Originally published: . Volume 5, No. 1. Source pages: 10.
Dr. Steven Heymsfield is stepping down from Executive Director of Pennington Biomedical Research Center to fully devote his time to research, noted a June press release from the Center. Taking on his duties will be William Cefalu, a Louisiana native who is described as a very successful grant-writing researcher in the Pennington article.
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It has been over 3 years since BP officials finally capped the well that killed 11 men and dumped 5 million barrels of crude oil into the Gulf of Mexico. The spill’s economic and environmental impact landed on the same Louisiana citizens and communities that were still working to recover and rebuild from Katrina.
The oil spill catastrophe generated a number of projects to help those impacted, including projects funded by the legal settlement with BP. One of these is the “Mental and Behavioral Health Capacity Project.” This is led by Drs. Howard and Joy Osofsky, from LSU Health Sciences Center, School of Medicine, now in its second year.
The team got to work quickly to meet the immediate needs of the residents of seven parishes, providing mental and behavioral health treatment and longer-term services to the individual's families and communities affected by Deepwater Horizon spill.
One of the most important goals of the project has been to integrate mental and behavioral health into the primary care facilities along the Louisiana Gulf Coast parishes affected by the spill. According to the website, clinicians have been placed in clinics along the coastal parishes and in particular those most heavily impacted by the outcomes of the oil spill. These are Cameron, Jefferson, LaFourche, Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, and Terrebonne.
The team is working with several clinics including Hackberry Rural Health Clinic in Cameron Parish, Kids 1st Clinic in Orleans Parish East, Plaquemines Medical Center, and St. Bernard Health Center.
The clinicians from the LSUHSC project are also providing “therapeutic school-based interventions with children and families, as well as training and counsel to consultations to school administration and personnel.”
According to the program directors, screenings are being done in the schools in collaboration with LSUHSC which help to identify those youngsters and adolescents who may benefit from services.
The clinicians also work together with the school administrators to provide services to children in need. “Currently, LSUHSC clinicians run bimonthly group consultation meetings with school counselors and social workers from Terrebonne and Lafourche parishes that allow these school leaders to discuss and process difficult cases and situations that are occurring in their perspective schools,” noted the website.
According to the researchers’ findings, schools in the seven parishes that would require enhanced mental and behavioral health services include several from Lafourche (Bayou Blue Middle School, Central Lafourche High, Golden Meadow Middle, and Lockport Middle). In Orleans Parish, Reed High School requires enhanced services.
St. Bernard Parish also has a number of schools needing additional behavioral health services, which include Andrew Jackson, Arabi Elementary, Chalmette Elementary and High School, Gauthier Elementary, Lacoste Elementary, and Rowley Alternative.
Terrebonne Parish East Street Alternative High, Evergreen Junior High, Houma Junior High, and Oaklawn Jr. High, require en- hanced services.
As part of a 432-page class action medical settlement between plaintiffs and BP, which set out compensation procedures for those with illnesses arising from the spill, BP agreed to four projects to support residents’ primary and psychological care. Collectively, these projects are called the “Gulf Region Health Outreach Program.”
The LSUHSC project’s findings dovetail with the recent report from another of the projects, the “Primary Care Capacity Project,” coordinated by Louisiana Public Health Institute.
In the first year report from this group, the “Comprehensive Regional Community Health Assessment Report,” authors concluded that the existing data shows key health and healthcare needs and vulnerabilities in the seven Louisiana parishes impacted in the spill.
“Data gathered from the Gulf state population survey, Oxfam America and existing national and state sources,” authors note, “suggest that residents in these 7 parishes are vulnerable to socio-economic, social and environmental factors.”
The authors also concluded that residents across these parishes experience “substantial levels of chronic health conditions such as diabetes, obesity, hypertension, and congestive heart failure, which not only reflect the health status of residence but also indicate a lack of adequate preventative care in the region.”
The authors also studied availability and access to healthcare and concluded that there are health professional shortage areas, known as HPSAs, in all seven parishes.
Other team members for the project include Dr. Kristin Callahan, a developmental psychologist and Assistnat Professor. She is Project Coordinator for Supportive Services.
Helping the group with Tele-Psychiatry services is Dr. Erich Contrad is a physican and consultant for Integrated Mental and Behavioral Health Services. Dr. Erin T. Reuther, a clinical psychologist, is Coordinator for Evaluation and also Assistant Professor of Clinical Psychiatry.
Drs. Kristopher Kaliebe and John Wells, both physicians, are Coordinator for Child and Adolescent Integrated Mental and Behavioral Health Services, and Coordinator for Integrated Mental and Behavioral Health Services in Primary Care Clinics, respectively. Both are helping with Tele- Psychiatry Services.
Joy Osofsky is Barbara Lemann Professor of Pediatrics and Psychiatry and Head of Pediatric Mental Health. She is a clinical and developmental psychologist and is nationally and internationally recognized for her work with children impacted by disasters and trauma.
(Coast Guard/ Stephen Lehmann.) Three years have gone by since the BP oil spill; people along the coast show vulnerabilities. One chart from many included in the “Comprehensive Regional Community Health Assessment Report,” produced by the Louisiana Public Health Institute. The Institute coordinates the “Primary Care Capacity Project,” one of the projects funded by BP. The work overlaps with the “ Mental and Behavioral Health Capacity Project “ led by Drs. Howard and Joy Osofsky, from the LSU Health Sciences Center, School of Medicine, and also funded by the BP settlement.
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Originally published: . Volume 5, No. 1. Source pages: 14.
The American Psychological Association held its annual convention in Honolulu, Hawi’i, from July 31 to August 4. The Times covered many of the presenters, Louisiana professors, psychologists, graduate and undergraduate researchers in the July and August issues of the Times.
Other presenters at this year’s American Psychological Association meeting in Honolulu include Drs. Rita Culross, Jason Hicks, and Joe Tramontana.
Dr. Joe Tramontana, president-elect for the Louisiana Psychological Association, presented to Division 30, the group for clinical hypnosis. He presented on performance in sports and life, in “ "Hypnosis and Self-hypnosis Training for Enhancing Peak Performance in Sports and Life." He also participated in a panel discussion with Chelsea Sony, on the similarities and differences between storms Katrina and Sandy.
Also presenting was Dr. Jason Hicks, LSU professor. Dr. Hicks chaired a paper presentation on experimental psychology. Dr. Hicks has received the LSU Alumni Association Faculty Excellence Award.
Dr. Rita Culross presented “Educating the Ablest: 20 years later,” at the annual event. In her presentation she reviewed information about the current lives of 35 individuals who participated in the high school gifted programs 20 years ago. Culross looked at the educational attainment and career goals of this group in terms of expressed aspirations in high school. She described for the audience how she used social media and other Internet resources in her data collection. She also discussed how the results indicated continued support for positive life outcomes, a finding that is found in previous longitudinal research for the gifted.
Culross previously spoke at the Oxford Roundtable at Harris Manchester College in the University of Oxford in Oxford, England, last year. She presented her paper, “Talent Development and Talent Enhancement of the Olympic Athlete.” The event was just prior to the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London. Culross is the Jo Ellen Levy Yates Endowed Professor of Gifted Education in the Department of Educational Theory, Policy & Practice at LSU. She teaches courses in creative behavior and the gifted and she is currently the chair of the state psychology board.
Others presenting at this year’s APA convention, and reported on in previous issues, included Tulane’s Dr. Stacy Overstreet and Dr. Bonnie Nastasi, University of Louisiana Monroe’s Dr. Karen Kopera-Frye and Dr. Bill McCown, Dr. Darlyne Nemeth, Dr. Lee Matthews, Loyola’s Dr. Janet Matthews, Drs. Greg Gormanous and Warren Lowe, Dr. Kelly Ray, and a number from LaTech including Drs. Guler Boyraz, Mary M. Livingston, Walter Buboltz, Janelle McDaniel, and Steve Jenkins.
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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)
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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!
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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.
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Originally published: . Volume 5, No. 1. Source pages: 16.
The National Alliance of Professional Psychology Providers and The Lifestyle Advocate Institute will present a two-day training event on October 19 and 20, in Las Vegas.
The Alliance, called NAPPP, notes that the conference is specifically designed to help professionals deal with healthcare reform.
“In line with our goals and mission to help practitioners get the most out of healthcare reform, this year’s continuing education program focuses not only on the future of psychology practice but on developing skills beyond traditional psychological practice.”
They note, “Behavioral intervention is the foundation of Lifestyle Medicine practice.” The training focuses on integrating lifestyle medicine into practice and learning how to market your skills to physicians. Including in the topics are: "Family Interventions in Lifestyle Medicine," “Addressing Cardiovascular Disease," and “Cultural Factors in Lifestyle Treatments."
Also the conference will address, "Integrating Lifestyle Medicine into Behavioral Care," "Functional Medicine is Lifestyle Medicine," and "Impact of Life Style Changes on Chronic Disorders and Diseases."
Howard Rubin, Ph.D., will presnt on "Impact of Life Style Changes on Chronic Disorders and Diseases." Marc Braman, MD, MPH, will present on " Lifestyle Treatment of Metabolic Disorders."
Also, Levon Margolin, Ph.D, will present on, " Lifestyle Treatment of Pain Disorders." Frank Tornatore, Pharm.D., Ph.D., will present, "Psychopharmacological Practice in
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Originally published: . Volume 5, No. 1. Source pages: 5.
The changes for LSBEP (Louisiana State Board of Examiners of Psychology) continuing education are going forward with the final rule scheduled to be published this month, said the board’s Executive Director Kelly Parker.
The Notice of Intent, published in the July Louisiana Register, provided the board with approximately 30 comments, Parker explained.
Most of the comments had to do with increasing hours from 30 to 40 for the two-year reporting period, she said. While some of the comments were in response to changes in types of training, she said that the majority had to do with the number of hours. There were also comments that were supportive and appreciative for the changes.
Parker said that the comments and requests for a public hearing did not reach the level required to hold an additional hearing, and so the board will go forward on finalizing the rule. The final rule is likely to come out in the October Louisiana Register.
The changes to the continuing education rule tracked the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPPB) recommendations. Changes include an increase of five credits each year, or from 30 to 40 over the two-year reporting period.
The new rule also expands the types of training allowed, including peer consultation, outcome monitoring, and professional activities
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.
October 19 “Kirsh is Psychologist–Scholar” Says Zeanah As Tulane and LPA Co-Sponsor Conference
This October Tulane and the Louisiana Psychological Association have invited Dr. Irving Kirsh, an internationally known expert in the area of placebo effects, medication, hypnosis, and suggestion, for the LPA Fall Conference. The workshop will be on Saturday, October 19.
Planning the conference, Dr. Paula Zeanah noted how important Kirsh had been in her education. She said to the Times, “He was a professor of mine, and several other LPA members, including Drs. Caroline Weyand and Margaret Hauck, at University of Connecticut, and his class on response expectancy was one that has influenced my thinking for well over 20 years. Over his career, he has been exploring the connections between mind and body: how what we expect impacts how we respond to treatments. This is truly a core concept for health and mental health clinicians alike.”
“Dr. Kirsch is a psychologist- scholar,” she said. “While his work on placebo and antidepressant therapy has been controversial, as scientist-practitioners, I believe psychologists are well-poised to appreciate the importance of asking challenging questions and good research in understanding the what and how of the interventions we use. His work on antidepressants, and his work on the neurobiology of placebo provide new ideas about placebo as an active ingredient in responses to treatment.”
“I believe that anyone who is involved in treatment or research on depression or use of psychopharmacology will find his work important, fascinating, and perhaps, provocative!”
Dr. Zeanah is a clinical psychologist and works with medically ill children on the Tulane Pediatric Psychiatry Consultation- Liaison service at Tulane Hospital. She is the supervisor for the pediatric psychology track of the internship program.
Dr. Paula Zeanah
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Originally published: . Volume 5, No. 1. Source pages: 5.
In a news announcement August 27, the Department of Health and Hospitals said it wants to remind residents affected by Hurricane Isaac that counseling services are still available through Louisiana Spirit. Spirit is a federally funded Crisis Counseling and Stress Management program, offering counseling in 14 of the 26 presidentially declared disaster areas across the state. These parishes are Plaquemines, Jefferson, Assumption, Lafourche, St. Charles, St. James, St. John, St. Mary, Terrebonne, Livingston, St. Helena, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa and Washington.
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: 6.
The Louisiana Coalition for Violence Prevention is teaming up with Dr. Frank Igou and his group from Louisiana Tech to design valid training systems for the Coalition’s program, the Coalition leaders said last week.
Dr. Igou is Associate Professor of Industrial-Organizational Psychology in the LaTech Department of Psychology and Behavioral Sciences.
Dr. John Simoneaux, a Coalition steering team member, said that the group will be working with Dr. Igou to develop ways to ensure that the training proposed by the Coalition will be scientifically designed. The goal is to improve clinicians’ and others’ ability to accurately detect those who could become violent and take needed steps to ensure general safety.
The Coalition for Violence Prevention is a group of professionals from various segments of the community, who have joined together to promote safety in Louisiana by strengthening early identification of those at risk of interpersonal violence. The group includes a cross section of leaders from school psychology, counseling, psychology, and social work.
Along with Simoneaux, other steering group members of the Coalition include Yael Banai, PhD, Bryan Gros, PhD, Bobette Laurendine, LCSW, and Cindy Nardini, LPC.
Dr. Frank Igou is currently the Program Coordinator of the Industrial/Organizational Master’s Degree Program at Louisiana Tech and a member of the core faculty for the Industrial/ Organizational Psychology PhD program. He is faculty advisor for Applied Research of Organizational Settings (AROS) a graduate student staffed consulting organization headquartered in Louisiana Tech’s Research Park.
Dr. Bryan Gros (L), Cindy Nardini, and Dr. John Simoneaux, discussing issues about violence prevention at a recent community training session.
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