Originally published: . Volume 5, No. 2. Source pages: 14.
La Group Psychotherapy Society Hosts Dr. Jensen “Finding Your Own Style as a Group Psychotherapist”
The Louisiana Group Psychotherapy Society will hold its 2013 Fall Conference on November 2, 2013, at the LSU campus in Baton Rouge.
The speaker will be Dr. Suzanne Jensen who will speak on “Finding Your Own Style as a Group Psychotherapist.”
Dr. Jensen noted that “Developing and finding one's own style is not a simple process or accidental event. Style is determined by biological givens, personality at adaptations, theoretical orientations, and personal and professional experiences.”
Jensen noted that this workshop will cover and highlight all of these type factors. She said that participants will have ample opportunity to discuss their development and affirm their own styles.
The Fall Institute will be held at Peabody Hall on the LSU campus in Baton Rouge.
Dr. Sue Jensen (L), Dr. Darlyne Nemeth, and Taighlor Whittington, (standing) at a previous conference. Dr. Jensen will be presenting at the Fall Institute of the Louisiana Group Psychotherapy Society.
This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.
Open to Public Psych Board To Hold Fall Planning Meeting on Nov 8
The Louisiana State Board of Examiners of Psychologists will hold a Long-Range Planning meeting on Friday, November 8, 2013. According to the announcement, the board is inviting former board members and the meeting is open to the public. Topics will include School Specialists, telepsychology, Emeritus licenses, Texas Reciprocity Agreement and Provisional Licenses.
For more information or to RSVP contact Executive Director Ms. Kelly Parker.
The psychology board will hold a second planning meeting in November. Above, Dr. Joseph Comaty (L), and Dr. Steven Welsh (R) listen to Dr. Darlyne Nemeth at a previous planning meeting this past March.
Psychology Board Executive Director speaking to attendees at a Long- Range Meeting earlier this year. Another meeting is planned for November 8, and the public is invited.
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. 2. Source pages: 15.
“Our School, Our Community, Our Future” Call for Submissions Deadline is Oct 4
“Our School, Our Community, Our Future,” will be the theme for the 33rd Annual Conference of the Louisiana School Psychological Association. The conference will be held November 6 through 8, at the Hilton Lafayette in Lafayette.
The invitation and call for submissions is in effect, the deadline this week, October 4.
Some of the highlights planned for this year’s event include a Keynote Address by John White, Superintendent of Louisiana Department of Education.
Sally Baas, Ed.D., President of the National Association of School Psychology, will speak to the group regarding, “Building Meaningful Community Partnerships,” and “Creating Access: Collaborate, Advocate, Lead.”
Dr. Frank Gresham, Professor in the Department of Psychology at Louisiana State University, will speak on “Role of School Psychologists in Atkins Cases and Social Security Income Eligibility Cases.”
Gresham has published extensively on topics ranging from social skills assessment and training, emotional and behavioral disorders, learning disabilities, mental retardation, and issues involved in determination of mental retardation in Atkins cases. He has served as an expert witness in Atkins cases in Virginia, Alabama, Louisiana, and Florida.
Tulane Professor and Chair of Psychology, Dr. Stacy Overstreet will speak on “Universal Screening for Social and Emotional At-Risk Student”
Dmitriy Niyazov, MD, will present on “Mitchondrial Disease–educational implications.” He did his residency and fellowship in medical genetics at Emory University School of Medicine. Currently he is with Ochsner Health System where he practices medical genetics and is a member of the Ochsner Craniofacial Clinic.
Dr. John Murphy, Professor of psychology at the University of Central Arkansas and an internationally recognized trainer and practitioner of brief therapy approaches with young people will present, “Solution-Focused Counseling in Schools.”
Tulane professor Dr. Conni Patterson and Dr. Chavez Phelps will present on “Motivational Interviewing.”
Tulane Professor Dr. Michael Cunningham will speak on “Research and Theory with African American Populations: Implications for service.”
Drs. Gloria Maccow & Charles Shinaver from Pearson Publishers will provide a workshop, “WPPSI-IV Q-Interactive; Med-Cognitive Intervention Program”
Hunter Hansen, Psy.D., M.P. will present, “Integrated Care.”
For more information go to the LSPA website.
Dr. Chavez Phelps presenting at last year’s Louisiana School Psychological Association Annual Conference. This year he will co-present with Tulane professor Dr. Conni Patterson on “Motivational Interviewing.”
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. 2. Source pages: 5.
According to a press release in August by the LA Department of Health and Hospitals, Louisiana recovered more than $124 million fraudulent payments in the Medicaid program.
This came from criminal and civil penalties in the Fiscal Year 2012 according to figures from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. That is the highest rate of recovery in any state in the nation at nearly 2 percent of all Medicaid dollars spent in Louisiana. On average, states recover less than 0.6 percent of their respective Medicaid budgets.
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. 2. Source pages: 16.
PUBLIC NOTICE State Behavior Analyst Licensing Mandate Louisiana Behavior Analyst Board
On August 1, 2013, Louisiana Act 351 took effect to establish the Louisiana Behavior Analyst Practice Act and Behavior Analyst Board within the Department of Health and Hospitals which will be subject to the provisions of R.S. 36:803. Louisiana Act 351 mandates that individuals wishing to hold themselves out as Licensed Behavior Analysts, State Certified Assistant Behavior Analysts, or Registered Line Technicians must be licensed, certified, or registered through the Louisiana Behavior Analyst Board.
Effective October 8, 2013, emergency rules will be posted regarding the application process and fees. At this time, applicants can begin submitting the required application forms. This Act will be enforced beginning December 31, 2013. At minimum, applicants must submit the application form, official transcripts, BACB certification verification form, and fees no later December 31, 2013. These forms will be made available upon request to the Board office.
The following is a summary of the qualifications for licensure, certification and registration:
Licensed Behavior Analyst
Licensure shall be renewed annually beginning January 2015. The qualifications of an applicant for licensure as a Licensed Behavior Analyst shall include the following criteria:
· Completed and notarized application form
· Payment of mandatory licensure fees
· Proof of good moral character
· Completion of a criminal background check as approved by the Board
· Proof of passage of a nationally recognized examination
· Completion of a LA jurisprudence examination as approved by the Board
· Proof the applicant conducts activities in accordance with accepted ethical standards
· Official transcripts – Master or Doctoral Level
State Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst
Certification shall be renewed annually beginning January 2015. State Certified Assistant Behavior Analysts cannot work independently. All certified assistants must be supervised by a Louisiana Licensed Behavior Analyst. The qualifications of an applicant for certification as a State Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst should include the following criteria:
· Completed and notarized application form
· Payment of mandatory licensure fees
· Proof of good moral character
· Completion of a criminal background check as approved by the Board
· Proof of passage of a nationally recognized examination
· Completion of a LA jurisprudence examination as approved by the Board
· Proof the applicant conducts activities in accordance with accepted ethical standards
· Board approved supervision form
· Official transcripts – Bachelors Degree
Registered Line Technician
Registration shall be renewed annually beginning January 2015. A Registered Line Technician cannot work independently. All Registered Line Techs must be supervised by a Louisiana Licensed Behavior Analyst. The qualifications of an application for registration as a Registered Line Technician shall include the following criteria:
· Board approved supervision form
· Completion of a criminal background check as approved by the Board
For more information about this notice, please contact the Louisiana Behavior Analyst Board at baboard@la.gov.
As of October 1, 2013, our office will be located at 8706 Jefferson Highway, Suite 8B, Baton Rouge, LA 70809.
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. 2. Source pages: 6.
Dr. James Nelson, physician from Hammond, Louisiana, was appointed in late June to the Licensed Professional Counselors Board. Nelson will serve as the new Member-at- Large, replacing Mr. Dustin Dowling who completed his term in July, the board’s director Mary Alice Olsan told the Times recently.
Dr. Nelson is a general surgeon at Surgical Associates in Hammond, according the LPC Board website. He has served as the Chief Medical Officer at North Oaks Health System and until recently also served on the North Oaks Board of commissioners until his term expired in April.
Olsan said that Dr. Nelson attended his first meeting in July and the members were enthusiastic about his appointment.
According to several sources, Nelson has served as a board member or chairman of the Hammond Chamber of Commerce, Tangipahoa Area United Way, Downtown Development District, Richard Murphy Hospice Foundation, and an elder in the First Presbyterian Church. He is also served United States Air Force Reserve Medical Corps where he retired with the rank of Colonel. He initially served in the 60’s, then again in the 90’s when he was deployed in Operation Desert Storm.
Nelson was in the middle of a political struggle recently when the Tangipahoa Parish Council, a group that has appointing authority for the North Oaks Hospital’s board of commis- sioners, decided to fill the position left by Nelson with attorney Ron Macaluso, instead of reappointing Nelson, as reported by Vic Couvillion, for the Advocate, April 28, 2013.
This created an outcry in the community. The Advocate reported a standing-room-only crowd of physicians, admin- istrators, nurses and employees, who asked the Council to reappoint Nelson. Guy Recotta, Jr., Chairman North Oaks Health System Board of Commissioners and also the Clerk of Court for the City Court of Hammond, pleaded for the Council to keep Nelson. Despite this the Council appoint- ed Macaluso. They then offered for Nelson to serve as an ex- officio member but he declined.
The LPC Board also announced that members Gerra Perkins, Laura Choate, and Penny Millhollon were re-nominated and reaffirmed to their board positions. Perkins is Chair, Choate is Vice-Chair, and Millhollon is Board Secretary.
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. 2. Source pages: 6.
The new LSU Health Baton Rouge Urgent Care Center in North Baton Rouge opened doors in September and continued another step in Governor Jindal’s remake of the charity health care system.
According to the press release, the public-private partnerships are part of a plan by the state to address the $1.8 billion reduction handed down by Congress last year. The partnership between LSU and OLOL saved hundreds of millions of dollars that would have been used to build a replacement for the old Earl K. Long facility, the announcement said. The new facility will provide care as an alternative to hospital emergency rooms. It is part of the state's public-private hospital partnerships aimed to provide care, lower costs, and graduate medical education for future doctors across the state.
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. 2. Source pages: 7.
By the Numbers:
Professionals Licensed by Certain State Licensing Boards
The Times looked around for some information about how many and who are in the behavioral health service community.
Here is one view of some of the state boards, which does not tell the full picture. We did not include psychiatrists, or specialists in school psychology, or the newly formed board for Behavior Analysts.
Also, we can’t do much about the fact that not everyone licensed under a board practices healthcare, so there is that also.
Most of the information comes directly from the boards, and we talked with some of the Directors to help clarify the dual licenses. The numbers are somewhat of a moving target and for broad-brush only.
Licensed Addiction Counselors, and Prevention Professionals 572
Licensed Psychologists 655 (685 if counting medical psychologists with psychology board license)
Licensed Social Workers, with graduate degrees 6,499
Licensed Professional Counselors 2,772
Licensed Marriage & Family Therapists 822 (638 also have LPC)
70 Licensed Medical Psychologists (30 dual licensed under psychology board)
This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.
Reality Series from West Monroe Breaks Records The Psychology Behind A&E’s Hit, Duck Dynasty
A once dirt-poor family from West Monroe has knocked it out of the park with their A&E reality show, Duck Dynasty. The fourth season premier aired last month and broke all cable television records with a “whopping 11.8 million viewers,” reported A&E. This made Duck Dynasty the #1 nonfiction series telecast in cable history. The show has drawn appeal from all age groups, and in more than 100 countries, reported the New York Times last month.
Duck Dynasty follows the rags to riches, duck-hunting, family and faith-oriented, Robertson clan of West Monroe. The show is a combination of wholesome clowning around, with dashes of humor and life philosophy that cause you to think twice. A little silly at times, it doesn’t matter. These bearded, duck-hunting, Robertson men are likable, funny, and on occasion surprisingly profound.
“When you don’t know what you’re doing, it’s best to do it quickly.” – Jase
“First it’s pretty tires, then it’s pretty guns––next thing you know, you’re shavin’ your beard and wearin’ Capri pants.” – Si
“Nothing makes a dad happier than seeing his daughter with a smile on her face and her boyfriend with fear in his eyes.” – Willie
“Uptown living, you’ve got to call 911. Where I am, I am 911.” – Phil If story is character, Duck Dynasty has plenty, an entire extended family of characters.
Phil is 66, the patriarch and curmudgeon, who has a masters degree and was a Louisiana Tech quarterback equal in talent to Terry Bradshaw. Phil turned down a chance in the NFL because of hunting. Son Willie, a business major, took the family business and jacked it up with, among other things, online hunting videos (be sure and see these on uTube). Add the natural comic timing of son Jase, Jep, the clowning around of Phil’s Viet Nam Vet brother Si, and all the others in the Robertson family, and even when contrived, these guys are naturally funny.
But there are loads of funny shows, so what is it about the Duckmen that pull in the ratings? We asked some of our experts in the Louisiana community for their thoughts.
Dr. Mkay Bonner, licensed IO psychologist and owner of Bonner Solutions & Services, lives in West Monroe. One of her interns even works at the Duck Commander store. She recently ran into one of the Duckmen at Brookshires.
“One thing that does come to mind is the fact that many people can identify with them…” she said. “They are everyday people; they did not start life with millions of dollars; they did not start with fame nor did they have that as a life goal. Therefore, it provides some encouragement to other people that maybe they can ‘make it’ one day. And ‘make it’ does not have to mean fame and fortune but for many it does.
“I think I might sum it up as hope,” Bonner said. “They are providing hope to their viewers. Some people need hope that faith and family can survive, some need hope that they can be successful without being born wealthy, and some need hope that they can get past their struggles. The object of the hope is different for people but it is still what we all so desperately need, hope.”
“So people can watch a show about real people and laugh and be entertained and be encouraged and feel good when the show is over. And, they have hope.”
New Orleans clinical psych- ologist, and consultant to another A&E series, Hoarders, Dr Suzanne Chabaud said, “I think that people are intrigued with anything that falls outside of their normal life, and the Louisiana culture stands apart from most people’s culture. It’s intriguing and mysterious,” she said. “Also, the show pushes into the modern verbal and cognitive process. Here’s a show about people who just live life, they just face it, do what they can do. They jump into the experience,” she said.
“It’s a show that draws you away from the modern tendency to process and reprocess, and have a verbally controlled and dominating guide to everything you do. This is a show that focuses more on reaction and responding to the moment. Responding to the moment without over processing––deal with it as it happens.”
Dr. David Thomason is a Monroe medical psychologist, with training in Naturopathic Medicine. He is well known in the Monroe area for his holistic approach. "I think it is popular because of the family values and the genuineness of the people involved,” he said.
“They portray a life style that is joyful while fully embracing individual differences. Their conflicts are right out in the open and not always resolved. But it is clear that they care for and respect one another. "
"They have a balance of male and female roles,” Thomason said, “both genders are presented with the ability to be flexible and with an understanding of each other.”
Dr. Susan Dardard’s early training was in clinical- developmental psychology. But her appreciation of the power of the media compelled her to work exclusively in the public broadcast arena. Now, as Susie Marie PhD, she is creating her own home-grown, real-life TV show, South River Stories®, about her adventures in rural South Louisiana, where she now resides.
"I can relate to the Duck Dynasty guys,” she said, “a North Louisiana version of the country boys around here, whom I love, respect, and admire as confident-in-their- own skin, high-testosterone, no- apologies, strong men," she said.
"The psychological importance of helping young children become secure in their own gender identities – including acceptance and support of the rough-and-tumble reality of most little boys – seems lost in our society, which appears afraid of and completely clueless about the vital importance of such masculinity,” she said.
“Thank goodness for the back waters of Louisiana where the real men, the real strong men of Duck Dynasty, can flourish, and remind the rest of us that these men can be themselves without the world coming to an end. Indeed, in my opinion, such men, an endangered species if ever there was one, are the very ones we'll need to save the world."
Dr. David Govener, aLicensed Marriage and Family Therapist from Monroe, is originally from New York, but came south to earn his doctorate from Louisiana Tech. He works in his Monroe clinic with his wife, Dr. Molly Govener, also a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist.
“I think of the things I've heard Phil say, and I feel that one of the main things that appeals to the public about Phil Robertson is that he does not bend his knee to the god of political- correctness,” Dr. Govener told the Times. “I believe that at some level people in our culture are afraid, and I think that seeing someone who is not afraid, gives them hope.”
“If there is someone who represents the wild man, who will not conform, then there is hope. I think that's what the beards are about,” he said. “I think the reason that Phil is not afraid … is because he is convinced that he has another God.”
“It is authenticity, in a fragmented, politically- correct world; when there is pressure to conform in the name of diversity,” Govenor said.
“When they bend their knee to the god of political correctness, they stop thinking. Medication is increasing all over the country and this is because it's politically incorrect to tell anyone anything,” he said.
“One of the reasons Phil is able to live authentically, in what he believes, without fear, is because this culture doesn't have anything he wants. They can't take his money because he doesn't care about money,” said Govener.
“There is very real punishment for dissent in the present culture. I think the tremendous popularity for Duck Dynasty is a statement that there are more people that long for the ability to stand up for their conservative beliefs without fear….”
“Something else that gives me hope is the popularity of The Bible, on the History channel, a sister television network. This also had record- breaking numbers. There's a lot of Americans that maybe aren't completely aware of what's going on and why, but they know that this makes them feel better.”
Dr. Mkay Bonner said, “I think the overall impression I got when it was over was rather uplifting. Your heart could feel lighter, as compared to the negativity, stress, tension, and darkness from so many other shows. This is not very psychologically scholarly –– but when the show is over, you can feel better not worse, which is worth gold in today's world. “
Whatever the reasons for the popularity, "The show has certainly put West Monroe and Northeast Louisiana on the map, that's for sure,” said Dr. David Thomason.
His West Coast friends call and the first thing they want to know is: “Hey, what’s happening with Duck Dynasty?”
Left: Patriarch and riverbank philosopher, Phil Robertson, one of the stars of the hit reality series, A&E’s Duck Dynasty. Phil sums up life in one-liners such as, “If you are too busy to go hunting and fishing, you’re too busy.” The show broke all the records for its fourth season premier last month. Family dinner at the Robertsons of Duck Dynasty. (A&E/photo by Zach Dilgard) The Duckmen from West Monroe’s Robertson family and hit series Duck Dynasty. L to R: Phil, Jase, Si, and Willie. (A&E/photo by Jim Fiscus)
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. 1. Source pages: 15.
Sept 15-17 Preparations In Last Lap for LCA Conference in NO
The Louisiana Counseling Association (LCA) is nearing the start date for its 45th Annual Conference in New Orleans, September 15 –17, at the Inter- Continential Hotel, 444 St. Charles Avenue.
With 81 seminars and presentations, the group will support this year’s theme of “This is Our Time: To Review, To Renew, and to Refocus.”
The conference will provide educational presentations for counselors, marriage & family therapists, school counselors, supervisors, and administrators, and others.
The Times spoke briefly with Dr. Ernie Cowger, who said that everyone is getting ready for the conference. Dr. Cowger serves on the LPC board and who will be presenting at this year’s conference on “Learning to Connect Emotionally in Relationships the John Gottman Way. Dr. Cowger, LPC, LMFT, will be presenting with April MacGinley, MA, LPC, and Mary-Louise McMahon, and John Bundrick, LaTech graduate students.
The keynote speakers will include three nationally recognized professionals. Dr. Clifton Mitchell, a licensed psychologist, will present “The Hidden Power of Language for Superior Client Outcomes and Self- Improvement.” He is the author of Effective Techniques for Dealing with Highly Resistant Clients, for managing psychological resistance.
Other highlighted pre- sentations, among many, include: “An Overview of the Gottman Methods of Couples Therapy,” by Mark Reynaud, LPC-S, LMFT-S.
“Family Group Decision Making: Empowering the Family, will be presented by Susan Norwood, LPC, MEd. Dr. Charles Gagnon, LPC-S, LMFT, will present MFT Ethics, a review of the major points of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy Code of Ethics. And, Dr. Peter Emerson, LPC, EdD, will present “The Ethical School Counselor.”
See LCA website complete listings.
and Christopher Belser, MEd and Kellie Mitchell- Hargroder, LPC, LAC, MEd, EdS, will present, “Understanding the ASCA Model and How to Implement It In Your School.”
Drs. Christine Anthony, Faye White, and Gwen Duhon, will guide participants in ways to manage stress, evaluate emotions, and incorporate healthy lifestyle changes, in “This is our Time to Renew: Managing Occupational and Lifestyle Stressors.”
Dr. Bill McHenry, PhD, LPC, will present, “This Time for Neurocounseling Has Come,” and Dr. Dudley Chewning, EdD, LPC, LMFC, will present “How to Determine if Clients Are Benefiting from Your Services.”
“Social Media and Suicide Prevention: Time to Consider the Role of Adolescents,” presented by Dr. Latifey LaFleur, PhD, LPC-S, and graduate student Andrea Durousseau.
Dr. Gary Gintner, PhD, LPC, along with LSU graduate students Kevin Credeur, Heather Parker,
Dr. Ernie Cowger (L) serves on the LPC board and will be presenting at this year’s Louisiana Counseling Association conference on “Learning to Connect Emotionally in Relationships the John Gottman Way.” Above, Cowger listens to Dr. David Legendre at an LPC board meeting.
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. 1. Source pages: 2.
Jase Robertson, one of the Duckmen from Duck Dynasty, commented on the season premiere that helping his wife decorate the yard for his parents’ renewal wedding ceremony wasn't like work –– “It’s more like torture.” I know exactly what he means. I’m reading the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
We've known for a long time that psychological and behavioral health is a major component of a person’s health, and that 60 percent of medical costs have at least some element of behavior connected. I believe it's a higher percentage even than that, because many of the variables are still unknown. Medicine doesn’t always go looking for them.
So, I'm reading Obama care and besides having to deal with the horrible communication style, I'm thinking every other word something like, “This violates social exchange theory; this assumes the validity of the criterion; this ignores behavior theory; this suggests no intervening variables; this assumes leadership traits that are unlikely…” Torture.
When I drill down trying to understand the federal rules on ACOs, I see that the incentives and bonuses in the shared savings program for Medicare are designated only for physicians, nurses, and physician assistants.
First off, why would anyone hard-wire the incentives and limit who can develop and profit from savings innovations, based on some arbitrary criterion of professional category? We can never really know beforehand where the innovations and excellence are going to pop up. Perhaps the designers were thinking of motivation only (as if that can be predicted). But at least, we should strive to avoid decisions that shout to the rooftops: “What we see is all there is!”
Secondly, someone decided to leave out the professionals who might actually be able to connect the dots and impact health/behavior, truly reducing waste and improving quality. Huh?
The troubling thing for all of us should be that this is evidence of the continuation of the medical model in healthcare, which amounts to a serious dose of groupthink. This suggests to me that political issues are driving the decision-making. I wonder if the public started catching on around 2002, when the increases in medical costs began to decline, and continued to decline, reaching a puzzling, 50-year low.
For now, what's left to those in psychology and behavioral science is to market the evidence-based benefits we offer to the physicians, nurses, and physician assistants, regardless of the errors in Obamacare. It is more uphill than it needed to be, but it is certainly something our community could work on together.
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. 1. Source pages: 15.
Submissions due this month, Sept 30 Am Psychology–Law Society to Hold 2014 Conference in NO
The American Psychology and Law Society will hold its conference next year, 2014, in New Orleans from March 6 through the 9.
Dr. Sean Lane, LSU professor who works in this area of research, noted that submissions are due by September 30, 2013.
The society, also called AP–LS, notes: “We invite proposals for symposia, papers, and posters addressing topics in all areas of psychology and law, especially proposals that are empirically based and those that involve new and emerging topics within psychology and law. Empirical research submissions that do not include data are discouraged.”
The symposia should be a coordinated group of presentations that focus on one topic. The conference will also include papers and posters. Papers are up to 60 minutes.
Topics and key words for those presenting include criminal settings and cases, domestic violence, legal theory, law enforcement, gender issues, competency, risk assessment, social psychology, wrongful convictions.
The deadline for submissions is *Monday, September 30th, 2013 11:59p.m. EST
LSU professors Dr. Sean Lane and Dr. Mary Lou Kelley, review some materials at the psychology department. Dr. Lane is involved in psychology and law topics for the Am. Psychology and Law Society.
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. 1. Source pages: 4.
Two corrections were received for our August issue of the Times.
Regarding our article about the DSM, a reader told us that the new DSM goes by the number 5 rather than the Roman numeral V. In the article on Dr. Susan Tucker, a reader told us that the Office of Addictive Disorders had merged into the Office of Behavioral Health.
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. 1. Source pages: 16.
Phil Robertson of Duck Dynasty and I, Susie Marie PhD of South River Stories, have a few things in common. We both have businesses in rural Louisiana, he in the north, I in the south and, thanks to his son Willie and my friend Eric, we both have TV shows. His has grown into a huge success, mine is a winner yet to be born.
I like that Phil turned away from a professional football career to stay focused on his true passion, ducks. I left a promising psychology career to go back to school to pursue my passion, music. Voice was my declared "instrument," but I was more interested in composing my own music and analyzing the music of others.
I probably will have to wait for the afterlife to be an opera composer. That is my top-of-the-mountain, nirvana, dream-come-true job. I pray that in heaven I will be free to compose for hours, then ride my horse for miles, compose and ride, ride and compose, day after night after day after night after day, through eternity.
Meanwhile, back on earth, as I work on this show about the people, places, crops, and critters that make living in the country so wonderful, I hear music everywhere. The featured guests on my fall special, frogs, have their own enchanting sounds and songs, and I plan to sing about frogs on my show, and comment on the frog songs of others.
Know what? I think I may need to talk with Phil about those Duck Commander duck calls, because I'm hearing a frog and duck duet, maybe even a dramatic opera. After all, ducks have been known to eat frogs.
I'm planning on eating some frogs, too, after I go on my first frog hunt and grab on my South River Stories fall TV special, and fry them up on the outdoor fire pit. The last time I had any fun with dead frogs was when I was dissecting them in biology class. Cutting them up for my supper is going to be a lot better kind of fun. No formaldehyde!
This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.
In late June, the state medical board listed Dr. Jessica Brown as qualifying for the medical psychologist certificate. This comes as a surprise to some in the Louisiana Psychological Association (LPA), where Brown had served as Legislative Chair during 2010 to 2011. One insider in the association said to the Times, “I had no idea,” in response to the news.
The verification on the medical board site indicates that Brown had earned the psychopharmacology master’s in 2010, graduating from Alliant University. Alliant is the organization offering a degree in clinical psycho- pharmacology which operates a Baton Rouge campus, developed by Dr. John Bolter, an Alliant faculty member. Bolter has been a key figure in the medical psychology community.
Dr. Brown was recently appointed to the Louisiana State Board of Examiners of Psychologists (LSBEP). However, she did not list her 2010 preparation training for the MP on her nomination form. Brown's appointment to the LSBEP brings the composition of the state psychology board to 60 percent medical psychologist (MP). Currently, MPs represent less than 5 percent of all licensed psychologists. However, MPs now serve in 3 of the 5 positions on the LSBEP.
The same year that Brown earned her masters in clinical psychopharma- cology, she was appointed to serve as the Louisiana Psychological Association (LPA) Legislative Chair, by then president Dr. Judith Levy, also an MP.
Brown served in this position until 2011, when she failed to be re-elected. Following that, she dropped her membership in the association. Levy has also dropped, as has Dr. Kelly Ray, also an MP, who was LPA president in 2010–2011.
The majority of MPs have dropped from LPA, going from a high of 46 in 2009 to around 7 to 10 today, according to several sources. During Brown’s tenure as LPA Legislative Chair she was involved in several controversies.
One of these controversies occurred during the 2011 legislative session, when Senator Willie Mount put forth a bill to consolidate the psychology and LPC (Licensed Professional Counselor) boards. Mount pulled the bill after strong opposition, then surprised most in LPA when she substituted a short, two- page bill to clarify the counselors’ scope of practice.
While some psychologists were comfortable with most of what was in the new bill, Brown asked the LPA council if she could obtain assistance from the Louisiana Academy of Medical Psychologists (LAMP) to help fight the bill. The council agreed.
But what emerged from the behind-the-scene negotiations one week later, was a bill that required counselors’ to collaborate and consult with a medical psychologist or a physician, and for their patients to be under the active care of a medical psychologist or a physician, if medication was indicated.
Brown came under criticism for the new wording. One psychologist wrote, “Once again, MPs are elevated above us ‘regular’ psychologists in that only MPs have the ability to oversee the work of LPCs. So for example, if I do an evaluation and I have an LPC in my office who is treating the person for, let’s say OCD based on my evaluation results, the LPC must seek consultation with an MP or physician, even though I recommended exposure with response prevention rather than medication.”
In defending her approach, Brown pointed to the lack of involvement and political connections of LPA psychologists and the superior political influence of LAMP. Brown wrote on the listserv, “As legislative chair, I'm given the option to make the best deal I could for psychology.” And she wrote, “We did not have a chance at getting an amendment in without LAMP's assistance and their deep connections to legislators and their access to CN [Courson Nickel].”
However, some members felt that Brown was blocking their involvement.
One member who had attended a meeting with Brown, told the Times recently, “She denied us access to the lobbyist. She told us, ‘We’ve got it under control, we don’t need your help. You can damage the process, damage the negotiations.’ ”
Another member said, “I was dismayed. That here was an EC member telling people that they were not needed. People were always complaining that people weren’t willing to help. And, here was the opposite. There were people clamoring to be involved. We were told no. I just didn’t understand that mentality.”
And on May 31, President Kelly Ray, an MP, instructed LPA members to refrain from talking to their representatives. She wrote, “Your legislative committee and lobbyists are working on SB268 (the substitution bill for SB226). Our legislative committee and lobbyists are in communication with the counselors in trying to work out concerns. Please allow them to do their job and recognize that any outside communications /interference might be more harmful than good.”
Brown, again in defending her actions, noted that LPA had a new lobbyist, “We hired a brand new lobbyist, who is still learning our issues,” she posted.
However, in a recent phone conversation with governmental affairs consultant Kevin Hayes, he said, “I took my directions from the association, mostly with Jessica Brown.” In regard to 268, he said it was a very convoluted process and, “I was essentially hands off.” Hayes also explained that he did not know that Brown was in preparation for becoming an MP.
The language of the amendment was odd, requiring that counselors somehow place patients under the active care of medical psychologists or physicians. This was nullified by emergency rules by the LPC board almost immediately and then corrected with new language through legislation in 2012.
Some psychologists were concerned about protecting the practice of psychological testing, and Brown mentioned that concern in a posting. However, several sources from the counseling community said this was not an issue. One told the Times, “Testing was never on the table.”
Brown was involved in another controversy in October 2010, when LPA members attempted to push through a measure after the executive council shot down a resolution to support the “… autonomous practice and regulation of the profession of psychology.” The resolution was supported by a strong majority of regular psychologist members. Dr. Susan Dardard then collected signatures for a special meeting and submitted the petition to the council. Within hours LAMP leader Dr. Jim Quillin had the list of names, and contacted one of the people who signed the petition.
When asked how this happened, then President Kelly Ray said that the petition included people who were “unknown” to us, and “others” were asked about the signatures. She gave no coherent reason why the executive director was not enlisted to help identify those who had signed the petition.
After these confusing explanations, Brown eventually acknowledged that she had given the list to someone, but would not disclose to whom. She denied giving the petition to Quillin. She apologized and offered to be sanctioned. (See PT, Vol 2, No 4)
Dr. Brown is now working at the NeuroMedical Center in Baton Rouge with Dr. Bolter. Dr. Bolter was a key figure in Act 251, testifying in support of the 2009 legislation, a joint effort between LAMP and the state medical board.
Act 251 repealed the 2004 prescriptive authority law under the state psychology board, and placed medical psychologists under the regulatory authority of the state medical board, including their practice of psychology.
The 2010 working group, created by Senator Mount. L to R: Drs. Joe Comaty, Darla Burnett, Jessica Brown, and Jacqueline Shellington from the social work board. The members failed to reach a compromise solution.
This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.