Article archive / June 1, 2010
Originally published: . Volume 1, No. 10. Source pages: 8, 9.
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.
This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.