Parker. The members voted 3 to 0 to ask for the opinion from the Ethics Administration.
Tulane’s Dr. Constance Patterson worked as a consultant on cases for the board between 2011 and December 2013, when she resigned after deciding to run for the board.
On May 7 the LSBEP sent a Request for Advisory Opinion, signed by Chair Culross, in overnight mail to the Ethics Administration, and copied officials at Boards and Commissions in the Governor’s office.
In a copy of the letter obtained by the Times, Culross asked about a potential ethical conflict. “Is there a potential ethical conflict if an appointed Board member knows previous, detailed information about a licensed psychologist that may present to the Board in that same disciplinary matter or a future disciplinary matter?” she wrote.
She also asked, “Would this Board member be required to recuse oneself from the cases?”
And, “Since the law requires at least an affirmative vote of 4 of the 5 members, will this create an obstacle for the Board to appropriately discipline psychologists with a former Board Investigator/Complaint’s Consultant as a member of the Board?”
Culross noted in her concluding remarks that, “… the Board has no vested interest in the outcome of the election. However, we want to ensure that the integrity of our Board is not compromised.”
According to sources, the Ethics Administration will review the board’s questions at their meeting on June 20, and Dr. Culross and Kelly Parker will attend.
The Louisiana Psychological Association (LPA) also sent a letter to the Ethics Administration, dated May 19, obtained by the Times in a public records request in late May.
In the letter, LPA President Dr. John Fanning wrote, “This year there has been a considerable amount of post-election activity pertaining to this position. You have been asked for an opinion by LSBEP regarding the most appropriate course of action in certain hypothetical situations involving the winning candidate, given her past work as a board investigator.” He attached copies of correspondence LPA had sent to the Boards and Commissions, addressing complaints lodged by Dr. Comaty about how LPA handled the election, and a copy of the LSBEP-LPA election agreement.
LPA released additional emails to the Times which included discussions between Comaty, the LSBEP, and LPA officials, about problems and resolutions regarding ballots and vote counting.
Also included in this latest release of public documents from LPA were emails from Executive Director Kelly Parker asking Fanning to give LSBEP whatever LPA had released to the Times.
In late April the Times asked Boards and Commissions for documents having to do with the election. The custodian released 30 pages covering the time from January to April 24. These included 29 pages from Dr. Comaty to Assistant Director Holly Robinson. The remaining page was a letter from LPA providing the formal results of the election.
Comaty’s communications included a January 2014 letter to Robinson, which he had copied to LSBEP Executive Director Kelly Parker, and previously released to the Times by the LSBEP [See article in May issue of Times].
In this letter, Comaty listed five complaints, ranging from security of ballots, to criticisms about campaigning in the election and political liaisons, and his view that Patterson has a conflict of interest requiring her to recuse herself.
The remainder of the 29 pages were copies of emails between Dr. Comaty and LPA officials Drs. Fanning and Bryan Gross involving Comaty’s complaints and their possible resolutions. An exchange of emails between Comaty and Dr. Robert Storer was also included, where the two agreed about problems.
The current election involves a five-year position on the psychology board. There is a struggle over control of the board between LAMP (La. Academy of Medical Psychologists) and those who oppose the goals of LAMP’s Act 251, which restructured clinical psychology in Louisiana and placed MPs under the state medical board. [See “Who Paid for Act 251 and Why?” in the September 2012 issue of the Times.)
Patterson, a Tulane Professor, is not a medical psychologist nor is she associated with those psychologists opposing Act 251, Grassroots. Patterson captured 116 votes in the recent election and Comaty was second with 77. Governor Jindal can appoint either, or chose someone else entirely.
In the LSBEP letter to the Ethics Administration, Dr. Culross asked if the appointment of someone who had knowledge of complaints posed an obstacle. Culross noted 31 cases that this person may have information or “access to,” and that 19 of those are closed. This suggested, but it was not written, that 12 remain.
Patterson said previously to the Times that she expected the majority of complaints she assisted with to be closed or closing, by the time she would serve, if appointed.
Based on statistics from the LSBEP website, affirmative disciplinary votes are rare. Over the last four years 85 complaints have been received, and only 5 resulted in an affirmative disciplinary vote.
Regarding inconvenience of members recusing themselves, any relationship that could influence the objectivity of a board member, such as with professor–student, supervisor–intern, or business partners, are handled by recusal when they arise.
The Times spoke with Emeritus forensic psychologist and past LSBEP chair, Dr. Tom Hannie, who explained that in those occasions where a board member recuses him or herself, a replacement can be appointed.
“It is a piece of cake to handle,” Hannie told the Times. “A call to the Governor’s office and he can appoint a person, usually a past board member, to sit in if needed.”
According to Patterson, much of her consultation was educational in nature. “In my role of consultant, I had been focused on issues like subtleties of the APA ethics code, practice guidelines for different specialties, and discussing the use of various ethical decision-making models– generally helping the new investigator consider issues from the perspective of a professional psychologist,” she said. “Formulating recommendations to guide decision making to resolve those ethical complaints was not my role at that point.”
Analysis
Is the LSBEP exhibiting an abundance of caution in responding to the complaints levied by Dr. Comaty? Or, is their action an attempt to influence the election outcome?
The politically powerful LAMP would surely prefer to continue its majority vote on the psychology board, thereby protecting the medical psychologists’ interests. LAMP has flexed its muscles many times with the Governor’s office, and its influence is typically well-hidden.
There is also a question as to the neutrality of the board’s executive director. Several sources reported that she has expressed a preference for Comaty’s appointment. In a candid letter from Dr. Comaty to her he confided, “Well, I hope that the new year will bring new opportunities to rid LPA of these malicious members.” This suggests that, at least from Comaty’s standpoint, the executive director was viewed to be sympathetic.
Based on the Ethics Administration’s code it seems unlikely that they would find a problem with Patterson’s previous work as a consultant. A review of their recent Opinions uncovered nothing along this theme, their advice having to do with economic conflicts of interests or business issues.
However, Louisiana politics is always the wild card. LAMP–PAC lobbyists have long-standing connections at the Ethics Administration, so there is a risk to the right decision coming out of the June 20 meeting.
Perhaps the more serious threat to fairness is that because the LSBEP has chosen to elevate a complaint, despite being based on a faulty line of reasoning which blurs the concepts of ethics (right and wrong) with work efficiency, the board may be giving the idea credibility with the Governor’s office.
It would not be surprising if LSBEP’s actions result in framing and priming the issue, and thereby swaying the Governor’s appointment, even if the matter escapes politics at the Ethics Administration.
[Author’s Note regarding Her Conflicts of Interest: The publisher of the Times and author of this article, J. Nelson, is a licensed psychologist. She declares no financial conflicts of interests. Regarding principled conflicts of interest, readers should be aware of the following: Nelson has publically stated her opposition to a psychology board dominated by medical psychologists, and she has publically criticized Dr. Comaty for his actions regarding freedom of information during his previous service on the board. Comaty has stated that he has ethical concerns about Nelson’s actions. Also, Nelson campaigned and voted for Dr. Patterson in the recent election.]
Officials from Louisiana Psychological Association checking election ballots. Drs. Paula Zeanah and John Fanning. Psychology board at meeting earlier this year. Videotaping vote counting in the last election. Dr. Lucinda DeGrange (L), Drs. Carolyn Weyan and John Fanning seated. Dr. Phillip Griffin (L) and Dr. Joe Comaty observing the counting of votes in recent LSBEP election.
This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.
Originally published: . Volume 5, No. 10. Source pages: 2.
I’ve found that putting the Times out during the summer is a little harder than in the high activity spring and even the fall.
Dr. Yael Banai’s feature, “What I did on my winter vacation,” and the frequent instruction on the end of emails to, “Have a nice summer,” reminds me of the traditions of summertime.
Growing up in a newspaper family, the vacation week was preceded by a manic––even more than usual––effort to produce what we called, “The Farm Edition.” My father would send me out to take photos and gather the soft news from around the rural life setting of Red River Parish. I’d find out which livestock farmer had a new prize bull (and take a picture), how the cotton fields were holding up to the drought (and take a picture), and which vermin had found their way into the corn crops (and take a picture).
This filled up the back of the paper so that right before we took off for vacation, my parents would write up the hard news for the front page. The backshop, a production team composed of two great young fellows named Johnnie and KP, would run the press and get the paper to the post office across the street when the deadline arrived.
Mom and Dad were free for seven days, unheard of the rest of the year. So, after this mad-dash, frazzled sprint to produce the Farm Edition, my Day piled us in the car for a mad-dash, frazzled sprint to some beach where we fought sand, surf, and sunburn until we returned home to recover.
When I was 11, my father got it into his head to see Hemingway’s home, so this time he piled us (four kids and mom) into his new Buick Skylark and we drove from Coushatta, Louisiana, to Key West, Florida.
My father was a drive-a-holic and could put 100,000 miles on a car in one year. But obviously ignoring the fact that time passes faster for adults than children, he set out on a four-day round trip of 2,600 miles to Key West.
I remember the Banyan trees, eating lobster for the first time, and driving along the Keys where the road narrowed and the land dropped away to nothing but turquoise ocean on both sides.
But mostly, I remember the eternity of staring out a car window mile after mile after mile.
The trip to the Keys was my last. The next year I put my 12-year-old foot down and refused ever again to go on a family vacation. My vehemence seemed to break open the groupthink and my older sister, a very accommodating, sweet, and cooperative sort, amazingly broke ranks too. My younger brothers joined the revolt. I think my father would have exercised his authority except for the fact that my mother amazed us all and agreed, announcing that she would instead spend her time, by herself, fishing for Bream in Black Lake.
Psychological science tells us we like to be busy. We’ll try and stay busy, even if we don’t really have anything to do. That’s the hard part about summer vacation.
In their work, “Idleness Aversion and the Need for Justifiable Busyness,” Hsee and his colleagues point out that people dread idleness, and people who are busy are happier than people who are idle. So, even a specious justification can motivate people to be busy, they found.
What am I doing for summer vacation this year? I hope nothing. Whether nature or nurture, I’ve always had a bit of a challenge when it comes to vacations.
But there is one good thing about the summer.
The legislature goes home and for a time stops making laws and dreaming up things for the rest of us to have to do.
So for now, at least I don’t have to worry that they’ll pass a law saying I have to drive four days in order to spend three on vacation.
Have a nice summer!
This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.
Originally published: . Volume 5, No. 10. Source pages: 9.
New Orleans neuropsychologist, Dr. Susan Andrews, has teamed up as the co- investigator with Dr. Paul Harch, an LSU Medical School hyperbaric medicine physician and the primary investigator for a study of low- pressure hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) for persistent post-concussion syndrome and traumatic brain injury.
The study is funded by the Army and will measure the effect of HBOT on persistent post concussion syndrome in Iraq and Afghanistan veterans. It is starting this month at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center. The study is open for patient referrals to participate and is limited to 50 subjects.
“Obviously, the long-term goal is to help the vets,” Andrews told the Times. “But another major goal is to evaluate the effectiveness of HBOT for persistent post-concussion syndrome under solid experimental conditions. My mom did HBOT after her stroke and it made a world of difference. I also did HBOT after a minor head trauma,” explained Andrews.
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy, or HBOT, is a treatment that has been shown in earlier studies to enhance the body's natural healing process. The patient inhales 100% oxygen while in a total body chamber. Atmospheric pressure is increased and controlled, and the increased oxygen allows new blood vessels to grow more rapidly into the affected areas, along with other benefits.
Andrews has collaborated with Harch in the two previous studies. They published, along with a number of coauthors, “A Phase I Study of Low-Pressure Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for Blast-Induced Post-Concussion Syndrome and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder,” in the Journal of Neurotrauma, January 2012.
Significant improvements were reported in full scale IQ (14.8 points), in Delayed Memory and Working Memory, on the Stroop Test, TOVA Impulsivity and Variability, depression, anxiety, quality of life measures and other factors. Funded by a host of donors, phase I and II studies also included confirmation using pre and post SPECT scans, made popular by Daniel Amen, who was also part of the research team.
“Phase I and II included SPECT imaging,” Andrews explained to the Times. “We cannot afford imaging in this last phase. The neuropsychological measures are the primary outcome battery.” Drs. Harch and Andrews have developed and tested their battery over the years, she explained.
“I have been working with Dr. Harch for 25 years. I met him when he was invited to talk about HBOT to a small group of local neuropsychologists. We connected and have worked together on projects over the years. I was even privileged to go to Washington with him and Marty Hoffmann, former Secretary of the Army, to meet with the FDA in the run up to this final phase of the study.”
The study is fully funded through a congressional appropriation to Dr. Harch, the principal investigator, and LSU Health Sciences Center. It is administered by the U.S. Army Medical Research and Material Command (USARMRMC). Oklahoma State University School of Medicine and Hyperbaric Medicine Department will be a second site.
“My role as co-investigator,” said Andrews, “is to do the pre, post and post-post testing,” said Andrews. “I will be blind to group membership of the subjects. I helped to write the proposals and have participated in almost all parts of the project to date.”
The purpose of the current study is to determine if one course (40) of hyperbaric oxygen treatments (HBOTs) can help, worsen, or have no effect on subjects with chronic mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI)/persistent post-concussion syndrome (PPCS) compared to a control group receiving maintenance medication and/or counseling, according to the announcement.
Also, an attractive feature of this study is a crossover design which ensures that all participants will receive HBOT. In addition, the study will be open to both civilian and military patients and inclusive of multiple different types and causes of closed-head traumatic brain injury: blunt, blast, falls, vehicular accidents, assault, etc., the researchers noted.
The research team is looking for referrals of possible study candidates from psychologists and behavioral health professionals’ practices. For more information or questions about criteria for inclusion in the study, Cara Rowe, MSW, CCRP, research coordinator can be reached at 504-427-5632.
A complete description of the study and inclusion and exclusion criteria are posted on http://clinicaltrials.gov and http://www.hbo ttbistudy.org.
A photo from the U.S. Navy showing divers using Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy or HBOT. A new Phase III study is being announced by Dr. Paul Harch, Dr. Susan Andrews, and Cara Rowe at LSUHSC. Dr. Susan Andrews presenting on music therapy at the Louisiana Psychological Association convention last year. She is co-investigator in a new study for HBOT.
This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.
Originally published: . Volume 5, No. 10. Source pages: 2.
Our article on House Bill 215, the measure having to do with adding a Licensed Professional Counselor to a clinical team, page 4 in the May issue, contained an error. We stated that the Executive Director of the psychology board, Kelly Parker, filed a card in opposition. Ms. Parker kindly pointed out our mistake. Parker filed a white card, which is “to provide information.” As a state employee she cannot oppose or support a bill. The Times appreciates Ms. Parker pointing this out to us and helping us correct the error. We corrected it in the final issues. However, the first issue contained our mistake.
One of our readers, Dr. Dorothy Gammel Thrasher, pointed out that we wrote "pubic meeting" instead of "public meeting" in the last paragraph of the May Editorial, “Who Has the Conflict of Interest?” by J. Nelson, page 2. We changed it as soon as we could. We appreciate the help.
This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.