Article archive / June 1, 2012

Originally published: June 1, 2012. Volume 3, No. 10. Source pages: 1, 5.

The Psychology Times won six awards in the Louisiana Press Association’s Better Newspaper and Publication contests, announced at the Press Association’s convention, held in Marksville on May 5, 2012.

The Times earned a second place in “General Excellence,” with scores of “excellent” in both “General news quality” and “Reader appeal,” and the final rating of “good” in “Overall design.” The Times also won a second place in “Best Lifestyle Coverage,” composed of three “good” ratings.

Judges also awarded the Times a third place in “Best Front Page,” and also in “Best Continuing Coverage of a Single News Event,” with “good” ratings on all three scales in both contests.

Times cartoonist, Jake Nelson-Dooley was awarded first place and second place in “Best Editorial Cartoon” for Division C. Ratings were “good,” “good,” and “fair,” across the scales.

For the Times’ Freedom of Information entry regarding the reversal of Opinion #012, judges rated the Times as “excellent” for “Importance of the issue,” and “good” in both “Role publication played” and “Impact on preserving FOI.” The Times entry was displayed along with the Baton Rouge Advocate and Monroe News-Star at the Awards Banquet.

The Press Association acknowledged the winner, the Baton Rouge Advocate, for its efforts to make public the secrecy in selection processes in the office of the mayor.

The Freedom of Information award was in part established by the late Gordon Nelson, owner and publisher of the Coushatta Citizen, and father of the Times publisher, Julie Nelson.

The Press Association represents more than 110 daily and weekly newspapers across the state. The Baton Rouge Advocate was the top award winner among the large daily newspapers. Editors from the Georgia Press Association judged the competition for this year.

The Times competed in the Free Circulation and Special Interest category for editorial contests, in Division C for its cartoonist, and across all divisions in the Freedom of Information contest.

The Times also competed in contests for columns and features, and received feedback that its articles were too long, judges warning that “readers lose interest.” One judge commented that a feature article had a weak beginning, saying, “Don’t start with a history lesson,” he or she wrote.

One judge praised the Times news reporting efforts, noting, “The Psychology Times knows its audience and it kept that audience well informed …” And also that the Times “… explained clearly what was proposed, why it was proposed …”

“The coverage armed interested parties with consistently good information they could use …,” wrote the judge.

Some judges noted that the layout in the digital format resulted in a “choppy” presentation, pointing to the why readers have to frequently jump pages.

Bob Holeman (L), Julie Nelson, and Mike Dooley at recent press convention in Marksville, La.

Psychology Times cartoonist, Jake Nelson-Dooley, took a first place for “Best Editorial Cartoon,” Division C, at the 132nd Annual Convention of the Louisiana Press Association. The first place was for his rendering of “The Dual Nature of the Psychology Times” (right, below). Above: He visits the Pensacola Zoo in 2012, with daughter Samantha (“Sam”) alap.

This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.

Article archive / June 1, 2012

Originally published: June 1, 2012. Volume 3, No. 10. Source pages: 9.

Dr. Laurie O’Brien has been promoted to Associate Professor at Tulane. Dr. O’Brien joined the faculty in 2005 just before Katrina. Her research is in stereotype and stigma, funded by the National Science Foundation. She received her degree the U. of Kansas and post-doc fellowship at U. of California.

This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.

Article archive / June 1, 2012

Originally published: June 1, 2012. Volume 3, No. 10. Source pages: 1, 8.

In February, 2012, Dr. Robert Laird, associate professor at the University of New Orleans (UNO) earned a $515,000 grant from the W. T. Grant Foundation to study teen drivers and parent-adolescent interactions within the family. The UNO research team will look at the interactions regarding rules and regulations, among other factors, to learn what families can do to improve teen driving safety. Motor vehicle accidents are a leading cause of death for teens.

Interested in adolescent development and parenting, Dr. Laird is currently the Director of the Families and Teen Lab at UNO. His new project, called “Parenting New Teen Drivers Study,” follows new teenage drivers over a period of at least 2 years to determine how families are impacted by the introduction of a new driver.

For many parents, nothing makes them more nervous than when their child becomes old enough to drive. Dr. Laird knows just how important the first months of driving can be. “The first six months when people start driving,” he explained, “is more dangerous than any other time. It is likely the most dangerous point in your life for most people.”

Dr. Laird acknowledges there are several laws currently enforced to make things safer, such as the graduated model where teens’ restrictions are gradually reduced over time. He also realizes that little research has been done examining these critical driving months from the perspective of the family.

“A lot of the formalized restrictions and the licensing policies may be being done by some parents,” he noted. However he said, “They only function as graduated laws if the parents are enforcing them in the home and forcing the kids to follow them.”

Laird’s new project is designed to answer some of the questions about the regulations parent’s place on new teen drivers. Laird and his students will follow teenage drivers enrolled in a driver’s education program over their first two years of driving.

Using question-naires, interviews, and observational tasks, Laird hopes to capture the ebb and flow of relationships and interactions that occur when adolescents become new drivers, and especially whether these interactions affect risky driving behavior.

“One of the challenges we have when we try to understand autonomy development or renegotiations of family functioning,” Laird explained, “is that it occurs very gradually on different time frames for different families. So I proposed that if we look at driving, it presents the family with a brand new test that they are largely unprepared for.”

Dr. Laird hopes this project will help lawmakers make informed decisions regarding teen driving laws. He told the Times, “The public safety perspective is ‘we’ll just raise the driving age.’ However, evidence shows that whenever you start driving, the first 6 months are the most dangerous part, regardless of age.”

“If we can understand if the parents are doing something,” he said, “if they are putting on restrictions and gradually letting them [teens] increase their driving, then perhaps we should make sure that they are getting their license at a time when they are in that safety net.”

According to the Governors Highway Safety Association, a February 2012 report points to an 11 percent increase in teen driving fatalities for the first six months of 2011.

Dr. Laird’s goal is for his research to provide another piece of information that can be used to make driving safer for all involved.

This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.

Article archive / June 1, 2012

Originally published: June 1, 2012. Volume 3, No. 10. Source pages: 9.

Psychology faculty member Dr. Beth Wee has received the John Stibbs Award for Outstanding Faculty Member from Tulane’s undergraduate Student Government. Also, in the fall 2011, Dr. Wee was the recipient of the Barbara E. Moely Service Learning Teaching Award.

In a report by Carol Schlueter for the Tulane news, Dr. Wee is described as “an excellent example of a Tulane scholar” who harmoniously combines teaching and community engagement,” by the assistant director of faculty training.

Wee designed a course called “Bringing Research to the Community.” In Wee’s Brain and Behavior course students learn about neurological issues and then work in hospitals and nursing homes to assist in care and to fully understand what they have learned in the course.

The Barbara Moely Award is named after professor emerita in psychology, Dr. Moely, who was an early proponent of community service and involvement.

This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.

Article archive / June 1, 2012

Originally published: June 1, 2012. Volume 3, No. 10. Source pages: 2.

Shakespeare’s wheel came full circle when the names of Dr. Julie Nelson and The Psychology Times were praised during Louisiana Press Association’s Freedom of Information Award presentation at the May convention.

Fittingly, it was her father, Gordon Nelson, with his weekly Coushatta Citizen, who won the first Freedom of Information (FOI) Award three decades ago.

I was a young reporter, not long out of the LSU School of Journalism, when I worked beside Gordon, a grizzled, Shakespeare-quoting journalist. We waged both legal and newsprint battles to obtain public records from an entrenched Red River Parish School Board. The newspaper sparked so much controversy that at one point, I was slugged and knocked into a row of chairs by the Superintendent who lost his cool over a story the Citizen was reporting. The Citizen won the Community Service first place for our efforts. Controversy was no stranger to Gordon who’d taken on the local KKK in the '60s.

Gordon Nelson was one of a dying breed of newspapermen who believed that freedom of information is truly what newspapers should be about.

Revenue for the owners? Yes. And spoon-fed stories for the readership? Sure. But at their core it was all about their ability to ferret out, then print information that the public has the right to know, about boards and governmental bodies which would prefer to keep that public in the dark.

When it came to the Press Association’s Better Newspaper Contest, Gordon was miffed that there wasn’t a category more befitting our efforts than Community Service. He set out with the press officials to create a new category, the prestigious Freedom of Information Award. The FOI award would be presented to only one newspaper, regardless staff, frequency or circulation.

And, it would be the Coushatta Citizen that would win the Press Association’s first FOI Award the following year, for our efforts to pry open records from the Sheriff’s Office.

Julie Nelson was working on her doctorate while her dad was hammering on FOI. But her lifetime of growing up in the backshops of her journalists mom (Evelyn Hunter Nelson) and dad, was evident. Newspaper folks like to say that once immersed, you can’t get the ink out of your veins.

In 2009 politics took over Julie’s professional community. This was not okay with her.

“I think it even surprised me,” she said, “how much I got wrapped up in what Dad always called the public’s right to know. I really hated what had happened, on several levels. Psych- ologists willing to deceive people? I just couldn’t stand by for that.” She remembered the days of her dad, dubbed “The Bulldog of Red River Parish” in a 1978 South Magazine article. “He felt perfectly at home, stirring up people, when it came to freedom of information.”

“Dad had died in 2009 and mom in 2010,” she said, “So I’m sure grief was part of it. But also it was what I knew about groups. 'Emergent processes,' Don Glad, my doctor-father, also a newspaperman, had called it. Creativity needs information. We had none, less than none, actually. Infor- mation channels were being squelched,” she said.

Julie realized she could shine some light on the backroom dealings that had brought her disenfranchised community to this point, and launched The Psychology Times. “Open information has to be a fundamental for us, for all psychologists,” she said. “And fighting against self- deception. To thine own self be true.”

I was delighted when Julie called me, her dad’s former news editor, seeking some advice on journalistic how-to. (You appreciate it when a friend wishes to draw on your career experience.) So I’ve been on-board as the Times’ consultant from the start.

By the third year, the Times had earned the right to enter the LA Press Association’s contests. Julie said, “I told Nicki Waters at the Press Association, when I dropped off my entries, ‘Nicki, I’m entering my father’s contest!’ I think she understood exactly what it meant.”

Julie invited me and my wife to join her in early May for the press convention in Marksville. “I got to wear mom’s badge,” she explained, “from the 1947 Press convention in Monroe.

Sixty-five years ago Mama was 22, just back from DC and the war effort, and she went into LSU journalism. Daddy followed her in.”

This May, there on the display table for Freedom of Information was The Psychology Times, together with the Monroe News-Star and the Baton Rouge Advocate. The heading proclaimed these to be the first, second and third place winners, in no particular order. Later that night the entries were praised and the Advocate announced as the winner.

“Well of course I wanted to win, but really, the Advocate? The News- Star? I’m not really that grandiose, at least I hope not. And we did okay with some other awards.”

Julie looked at me and said she is still delighted, validated as a “real” newspaper. I could hear Gordon’s typical quip, “That plaque and a dime will still get you a cup of coffee.”

For the past 35 years, Julie Nelson has proven she’s a real psychologist. Over the past three years, she’s also proven she’s got a real newspaper for her psychology com- munity.

The reviews are in.

Lynn Hunter Nelson’s 1947 Press Convention badge worn by Julie Nelson at recent press awards dinner.

Days Gone By: Over three decades ago the Coushatta Citizen won the first Louisiana Press Association Freedom of Information Award. Pictured above are those celebrating. Front row: Julie Nelson and Mike Dooley, Second row: Diane Holeman, Lynn H. Nelson, Gordon Nelson, unidentified young lady, and Tim Nelson. Back row: Bob Holeman.

This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.

Article archive / June 1, 2012

Originally published: June 1, 2012. Volume 3, No. 10. Source pages: 12.

Attendees at the Southwestern Psychological Association (SWPA) enjoyed the most extensive continuing education (CE) program in history at its recent 2012 conference in Oklahoma City.

Fourteen American Psychological Association (APA) accredited presentations were offered, including four dynamic invited speakers.

This year’s conference was lead by a Louisiana team. Dr. Lawrence Dilks, headed up the committee with the assistance of his intern Burton Ashworth, his psychological student Jackie Bourassa, and a doctoral student Billie Meyers. All are from southwest Louisiana. Burton Ashworth and Billie Meyers are currently pursuing their doctoral degrees from Fielding University. Jackie Bourassa is a graduate student at McNeese State University studying experimental psychology.

All three assistants contributed to the convention’s research poster sessions with the following titles: A Psychological Profile of Diaconate Candidates, Identifying Non-Verbal Learning Disabilities Using the WAIS- III, A Case Study of a Group Experiencing a Major Oil Rig Disaster, A Case Study of Psychological Consequences of Pre-frontal Lobectomy, Neuropsychological Consequences of Peritoneal Mesothelioma and A Case Study of a Toxic Chemical Exposure Group.

The CE program began with a six-hour pre-conference workshop by Dr. John Simoneaux, who detailed the upcoming changes for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fifth edition (DSM 5). Dr Simoneaux provided a ‘tour de force ‘ of the entire manual, pausing to emphasize areas of exceptional change such as PTSD of early childhood, autistic spectrum and the array of communication disorders.

The following three days saw numerous presenters expound on their specialties in a series of two- hour presentations.

Dr Marty Kransberg discussed the intervention technique known as Redecision Therapy. She is a clinical psychologist with a private practice in Texas, as well as academic professor for the Department of Psychology at Fielding Graduate University in Santa Barbara, California.

Dr. Valarie Waldmeier, head of the graduate nursing program at McNeese State University reviewed the latest changes in antidepressants with emphasis on clinical manifestations and mechanisms of action.

Dr Richard Kishur outlined effective treatment strategies for sex offenders, and Dr. Thad Leffingwell, a professor from Oklahoma State University, presented on motivational interviewing.

Dr. Tari Dilks, psychiatric nurse practitioner, reviewed the basic tenants of a psychopharmacological approach to the treatment of chronic pain. She reviewed fundamental neurochemistry and how it engenders the efficacy of medications. She presented a variety of medications and treatment while reviewing the primary side effects of each.

Dr. Dolores Subia Bigfoot shared with the audience parental training techniques utilized by her agency to reduce childhood abuse and facilitate social and psychological development with Native American children. And Dr. Sue Jacobs discussed ethical dilemmas faced by psychologists who provide services during natural disasters.

The general session also offered CE credit for a number of conference presentations, including the SWPA 2012 presidential addressed offered by Dr. Shelia M. Kennison entitled “Risk-Taking in Young Adults: A Terror Management Perspective.” Likewise, Dr. Joseph E. Trimble presented the prestigious APA/SWPA G. Stanley Hall address speaking on “Attentive Exploration of Ethnic Identification Perspective and Influence on Change, Measure, and Theory.”

Invited speakers were Dr. James W. Pennebaker spoke on “What Our Words Say About Us.” Dr. Ann S. Masten on, “Resilience after Catastrophes: Emerging Guidelines for Research and Practice,” Dr. Daniel L. Schacter presented, “Constructive Memory: Linking the Past and the Future,” and Dr. Mark V. Flinn delivered the provocative subject, “Hormones in the Wild: Anthropological Perspectives on Traumatic Experiences and Cortisol.”

All agreed this year’s conference was a major success.

This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.

Article archive / June 1, 2012

Originally published: June 1, 2012. Volume 3, No. 10. Source pages: 4.

According to the Louisiana Record, an online journal of legal events in Louisiana, and Justia Dockets and Filings, John C. Courtney, PsyD, MP, filed a lawsuit against Bartholomew Vereb, MD, and against Angie’s List, Inc. The suit was filed on March 9, 2012.

In the Record the author notes that the lawsuit states that Vereb posted reviewer comments in June 2009 that referred to Courtney as a “joker” and a “quack.”

According to the Record’s review, Courtney dis- covered the comments in December 2011 and asked Angie’s List to remove them. Angie’s List did remove the comments about two months later, and said they do not allow businesses or competitors to make statements about one another.

“Vereb is accused of intentionally and maliciously posting false and defamatory comments, which Courtney claims harmed his standing in the medical community,” said the Record.

The article also notes that “Angie’s List is accused of negligence for failing to follow its own procedures that would have prevented Courtney’s damages, for breaching its duty to Courtney, and for acting with reckless disregard for the truth.”

Courtney is seeking damages for “mental pain and suffering, economic loss, loss of earning capacity, injury to his reputation, personal humiliation, embarrassment and mental anguish, lost income, attorney’s fees and court costs.”

Dr. Courtney is a member of the psychology board, a medical psychologist, and a Director at Children’s Hospital in New Orleans. Dr. Vereb is a psychiatrist, now practicing in Florida, according to his website. .

This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.

Article archive / June 1, 2012

Originally published: June 1, 2012. Volume 3, No. 10. Source pages: 13, 14.

Editor’s note: In honor of fathers everywhere, and their impact on the flying behaviors of their daughters and sons, The Times is pleased to re-run the 2010 article of Dr. Peggy Hagan’s journey to attain her pilot’s license. We wish all fathers out there the best on June 17th.

Margaret “Peggy” L. Hagan, Ph.D., a psychologist in private practice from Slidell, took her first flying lessons in 1995, but then had to postpone because of other duties. She told the Times, “In late 2008, I had a little sit down chat with myself and asked what was the most exciting part of my life, and why wasn’t I still doing that?”

She decided to get her pilot’s license, thinking, “Why not? Flying a plane is pretty exciting…”

Peggy’s father (Bill) was a pilot until 1985, when he felt it might be best to discontinue flying.

He took flying lessons at age 16, in 1940, expanding on his keen interest in aviation, evidenced by his building a rudimentary flight simulator when he was only ten years old.

Bill flew a Piper Turbo Arrow for his business during the years Peggy was in college at the University of Illinois. He would pick up Peggy and her brother (a Ph.D. in physics and nuclear engineering) from Champaign- Urbana and fly them home to Omaha.

“…But let me tell you,” Peggy said, “we had some very harrowing flights when he was Pilot-in-Command.”

“One Christmas the plane was tossing this way and that,” she recalled. “I kept hitting my head on the top of the plane. It was ferocious.” Peggy remembers her father yelling, “ ‘We’re all going to die!’ ”

“When we came in for a landing,” she said, “the icing on the plane was so bad he had me open my door so he could look out and see the runway.”

When we touched down, there were fire trucks and ambulances. And Dad said ‘I didn't call a Mayday.’ The tower said, ‘Well, we did. We were sure you wouldn't make it down.’

They had closed the airport to commercial flights a few hours before,” Peggy said. Bill explained to the Times that the plane had accumulated too much ice, and he could only keep the engine just above a stall.

“On the drive from the airport to our house,” Peggy said, “our car swerved into a ditch.”

Even aware that sometimes the excitement can get a little higher than she might want, Peggy returned to her lessons in 2008, determined to earn her license.

She trained with two Certified Flight Instructors, Don Pechon at the Slidell airport and Sharon Knight at Hammond. “Two amazing aviators,” she said.

“My first solo flight was on April 13, 2009,” she noted. “We had a flight lesson in the Cessna 150…Don said ‘Okay, go do 2 or 3 touch and go's. Be careful.’ I was so excited. I let him out and thought I would be a nervous wreck. But like anything, training takes over and I taxied out, made my radio calls, took off and did a couple of –perfect– landings. Quite a thrilling day!”

In November 2009 Peggy completed her solo cross-country requirements– 150 miles or more with several landings and take-offs. She flew from Slidell, landed in McComb, and then proceeded to Hattiesburg, announcing, “ ‘Hattiesburg traffic, Cessna 334 is 5 miles west, inbound for landing. Runway one- three, full stop, Hattiesburg.’”

Peggy landed, talked to some other pilots, called her instructor, and took off back for home. “It was 3.3 hours of solo cross-country. I was really, really thrilled.”

To pass the FAA exam, “I studied my caboose off,” she said. “When I wasn’t in my office, I was found at our local coffee shop where I studied and studied.” The exam requires proficiency in a variety of technical and critical-thinking areas, “…weather conditions, navigation, computing headings and the effect of wind, engine and mechanical workings, decision making, emergencies, etc.,” she explained. “–A vast array of subjects.”

Peggy aced the exam, with the help of Sharon Knight. She also aced the three hour oral exam with the FAA examiner. Then Peggy continued her training with Don to prepare for the checkride.

“I was nervous about the checkride with the examiner,” Peggy said. “You have to do stalls, emergency landings with no power, steep turns, and other maneuvers.”

But she successfully completed her checkride on June 19th, 2010, and earned her Private Pilot License. How did she feel about the accomplishment? “It was a blast and a half,” she said.

Eight days later, on June 27th, while her father and mother were visiting from San Diego, Peggy surprised her dad by inviting him to go up with her as her first official passenger.

Bill was delighted, telling the Times, “The flight was perfect from the smooth take off to the very smooth slight crosswind landing. She flew me out over Slidell to get me oriented and then out towards the Gulf.” He said, “…the view from 2000 feet was excellent.” And, “Her communications with the ground and also with the oil company helicopter crew that was getting ready for their daily flight out over the oil spill was flawless.”

Years ago, Bill had taken up his mother for her first trip in an airplane. His first passenger-carrying flight was his wife, Peggy’s mom.

On the 27th, Peggy’s second passenger that day was her first-born daughter Joanne.

The weather was perfect, Bill and Peggy and Joanne all noted. The sky was blue, the clouds were white, and the sun was shining.

Bill, age 85, said, “All in all, it was a perfect flight.”

Peggy told the Times, “It was a beautiful day.”

Dr. Margaret “Peggy” Hagan has been in private practice in Slidell since 1984. She sees all ages, and specializes in psychoeducational evaluations. Even though she started out in mathematics, she told the Times, “I absolutely love my ‘job’– I cannot imagine doing anything else.” Above, she goes through her careful checks.

Dr. Peggy Hagan and her father Bill.

Photos by Dr. Hagan’s daughter, Joanne Hagan Mabry. Joanne was Peggy’s second passenger and said about her mother, “She was so dedicated and determined to obtain her pilot's license,” and noted that her mom’s efforts in aviation are “inspiring.”

This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.

Article archive / June 1, 2012

Originally published: June 1, 2012. Volume 3, No. 10. Source pages: 4.

According to information obtained by the Times, speakers at the Louisiana Academy of Medical Psychologists (LAMP) April 2012 conference included Dr. Cecil Reynolds, presenting on the “RIAS: Reynolds Intellectual Assessment Scales & CTMT: Comprehensive Trail Making Test,” and also “TOMAL-2: Test of Memory and Learning-2.”

Dr. Joe Comaty spoke on “Update on HIPAA: Are You Hip to the New Rules?” and Dr. Claire Advokat presented on “Brain Buzz: Better Thinking through Electricity.”

“Negative Clinical Outcomes Associated with PTSD and Substance Use Disorder Comorbidity: Identifying Potential Mechanisms and Targets for Treatment,” was presented by Dr. Matthew Tull. And Dr. Kim Gratz, presented, “The Role of Emotion Dysregulation in the Pathogenesis and Treatment of Borderline Personality Disorder and Related Behaviors.”

Complimentary lunches were provided by Sunovion Pharma- ceuticals, Pfizer, and Avanir.

LAMP officials declined to publish conference information, apparently restricted to LAMP members.

This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.

Article archive / June 1, 2012

Originally published: June 1, 2012. Volume 3, No. 10. Source pages: 15.

Louisiana Psychological Assn will present two Webinars for June.

On Wednesday, June 27, from 12 noon to 2, Cass Nelson- Dooley, MS, will present “Nutrition and Mood.” She will explore the underlying nutritional imbalances that clinicians need to consider when treating individuals with depression. She is a Specialist and Clinical Educator at Metametrix Laboratories, Atlanta, Research Coordinator in the Science and Education Department, and co-author of "Nutrient and Toxic Elements" in Laboratory Evaluations for Integrative and Functional Medicine.

This presentation will cover nutritional causes of neurotransmitter imbalances that could result in treatment- resistant depression. Topics include neurotransmitters, amino acids, fatty acids, allergenic foods, and cortisol. Clinical cases will be presented with an emphasis on the laboratory results commonly seen in patients suffering with depression and how treating these biochemical abnormalities improves clinical outcomes. Knowledge of the underlying nutritional and dietary causes of depression can be useful in a comprehensive treatment of depression.

On Friday, June 29, 12 noon to 2 pm, Dr. Susan Andrews will present, “Applying the ABCs of Stress Solutions in Clinical Contexts.”

Susan Andrews, PhD, is a psychologist, a neuropsychologist, and author of Stress Solutions for Pregnant Moms: Now Breaking Free from Stress Can Boost Your Baby’s Potential.

Emerging new evidence is now linking stress during pregnancy to risks for childhood emotional, physical, and behavioral problems, writes Dr. Andrews in her new book. These connections include preterm birth, ADHD, and learning disabilities. The evidence suggests that managing stress for pregnant moms could be as important as the reasons for avoiding smoking and alcohol during pregnancy. Dr. Andrews will review the practical applications of her ABC formula, case descriptions, and show participants effective methods for lowering dangerous cortisol levels.

Continuing education chair, Dr. John Fanning invites anyone interested in participating to contact him through the LPA office at www.louisianapsychologist.org/ or call 225.766.0185.

This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.

Article archive / June 1, 2012

Originally published: June 1, 2012. Volume 3, No. 10. Source pages: 5.

Based on feedback from judges at the 132nd Louisiana Press Association, the Times is changing its format.

The new format, launched for this issue, includes larger pages, larger and more complex headlines, and more concise articles. Type size remains at 11 point. Readers who print out the Times may have to modify printer settings. Those who read the Times online may notice that the text seems smaller. However, it is the page that is larger.

The publisher welcomes comments or feedback. (psychologytimes@drjulie nelson.com)

This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.

Article archive / June 1, 2012

Originally published: June 1, 2012. Volume 3, No. 10. Source pages: 15.

Professional Training Resources will host the 10th Annual Mental Health Summer Symposium on July 25 to 27, 2010, in Lafayette at the West Pinhook Road Hilton. The Summer Symposium offers educational seminars and continuing education for psychologists, social workers, substance abuse counselors, licensed professional counselors, school psychologists, and marriage and family counselors.

The firm is owned by Dr. John Simoneaux who has developed the program for approval by the American Psychological Association, the National Association of Social Workers, Louisiana Chapter, National Board for Certified Counselors, Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification, Addictive Disorder Regulatory Authority, and the National Association of School Psychologists.

“What’s cool about it,” John told the Times, “is that we started it with the idea that people can have fun while learning. So we really emphasize being relaxed, a friendly atmosphere. We give door prizes. We joke around. Historically our sons come and play. They’re musicians. We celebrate my wife’s birthday every year at that time. So in the evenings, we invite people to come and hang out with us. We play music and have the greatest time.” John explained that it has grown in popularity so much that they are limiting it to 200, “So we can keep the user friendly atmosphere.” His tee-shirts, Curly and Barney Fife, make the point.

This year the training includes “Hoarding” by John Simoneaux, PhD. “Intellectual Disability: Aspects of the Law that Every Mental Health Professional Should Know,” by Mike Chafetz, PhD, ABPP. Luke Elliott, PhD will present “ADHD Across the Lifespan,” and John Strain, LPC, will present, “Calming the Storm: Crisis Intervention from Theory to Practice.” Attorney William “Chuck” Credo, will provide a workshop on, “Louisiana Mental Health Law: Insanity and Incompetence.” And John Simoneaux will provide the seminar, “Ethics and Boundary Violations.”

More information at http://professionaltrainingresourcesinc.com/

This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.

Article archive / June 1, 2012

Originally published: June 1, 2012. Volume 3, No. 10. Source pages: 6.

Senate puts back “one-time-money”

The Louisiana Senate advanced the state budget, HB 1, on Thursday night, May 31, in a 39 to 0 vote. This was after the Senate Finance Committee added back the approximately $300 million of “one-time-money” that had been removed by the House.

In an earlier committee meeting the state Treasurer explained that if this one-time money was not restored to the budget, services would be dramatically cut. And these cuts would come from healthcare and higher education.

Because of the structure of the state finances, legislators are not allowed to touch $20 billion of the $25-26 billion state budget. This pushes the cuts to healthcare and higher education.

Governor Jindal had urged the Senate Finance Committee to return the money to the budget, according to an Advocate news blog.

In a Times–Picayune article on May 25, by Jeff Adelson, Senator Norbert Chabert, Vice-Chair of the Senate Finance, said that the committee needed to take steps so that the budget doesn’t “decimate services throughout the state.”

The report also noted that Chabert said in the Legislature will need to make changes in how the process is handled, to avoid a regular crisis. The report clarified that because of the budget structure and restrictions, “unprotected areas of health care and higher education take large hits whenever the state needs to trim spending.”

In an article by Mike Haster in the Alexandria Town Talk, Secretary Department of Health and Hospitals, Bruce Greenstein had predicted that cutting the $267.7 million would impact critical services. Kathy Kliebert, Assistant Secretary said the DHH budget was already “stretched to its limit of elasticity.”

The report noted that Kliebert said “there would no longer be psychological services” in Central Louisiana. She was quoted to say, “These patients are not going to evaporate. They’re going to migrate to more expensive methods of treatment.”

This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.

Article archive / June 1, 2012

Originally published: June 1, 2012. Volume 3, No. 10. Source pages: 16.

“In my judgment this is the most sacred of all national holidays, celebrating and honoring those people who have served, and particularly those who have given up their lives in the service of this great nation.”

“I think we can pay tribute to the 9/11 Generation, who has fought the longest war this country has ever fought. And I think they are the new Greatest Generation, to be sure. Never before have so few, fought for so many, and have done that for so long. We not only honor their sacrifice but we honor the sacrifice of their families.”

“And, it gives us the opportunity on Memorial Day to renew our own commitment to America and its values. And also, to remind ourselves that as ugly as war is, and as devastating as the consequences are, there truly are some things that are worth fighting for. And these wonderful Americans who stepped forward and have done that for us, we are truly blessed as a result of it.”

Ret. General Jack Keane on Fox News, 5/28/12

Special care is taken in folding the flag after Memorial Day ceremony at the Task Force Leatherneck headquarters, May 28, 2012. Photo by Master Sgt. Grady Fontana of 1st Marine Division.

Since January 2011, eight Louisiana servicemen have been killed. Here are their names, their hometowns, their units, and how they died.

Spec. Jeffrey L. White, Jr., age 21. Hometown: Catawissa, La. Branch: Army. Unit: 1st Battalion (Airborne), 501st Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska. Incident: Apr 3rd, 2012: Died in Khost province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit with a makeshift bomb.

Lt. Cmdr. (SEAL) Jonas B. Kelsall, age 32. Hometown: Shreveport, La. Branch: Navy. Unit: East Coast-based Naval Special Warfare unit. Incident: Aug 6th, 2011: Died in Wardak province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when their CH-47 Chinook helicopter crashed.

Special Warfare Operator Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) Robert J. Reeves, age 32. Hometown: Shreveport, La. Branch: Navy. Unit: East Coast-based Naval Special Warfare unit. Incident: Aug 6th, 2011: Died in Wardak province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when their CH-47 Chinook helicopter crashed.

Tech. Sgt. Daniel L. Douville, age 33. Hometown: Harvey, La. Branch: Air Force. Unit: 96th Civil Engineer Squadron, Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. Incident: Jun 26th, 2011: Died as a result of injuries suffered from a makeshift bomb on the border of the Nad 'Ali district of Helmand province, Afghanistan.

Cpl. Matthew T. Richard, age 21.Hometown: Acadia, La. Branch: Marines. Unit: 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C. Incident: Jun 9th, 2011: Died while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.

Staff Sgt. Quadi S. Hudgins, age 26. Hometown: New Orleans, La. Branch: Army Unit: Maintenance Troop, Regimental Support Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, Fort Hood, Texas. Incident: Apr 2nd, 2011: Died of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked their position with indirect fire in Babil, Iraq.

Pvt. Jeremy P. Faulkner, age 23. Hometown: Griffin, La. Branch: Army. Unit: 2nd Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky. Incident: Mar 29th, 2011: Died of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with small arms fire in Konar province, Afghanistan.

Spec. Christian J. Romig, age 24. Hometown: Kenner, La. Branch: Army National Guard. Unit: Missouri National Guard Agri-Business Development Team IV, Jefferson City, Mo.Incident: Jan 5th, 2011: Died of wounds suffered at Nangarhar Province, Afghanistan when insurgents attacked their unit using a makeshift bomb.

Source “Faces of the Fallen,” and military records, by state. Go to http://apps.washingtonpost.com/national/fallen/maps/states/

This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.

Article archive / June 1, 2012

Originally published: June 1, 2012. Volume 3, No. 10. Source pages: 6.

New Sunset Date July 2017

In a measure that sailed through the legislature, the Department of Health and Hospitals (DHH) was re-created, along with its “statutory entities.” This includes the boards for psychology, social work, medicine, and counselors.

SB87, authored by Senator Buffington, supersedes the “Sunset” law, which would have automatically terminated DHH and all the connected boards and commissions, requiring they either be re-created this year or close down.

The measure makes July 1, 2017, the new “Sunset” date and so the 2016 legislative session is the new time period where issues of Sunset will be addressed again. The governor is signing the law at any time.

This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.