In a June 9th letter, the Committee for the Advancement of Profes- sional Practice (CAPP) responded to concerns of the Interdivisional Healthcare Committee (IHC) about Louisiana’s statute restricting the use of the term “medical psycho- logist.” The Chair of CAPP, Dr. Sanford Portnoy, wrote Dr. Robert Glueckauf, Chair of IHC, to share CAPP’s opinion. He wrote, “CAPP opposes the use of the term ‘medical psychologist’ exclusively by psychologists with prescriptive authority.”
Dr. Portnoy explained in the letter that CAPP had created a working group in response to the April 21st letter received from the IHC. The IHC had listed a number of concerns regarding Act 251, both for the public and for the profession.
The working group included CAPP members, and members representing APA Divisions 55 (American Society for the Advancement of Pharmacotherapy) and 38 (Health Psychology).
Dr. Portnoy noted that the opinion is not a policy statement or a recommendation of a policy statement for APA. He mentioned that CAPP recognizes the right of state legislatures to decide on terminology.
Copies were sent to Dr. Katherine Nordal, Executive Director of the APA Practice Directorate, and Dr. Ronald Palomares, Assistant Executive Director, Governance Operations in the Practice Directorate.
IHC is independent of APA, but is composed of two representatives from each of the APA divisions of Health Psychology, Rehabilitation Psychology, Clinical Neuropsychology, Society of Pediatric Psychology, Society of Clinical Psychology/Clinical Geropsychology, Counseling Psychology, and Family Psychology. IHC developed the Health & Behavior codes, allowing a psychologist to be reimbursed for treating physical problems with psychological methods.
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Originally published: . Volume 1, No. 11. Source pages: 1.
At their June 25th meeting, the board elected the new Chair, Dr. Joseph Comaty, and new Vice Chair, Dr. Tony Young. Above: Ex.Dir. Jaime Monic (center front, back to camera), (clockwise) Dr. Rita Culross, Dr. Young, Dr. Jillandra Rovaris, Dr. Comaty, and Dr. John Courtney.
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In June, the legislature passed a concurrent resolution (SCR 100), to “urge and request …” the psychology board and the LPC (Licensed Profession- al Counselors) board to work in collabora- tion through a “Behavioral Health Professional Working Group.” According to the resolution, this working group is to develop language to help clarify issues for LPC legislation and to “identify the common and distinct practice activities of the two professions…”
The working group is to be composed of two members appointed from the psychology board, two members from the LPC board, two appointed by the Louisiana Psychological Association, and two from the Louisiana Counseling Association. The board of social work and the medical board may also appoint one representative to act in an advisory capacity only.
Members of this group are to be appointed by July 15th and report findings and conclusions to the Senate and House committees on Health and Welfare by February 1, 2011. At the recent psychology board meeting (June 25th), Dr. Joe Comaty and Dr. Tony Young were appointed to this committee. The first meeting is supposed to take place by August 1.
The resolution asks that the group work together in a collaborative manner to reach three goals.
“(1) Develop language for legislation to clarify the licensed professional counselor scope of practice regarding diagnosis and treatment of mental, emotional, and addictive disorders which allows professional counselors to practice in a manner which is consistent with education requirements, applicable training, and related competencies.”
“(2) Identify the common and distinct practice activities of the two professions and develop new collaborative practice methods which seek to fully utilize the abilities of both professions and allow for maximization of behavioral health services which can be provided in the state.”
And lastly, “(3) Discuss and outline additional recommendations which may expand public access to presently absent behavioral health services while avoiding service duplication and redundancy.”
Left: Dr. Jessica Brown worked very hard this year as LPA’s Legislative Chair.
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The Interdivisional Healthcare Committee (IHC), a group of representatives from seven APA divisions, published a list of concerns about Act 251, citing issues about confusing the public as to meaning of “medical psychologist.” Also noted were issues about psychologists falling under medical boards, and problems 251 creates internal to the profession in regard to unfair competition. The authors call for action by three APA bodies: Committee for the Advancement of Professional Practice (CAPP), Bd of Psychological Affairs (BPA), and Bd of Educational Affairs (BEA).
Dr. Rob Glueckauf, Chair of IHC, told the Times last week that the position statement and action requests were unanimously supported by representatives from all seven divisions. He stated, “We have submitted the report to CAPP, BEA, and BPA. CAPP has already taken action. They have a working group that is investigating the current and long-term practice implications of the legislation [Act 251], as well as the consequences of licensing prescribing psychologists under state medical boards. Both BEA and BPA have said they would seriously review and consider the information.”
IHC is independent of APA, but is composed of two representatives from each of the APA divisions of Health Psychology, Rehabilitation Psychology, Clinical Neuropsychology, Society of Pediatric Psychology, Society of Clinical Psychology/Clinical Geropsychology, Counseling Psychology, and Family Psychology.
According to Dr. Daniel Bruns, IHC member and lead author of the report, members from the APA Division of Health Psychology prepared the initial draft, and then IHC completed the analysis. He said that IHC “functions as a think tank for those in psychology who use psychological methods to treat individuals with physical illness.” He pointed out that the IHC is “best known for its development of the Health & Behavior codes. These are the billing codes that allow a traditional medical psychologist to be reimbursed for treating diabetes with behavioral methods, for example.”
A main concern cited in the IHC report is that Act 251 writes into law a different definition of what it means to be a medical psychologist. The report notes that for eighty years the term medical psychologist has been used to describe a practitioner who applies psychological modalities to treat patients with physical problems, such as diabetes, brain injury, asthma or obesity.
The report goes on to describe that with Act 251, the same term, “…refers to a psychologist who has been trained to treat psychiatric disorders with medications.” And that, “This will confuse the public and other professionals.”
Dr. Bruns commented to the Times that Act 251 has “…almost reversed the definition of the term medical psychology.”
Authors of the IHC document also wrote that Louisiana’s new law, “… excludes almost all traditional medical psychologists, and may misrepresent what prescribing psychologists actually do…” And that, “…A person trained in RxP and called a Medical Psychologist would appear to have expertise in rehabilitation psychology, clinical neuropsychology, health psychology, primary care psychology, etc. Further, by virtue of being licensed by the medical board, MPs would appear to be more qualified than traditional medical psychologists, without having training in these other disciplines.”
In July 2009, Dr. James Childerston, President of both the Academy of Medical Psychology (AMP) and American Board of Medical Psychology (ABMP), raised similar objections in a letter to Louisiana’s attorney general.
The IHC report listed concerns about the move of psychologists to medicine. “Act 251 transfers control of credentialing, training requirements, scope of practice and oversight of the medical psychology profession to the medical board, and this is a radical paradigm shift involving some loss of control over our own profession. Similarly, Act 251 creates two classes of paraprofessionals (psychometricians and psychological assistants) whose credentialing, training requirements, scope of practice and oversight fall under the auspices of the medical board.”
The IHC authors also pointed to concerns about unfair economic advantages that appear created by 251, citing examples such as authorizing medical tests and hiring psychometricians. They give an example of an MP ordering an MRI where a traditional neuro- psychologist may not, even though he/she may be more qualified than the MP. This, the authors noted, “…could lead to unfair competitive advantage…”
Find full report at http://www. healthpsych.com/ihc/medpsych.pdf
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On May 18th Governor Jindal announced his appointment of Dr. Rita Culross to the Psychology Board. Dr. Culross will replace Dr. Jillandra Rovaris whose normal term expires this month.
Dr. Culross is a Jo Ellen Levy Yates Professor with the Department of Educational Theory, Policy, & Practice in the College of Education at LSU, Baton Rouge. She received her doctorate from Purdue University.
In her statement for nomination, Dr. Culross wrote, “With the passage of new legislation regarding the practice of Medical Psychology there is a need for experienced psychologists to volunteer for service on the Board. I believe the Board serves the profession and the public best if the membership reflects the broad array of work settings and specialties in psychology. I would bring the perspective of a trainer with more than 30 years as a licensed psychologist. In addition, I would work to expand continuing education activities for all specialties and would lend my expertise gained working on programs of continuing education.”
This is the final of three appointments that licensees voted on last November. Other recent appointments include Dr. Tony Young, appointed in March to fill the position felt open by the resignation of Dr. Glen Ally. Dr. Young will serve until 2012. Dr. John Simoneaux was appointed in April to fill a position left open by Dr. Paul Dammers, and will serve until 2013.
Dr. Culross
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Originally published: . Volume 1, No. 10. Source pages: 2.
We have new leaders taking positions in our community (three new board members, five new directors in the state association), it’s Memorial Day, and Louisiana has a catastrophe coming. I want to connect these three.
In the 80s I had the privilege of working with some top managers who were in that group of men who came home from WWII, started families, and went to work. By the 80s some had achieved top leadership roles. They had the traits of good leaders: effective communication, strong critical-thinking skills, motivation, etc.
But anecdotally I kept seeing something else that set them apart, especially from many of today’s leaders. The WWII group seemed to be more immune than others to the corrupting influence of power. (Power Increases Hypocrisy: Moralizing in Reasoning, Immorality in Behavior. Psychological Science, May, APS.)
I always attributed it (rightly or wrongly) to what it must have been like to sit next to someone in a foxhole, some guy from nowhere special, and then depend on him, and him on you, to live or die. I think that could install equality into one’s heart and mind, and moral system, and help to fight off the seductive, nonconscious tendency we all have toward self- deception, the handmaiden of selfishness.
Time passed, these men retired, more time passed, their protégés retired, and now today, I sometimes feel that we are all searching for someone we can trust. I heard of a poll recently where the majority of voters would rather have a random name out of a phone book than the incumbent.
I hope our new leaders will help the psychological community to be more open, self-correcting, creative and respectful of its own diversity, so we can help Louisiana and ourselves. Because all of us are in this particular foxhole together.
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Originally published: . Volume 1, No. 10. Source pages: 5.
Mr. Todd Lobrano, a doctoral student in counseling psychology at Louisiana Tech was awarded the first place honor for his research, “The Ability of Personality Traits to Predict Vulnerability to Stress in College Students.” Dr. Eric Deemer, a faculty member at LaTech, worked with Mr. Lobrano on the research. Todd investigated how certain personality traits and demographic variables predict a student’s vulnerability to stress. He gave 253 participants five factor personality measures and the Student-life Stress Inventory, and calculated a hierarchal regression. He found “gender, grade level, GPA, and expected performance were the only significant predictors of vulnerability to stress when conscientiousness was present. Alternatively, neuroticism and its interactions with GPA and expected performance was an effective predictor of stress when conscientiousness was removed from the equation.” (LPA Newsletter, 1, 2.)
Mr. Todd Lobrano was awarded first place for his poster presentation about stress and personality in students, at LPA. Left, President-Elect Dr. Kelly Ray presents Todd with award. (Photos courtesy of LPA Newsletter.)
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Originally published: . Volume 1, No. 10. Source pages: 5.
Some readers are still scrolling through the pages which makes reading the Times harder than it needs to be. The PDF format for the Times makes shifting between pages easy. Mac users open “drawers” by clicking on top right side of the document. PC users must find the “pages” symbol (often at the top left) that offers you thumbnail images. These thumbnails line up so that you can shift easily from page to page without having to scroll.
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Originally published: . Volume 1, No. 10. Source pages: 7.
Ms. Taighlor Whittington holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from LSU and is an extern with Dr. Darlyne Nemeth at the Neuropsychology Center of Louisiana in Baton Rouge. Her poster, titled, “How Minority Students’ Processing Speed/Working Memory Difficulties Affect Testing,” was presented with Dr. Nemeth, T. Olivier, N. May, J. Hamilton, and A. Steger.
Taighlor presented case histories of individuals who were not properly identified or classified in educational systems. She described and defined ADHD, working memory, and processing speed, and related these concepts to performance and performance anxiety, pointing out that “Minority students are least likely to be correctly identified/classified ADHD.” And that often, “…the etiology of minority students’ learning difficulties simply goes unnoticed.” (LPA Newsletter, 1, 2.)
Taighlor Whittingham accepts award for undergraduate research poster, from President-Elect, Dr. Kelly Ray. (Photos courtesy of LPA Newsletter.)
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Originally published: . Volume 1, No. 10. Source pages: 7.
Tulane’s Psychology Department has created the “Barbara E. Moely Award for Psychology in the Public Interest,” honoring the graduating senior who exhibits exceptional public service.
The award is named for Professor Emerita Barbara Moely. who began service- learning at Tulane.
Dr. Moely, authored Creating Our Identities in Service- Learning and Community Engagement, published by Information Age Publishing.
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Dr. Thomas Fain has been part of the psychological community in Louisiana for thirty years. Some who know him well think that he marches to his own drummer. While that’s at least partly true, his background brings to mind the classical training, breadth of knowledge, and interest in the human experience, that is the heart and soul of psychology.
He came to Louisiana in 1981 from his position as clinical psychologist at Atascadero State Hospital in California, accepting a position as Chief of Psychological Services at Feliciana Forensic Facility in Jackson. It was not the first time this Texan had wound up in the bayou state. He had followed the flow of where life, and the Dallas draft board, had led him.
During the Viet Nam conflict, and as a graduate student, Thomas went to his draft board, asking what additional deferments were available after graduation. “Mrs. Hansen was the executive secretary,” Thomas explained. “She looked at me and said, ‘Are you a farmer?’ I said no. ‘Are you a preacher?’ I said no. ‘Are you a physician?’ I said no. She said, ‘You’re going.’ I said, ‘Well, what if I were working at the state mental hospital?’ She cocked her head and looked at me and said, ‘You know, we’ve never had one of those before.’ She said, ‘Do you want to go before the draft board and ask them if they’ll give you a deferment?’ I said, ‘Sure I do.’ I got in there with about five Billy Bobs, flat tops, burr heads. Finally, the chair announced, ‘I’ll tell you what boy, if you keep those crazies off the street, you’ve got a deferment.’”
So Thomas went to Central Louisiana State Hospital, working with Dr. Ron Pryor. But it was Gerald Fisher who told Thomas that he was really good at psychology, and that he should pursue his doctorate. “That was the turning point,” Thomas said. While he had started college as an English major–and he loved it– he found that his writing style was not what they wanted. “So,” he explained, “I went to the counseling center and they gave me the Strong Campbell.” Five areas continued to appear: newspaper reporter, editor of newspaper, psychologist, lawyer and physician. “Guess what I do now? I write reports all the time. I edit reports, I edit medical records, disability, joint commission surveyor…” His training at Central helped prepare him for his doctoral studies, but also to be the most experienced of all the interns at Malcolm Bliss Mental Health Center, Washington University Medical School.
For nine years at Feliciana Forensic, he supervised a department of twelve, designing the assessment batteries and services for court ordered mental health issues. He also worked as Director of Human Relations, handling staffing, program design, EEO, quality assurance, research, and ancillary occupations. During that time he also practiced independently in Baton Rouge, in clinical, forensic, consulting and teaching, crystallizing his training into a specialized set of skills that would remain with him throughout his career path.
Today, Thomas holds the diplomat in Clinical/Forensic Psychology from the American Board of Professional Psychology. He is certified as a school psychologist and for the treatment of alcohol and substance use disorders through the APA College of Professional Psychology. And, he holds the license for Advanced Practice as a medical psychologist from the medical board.
His contributions have included Director of Psychological Services at Meadow Wood, Consultant Surveyor of Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, Consultant Psychologist at Renaissance Rehabilitation Hospital, Consultant Training Psychologist to Office of Community Services and Child Protective Services, and Consultant Clinical and Forensic Psychologist to the Behavioral Health Clinic. He was appointed to represent LPA as a clinical/forensic psychologist to the State of Louisiana Legislative Task Force.
Always willing to share his knowledge, he has presented numerous times on a variety of topics, often in the area of forensics and ethics. He has presented to the Louisiana Public Defenders Association and to the Louisiana State Bar Association, with topics such as: “The Mental Health Professional in the Courtroom,” “Psychologists Executing Civil Commitments,” “Use of Psychological Test in Custody Evaluations,” and “Understanding Mental Impairments for SSA/ALJ Hearings.”
Thomas’ natural social interest also extends to his community of colleagues. Twice, he has served as president of the Louisiana Psychological Association, each term a commitment of three years. He has served as treasurer and in committee chairs. By the end of his new term as treasurer, Thomas will have served thirteen years in LPA.
His philosophy for a productive career? “I have found it has served me well throughout my life to go with the flow… the serendipity of the flow,” he said. “It’s very important not to fight the flow, but to go with it. Life leads us to places… Whether the draft board with Mrs. Hanson or the work with Gerald Fisher, or the job situation, or whatever… you’ve got to go with the flow.”
His advice to younger psychologists follows this reasoning. “Actually,” he explained, “it’s more of you’ve got to grow with the flow.” Also, he said, “Stay ethical and honest. Do good work. If you stay steady with the ethics and do good work, it’ll be recognized and you’ll get the largesse, the product of that effort.”
“I truly like the occupation,” he said. “I’m not sure if someone who’s going into the profession for the profit motive–I’m not sure that’s the right direction. You have to go into this because you’re interested in it, because you’re academically curious, because you like the research, because you like all of that… Someone coming to this now, with the cheapening of the education, cheapening of the advocacy for the profession, in the breakdown of the moral fiber we have in the country… I’m not sure that the investment required to get a Ph.D., will pay, money wise that is.”
With his special blend of interest and experience, a meshing of scientific and clinical approaches, and his genuine care for others, perhaps this is how Dr. Thomas Fain stays so young (“I’m older than I look.”) Or maybe it’s his Mark Twain sense of humor, and willingness to go wherever life leads.
Seems like excellent advice.
Dr. Thomas Fain, now and then. L: At recent meeting of state association bylaws vote. R: Photo from Dr. Tom Stigall’s collection, 1986. Dr. Fain will have served a total of 13 years in LPA positions, twice as president.
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Originally published: . Volume 1, No. 10. Source pages: 12.
Returning from the San Antonio Roll & Roll Marathon are NSU’s Psychology Department running team members: L to R: Dr. Patrice Moulton, Mr. Jody Biscoe, Dr. Susan Thorson-Barnett, graduate student Ms. Marline Pruden, and undergraduate Ms. Jennifer Duhon. Lanay Baldridge, administrative assistant, told the Times that she reminded the team that the wheel has been invented, but they’re not listening.
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Originally published: . Volume 1, No. 10. Source pages: 13.
Group Interventions for Disaster/Trauma Anniversary Reactions June 4-5, Long Beach, Mississippi University of Southern Mississippi Center for Policy and Resilience
The Heart and Soul of Change: Becoming Better At What We Do June 17-19 New Orleans Sponsored by the Louisiana Counseling Association www.heartandsoulofchange.org
American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children, 18th Annual Colloquium June 23-26, New Orleans Sheraton New Orleans www.apsac.org
Summer Symposium July 28-30, Lafayette Professional Training Resources www.professionaltrainingresourcesinc.com
American Psychological Association August 12-15 San Diego www.apa.org/convention
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Originally published: . Volume 1, No. 10. Source pages: 13.
O beautiful for heroes proved In liberating strife. Who more than self their country loved And mercy more than life! America! America! May God thy gold refine Till all success be nobleness And every gain divine.
From “America the Beautiful.” Lyrics Katherine Lee Bates
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Originally published: . Volume 1, No. 10. Source pages: 14.
The National Alliance of Professional Psychology Providers (NAPPP) is planning to launch a public awareness campaign, placing ads with major newspapers such as the New York Times and Wall Street Journal.
Executive Director, Dr. John Caccavale, told the Times, “I am on the final chapter of a white paper that will be the foundation for the campaign. The title is ‘Failure To Serve: A White Paper on The Use of Medications As First Line Treatments And Misuse In Behavioral Interventions.’” He noted, “The paper does what we do best, provide solid research to back up our claims that doctoral level psychologists are the best trained behavioral health providers.”
The ad campaign focuses on the impact of drug companies and the need for patients to have an accurate diagnosis and evaluation by a doctoral level psychologist. In NAPPP’s draft ad, topics include, “Is Your Health Being Shortchanged By Drug Companies and Insurers?” and “Patients Deserve To Be Diagnosed by Doctors Skilled in Diagnosing.” Also included is, “This is How Patients Should Be Treated- 3 Steps To An Effective Treatment Plan.”
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