Article archive / February 2020

Originally published: February 2020. Volume 11, No. 2. Source pages: 1, 9.

Dr. Beth Arredondo, ABPP-CN, Continuing Education Chair for the American Psychology–Law Society, helped design the upcoming training for the Society's conference, to be held from March 5 to March 7 at the Sheraton in New Orleans.

The Society, Division 41 of the American Psychological Association, promotes the contributions of psychology to the understanding of law and legal institutions, the education of psychologists in legal matters and law personnel in psychological matters, and the application of psychology in the legal system.

"I’ve been involved in APLS for years," said Dr. Arredondo, "starting as a graduate student. I began chairing the CE committee in 2019, and I was a member for several years before chairing. I enjoy it because I get to guide educational opportunities for our members and meet experts in the field. I also help to coordinate outreach to community high schools to allow experts across the country to introduce psych and law to local students."

For the Society's March event, Dr. Gina Mire, local Louisiana forensic psychologist, and board certified by ABPP/ABFP, will present "Ethics in the Courtroom: Psychological and Legal Perspectives," along with Katherine Mattes and David Pipes, two local attorneys who specialize in criminal law. Also presenting with Dr. Mire is Dr. John Thompson, a local forensic psychiatrist. They are joined by Dr. Joel Dvoskin, a nationally renowned expert in forensic psychology.

According to workshop materials, "Psychologists who are called upon to evaluate individuals involved in criminal or civil court proceedings work with legal professionals regularly. In fact, for many forensic psychologists, attorneys are their most frequent clients. In this workshop, we will explore the differing paradigms and the intersection of psychology and law from the perspectives of practicing attorneys and forensic mental health professionals. Learning objectives will be accomplished through the use of instruction, panel discussion, case examples, 'hot topics,' and audience participation. Issues pertaining to competency to stand trial evaluations, sanity at the time of offense evaluations, case formulation, and the role of psychological factors in other legal evaluations will be explored from ethical, legal, and psychological perspectives."

Also included in the pre-conference workshops will be a session on "Constitutional Mental Health Law: An Overview," presented by Christopher Slobogin, JD. Slobogin will address the constitutional rules governing forensic mental health evaluations and expert witness testimony. Cases will include Dusky, Moran, Edwards, Sell, Riggins, Clark, Kahler, Buck, Atkins, Ake and Estelle, and several other Supreme Court and lower court cases.

For "Cultural Competence in Forensic Assessment," Dr. Barry Rosenfeld, PhD, will cover a range of issues related to forensic assessment of individuals from diverse ethnic and linguistic backgrounds. He will review “cultural competence” and the requisite self-assessment and pre-evaluation cultural research that is often necessary. In addition, topics such as modifications to the typical evaluation process, decision-making regarding testing and interpretation of test results, the impact of language and culture on the therapeutic alliance, and the use of interpreters will be included.

In "Forensic Evaluations in the Age of Social Media," Drs. Michael Vittaco and Ashley Batastini will explain that the use of social networking sites is on the rise and this information is seen in discovery material being sent to forensic evaluators in a variety of psycholegal issues. Presenters will address the implications of using these sites in forensic evaluations, use and misuse of social networking data, current guidelines and relevant ethical principles.

Dr. Beth Arredondo is board certified in Clinical Neuropsychology. She directed the Division of Behavioral Medicine at Western State Hospital in Staunton, VA, and co- directed the clinical neuropsychology residency with faculty at the University of Virginia School of Medicine. She also maintained part-time positions at the Forensic Clinic of the Institute of Law, Psychiatry, and Public Policy and Valley MedPsych.

Dr. Arredondo joined the Ochsner team in 2017 and engages in clinical, forensic, and research activities. She works with individuals with a wide range of neurological and psychiatric concerns and her forensic work spans criminal and civil forensic settings. Her research interests involve the use and utility of neuropsychology in various settings, with particular emphasis on psychiatric inpatient, criminal forensics, and general neurology.

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

Article archive / February 2020

Originally published: February 2020. Volume 11, No. 2. Source pages: 1, 8.

Great Need for Psychologists as Mediators Louisiana Chapter of Assn Family & Conciliation Courts to Hold 10th Annual Conference in March

The Association of Family and Conciliation Courts, Louisiana Chapter (AFCC-LA) will celebrate its tenth anniversary with a two-day training on parenting coordination and mediation skills, March 6-7, 2020, to be held at the Canal Street Sheraton in New Orleans.

The theme, “Calming the Waters: Parenting Coordination and Mediation Skills” aims to help professionals who want to add competencies in this practice area. The event includes six hours of training on Friday for parenting coordination and six hours on Saturday for Mediation Skills Training.

AFCC-LA Chapter President Leslie Todd, LCSW, has said there is a great need in Louisiana for more mediators and coordinators. This conference aims to provide needed training for those professionals who are thinking of building this competence.

“Sadly, I don’t believe there is a single psychologist in Louisiana who provides mediation or parenting coordination, although this is common in other states," Todd has said. "Those interested in family systems could offer these much- needed services to help families with divorce, visitation, relocation, and even eldercare.”

She hopes that Louisiana psychologists will be encouraged to hear nationally-known psychologist Dr. Robin M. Deutsch, a pioneer and advocate of parenting coordination, at the March 6-7 event.

Robin Deutsch, PhD, is a Diplomate in Couple and Family Psychology and Professor of Clinical Psychology at William James College. She is founder and Director of the Center of Excellence for Children, Families and the Law at William James College.

Family Courts, which have evolved from a more adversarial system, Todd has explained, are in need of more psychologists and other mental health professionals who can help families define their structures and address their conflicting interests in more self-empowering and productive ways.

Todd's husband, and also a leader in the local AFCC Chapter, psychologist Dr. Alan Taylor, agrees. He has explained the opportunities for those interested in this challenging
work. “I believe that affiliation with AFCC provides a wonderful opportunity for young professionals,” he said, as a way to develop skills and professional competence. “Family court work is a rapidly evolving and developing field that can be very fulfilling and rewarding,” he said. And, he believes that older, more experienced mental health professionals would be valued and welcomed into this area.

"There continues to be a need for more seasoned clinicians who can bring their knowledge and experience into this field and secure the rewards of being challenged and stimulated to use all the abilities they have developed in their education and training on a day- to-day basis.”

The March 6 presentation aims to help meet this need. Dr. Deutsch has performed a wide variety of forensic evaluations and testified in juvenile, family, district and federal courts involving divorce and visitation disputes. She teaches extensively to judges, lawyers, mediators, and mental health groups in the US, Canada, Europe and Asia. She has published extensively on issues related to attachment, alienation, co-parenting after divorce, high conflict divorce, parenting plans, and parenting coordination. She is the co- author of 7 Things Your Teenager Won’t Tell You: and How to Talk about Them Anyway (Ballantine, 2005, 2011) and co- editor of Overcoming Parent-Child Contact Problems: Family- Based Interventions for Resistance, Rejection, and Alienation (Oxford, 2016).

Also presenting will be Dr. Ann Ordway, core faculty in the Counselor Education Department at the University of Phoenix. She holds a Juris Doctor degree and a PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision. She was a licensed attorney in New Jersey for nearly 25 years where she practiced exclusively in the field of family law. Ordway is a frequent regional and national presenter and she has authored and co- authored several articles related to high conflict divorce, parental alienation, and parenting coordination.

Also presenting is Mark Myers, JD. Myers has been providing ADR services for more than 20 years as a member of the Association of Attorney Mediators, the Association for Conflict Resolution, and the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts. His degree is from Tulane.

Psychologists interested in this area of practice are invited to talk with Todd or Taylor. "I am very proud to have been associated with the initiation and development of the Louisiana state chapter of AFCC,” said Taylor.

“The mission of AFCC-LA is to be a resource center and act as a change agent in the areas of family law,” said Taylor. “Its goal is to transform the family court system into a more efficient and humane support system for those who are encountering serious conflicts and adverse effects on children and families.”

“Justice should be tempered with mercy,” said Todd. “Family court officers bring justice; mental health professionals bring mercy—we educate parents about children’s needs for peace between households, and we can teach them the skills to achieve it.”

Todd has been in private practice since 1990. She has been a child custody evaluator for over 20 years and has served several times on the Louisiana State Board of Social Work Examiners’ Custody Evaluations Task Force.

In 2007 Todd rallied Baton Rouge professionals to start an AFCC Chapter and served on the Louisiana State Law Institute’s Parenting Coordination Committee to enact the law, making Louisiana the 13th state to have Parent Coordinators. In addition to her work as a Parent Coordinator, mediator, custody evaluator, and therapist. Todd travels the state offering Family Court-related workshops, and encouraging young mental health professionals to enter the field.

Association of Family and Conciliation Courts is an interdisciplinary, international association of professionals dedicated to improving the lives of children and families through the resolution of family conflict.

See full agenda and registration information at website: www.afcc- la.org

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

Article archive / February 2020

Originally published: February 2020. Volume 11, No. 2. Source pages: 2.

Archimedes was bored and disgusted with even small excerpts of the Impeachment proceedings, likening them to the gaudy, orchestrated and choreographed theater of a WWF wrestling match, including the predictable outcomes.

I do agree that there was a torturous amount of grandstanding and–– redundancy. Politicians seem to have a hefty dose of showmanship. As far as redundancy, perhaps they all know the research that we humans tend to accept as true things we hear over and over and over.

As a Libertarian with a background in business consulting, I found the group process fascinating. Free-ranging politicians are very different than businessmen and women but I'm even more convinced now that psychologists should be helping in this essential area.

"The latent causes of faction are thus sewn in the nature of man; …" James Madison wrote in Federalist 10 about inevitable conflict. "So strong is this propensity of mankind to fall into mutual animosities that where no substantial occasion presents itself the most frivolous and fanciful distinctions have been sufficient to kindle their unfriendly passions and excite their most violent conflicts."

A few observations about the proceedings:

It was news to me that the law allows for so much mind-reading. Subjective opinions of another's motivation and intentions were not only accepted but seemed to be encouraged. This cultivation of projective material, even though I probably should have known about it, astounds me.

I was also surprised by the absence of concerns about consensual reality. Defining the problem and getting the correct level of abstraction appeared to be missing. The salient example was that the Blues judged the current delinquency of Trump as being a high crime, while the Reds regarded it as only "unacceptable" or even part of his duty. No common ground on the definition of the problem was ever achieved as far as I could tell and judgments were entirely predicted by group membership.

For me and other Libertarians I've talked to, a refreshing surprise was Patrick Philbin, who kept quoting Constitutional scriptures while sounding like Mr. Spock. A free class in Harvard Law, worth the price of admission.

It was difficult to guess at all the hidden agendas, since the final outcome was always a foregone conclusion. No one on either side truly believed that 67 votes could be reached. Even so, we were treated to high drama on the "more witnesses" vote, something of a cliffhanger. The decision boiled down to four Senators, proving that Margaret Mead was right and maybe butterflies are powerful.

This is not to say that the dispute method and problem-solving were adequate. They were terrible. It was anything but an effective, high- functioning group, or even one struggling to be high-functioning.

Conflict resolution in highly polarized groups or individuals is some of the most challenging work we can do. In this case, the instinct of competition permeated every judgment. There was very little real information exchange, no shared reality, and no psychologically meaningful consensus.

Two groups in this mindset can’t be expected to find the problem to solve much less solve it. They are more likely to treat the symptoms than find innovative solutions to complex problems. Power in “majority rule" fuels the winners and losers dynamic with poor decisions the result.

One solution to embedded subgroup conflict is to define and nourish the parent group norms and boundaries. Psychologists are in a perfect position to help–to decline participating in the wrestling match and assist others in transcending Red-Blue dynamics in our country and our communities. I suggest we go purple.

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

Article archive / February 2020

Originally published: February 2020. Volume 11, No. 2. Source pages: 14.

Jillian Peterson, PhD, Professor of Criminology and Criminal Justice at Hamline University and co-founder of The Violence Project, will speak at the 72nd annual conference of the Louisiana Psychological Association, to be held May 8 and 9 at the Sheraton in Metairie, Louisiana. Dr. Peterson will deliver the Janet and Lee Matthews Invited Address on the opening day of the conference.

Dr. Peterson has served as special investigator in New York City, researching the psycho- social life histories of men facing the death penalty. Her research on mass shootings has been covered internationally by every major news outlet, from The Atlantic to The New York Times. She is a regular media commentator on outlets such as CBS This Morning and National Public Radio.

Dr. Peterson will speak on her work and application of results of a mass shooting database study that provides data-driven tools and methods to prevent mass violence using an evidence- based framework. She will over how to prevent violence in schools, workplaces and at public events, by understanding mass shooter profiles, warning signs and threat assessment.

She launched her career as a special investigator in New York City, researching and developing the psycho-social life histories of men facing the death penalty, which were used in their sentencing hearings. In that office she developed a saying—"the worse the crime, the worse the story". It was always true, she writes.

She has led large-scale research studies on mental illness and crime, school shooting prevention, and mass violence, which have received national media attention. Dr. Peterson is trained in restorative justice, violence mediation, crisis intervention, de-escalation, and suicide prevention.

The Violence Project is a nonpartisan think tank "dedicated to reducing violence in society and improving related policy and practice through research and analysis." The Project's co-founders research on mass shootings is funded by the National Institute of Justice. The work has received worldwide media attention. The co-founders areas of expertise include gun violence, violent extremism, cyber violence, trauma and mental illness, street gangs and youth violence.

The Louisiana Psychological Association is the state affiliate for the American Psychological Association.

Registration for this continuing education event opens in March.

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

Article archive / January 2020

Originally published: January 2020. Volume 11, No. 1. Source pages: 12.

The Psychology Times 2019 COMMUNITY AWARD INVOLVEMENT Hung-Chu Lin, PhD Paula Zeanah, PhD –AND– The LPA Awards Committee Chair, Mike Chafetz, PhD

Another tie. We watched as Dr. Hung-Chu Lin, Professor of Psychology at University of Louisiana Lafayette (ULL) and Dr. Paula Zeanah, psychologist and Endowed Chair at ULL, organized and engaged others from around the state for the first "Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Summit." A huge, interdisciplinary event and complete success at building connections and reaching out to spread information where it is needed most.

We were also impressed by the leadership in the LPA Awards Committee, lead by Dr. Michael Chafetz, for recreating the state association's awards system to acknowledge contributions far beyond the boundaries of their members, but rather involving all psychologists and psychological scientists in the state as candidates for recognition of excellence.

Kudos to both for stepping up and embracing the larger picture by involving others and widening the lens!

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

Article archive / January 2020

Originally published: January 2020. Volume 11, No. 1. Source pages: 14.

The Psychology Times 2019 COMMUNITY AWARD INNOVATION Richard Blocker, PhD

Dr. Richard Blocker grabbed our attention when he developed and launched his "Employee Confidential Project," an enterprise web database. It it unusual for psychologists to be tech smart but Dr. Blocker has created a fascinating application capable of managing an unlimited number of individual consultants, facilities and records. The big data tool is offered by his company, Psymetra and won our praise for this year's innovation award.

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

Article archive / January 2020

Originally published: January 2020. Volume 11, No. 1. Source pages: 15.

The Psychology Times 2019 COMMUNITY AWARD MEDIA Dr. Susan Glanville

“How are we as psychologists to regard a discipline that succeeds primarily in speaking to itself?” was how Gergen described our problems in 1995.

For the last year, Dr. Susan Glanville was certainly talking to the public–out hitting the roads presenting her books and earth themes at libraries, fairs, and speaking events all over the south. Her energy is contagious! She took psychology to the people and deserves our thanks and the award for Media in 2019.

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

Article archive / January 2020

Originally published: January 2020. Volume 11, No. 1. Source pages: 2.

Ideas for Psychology's 2020 Resolutions by J. Nelson

Time once again to participate in the mass delusion that we are somehow in conscious control of ourselves and the world. Notwithstanding Irv lane's warning about the likelihood that we are running around enthusiastically solving the wrong problems, including ignoring all sorts of feedback loops which resist our efforts and interventions, and which are also likely to cause unintended consequences due to our drilling down to the hedgehog level of problem-solving, seeing smaller and smaller fractions of the total picture and ignoring the vast universe of interconnected variables, it is time for "New Year's Resolutions."

Personally, I am in the enviable position of doing fairly well on all my resolutions from last year and simply need to stamp them "continue." This leaves me with time to fantasize about others and how they can improve their lives. Since my children long ago stopped listening to me and my grandchildren are perfect this leads me to brood over the psychology community, one of my favorite pastimes.

Here are my top three resolutions for us.

#1. Learn how to talk and write in plain English so the public can understand what we are saying. The longer I've been at the Times, the more it's obvious to me that psychologists as a group have almost no ability to speak to the public in simple and practical ways. Most in the public are too polite to tell us how weird we sound.

#2. Get politics out of our science. As the saying goes, we have a right to our opinions but not to our facts. We are in a time where facts don’t matter, but they must.

#3. Once we've accomplished #1 and #2, engage the public and develop trust and credibility in ourselves and our science. Psychological science produces a mountain of information each year, let's put it to good use. Let's develop a critical mass of communicators and applied scientists who join together and aim for key tipping points.

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

Article archive / January 2020

Originally published: January 2020. Volume 11, No. 1. Source pages: 3, 4.

From the Minutes Selected Items from October Minutes of the Louisiana State Board of Examiners of Psychologists

Long Range Planning, October 10 DISCUSSION/ACTION ITEMS

1. Policy revisions to the oral examination process – Dr. Boggs presented this matter and her views on revising the oral examination process. Dr. Boggs proposed a model that would required an individual to declare their competencies as opposed to offering a case vignette in a certain specialty area. The group reviewed the current process and rating scale for current oral examination. Discussion included proposed changes to assessing competence and safety including: a. Annually updating competencies at renewal.
b. Determining how a candidate determines what they may need to know to be considered competent to treat a patient; how to continually expand competency; when to refer a patient. c. Consider eliminating the vignette as part of the oral exam.
d. Consider requiring an individual to bring their own case in for discussion as part of the oral exam.
e. Defining competence (knowledge plus skills and ability) in the rules.

2. Specialty designation vs. HSP/General Applied Psychology – The Board discussed the idea of eliminating specialty designations and recognizing the psychologists license as either a Health Service Provider or a General Applied Psychologist. The group discussion included: a. Defining where programs such that train developmental psychologist would be placed. b. Redefining criteria for acceptable training programs in either category.

3. Adopting opinion and guidelines for Tele-Supervision Dr. Moore presented this topic and her goal to expand the current Telepsychology Guidelines adopted by the LSBEP to include guidelines for providing supervision via telephone or other electronic means. The group discussion included: a. Determining what training subsets would be allowed to utilize tele- supervision. b. Would preapproval by the board be required to determine acceptability.

4. Registration of unlicensed assistants – The Board discussed the current regulations under Chapter 11 which define the utilization of unlicensed assistants. The group discussed the concerns for public safety in considering the telepsychology guidelines; and also concerns brought up by Dr. Darlyne Nemeth in the rules hearing held earlier this date related to individuals utilizing assistants for “doc-in-the box” corporations. The group discussion included: a. Requiring registration of assistants.
b. Requiring a criminal background check as part of that registration.
c. Utilizing billing standards to define what unlicensed assistants should be registered.
d. Determining if groups share assistants and if so, how would that be administrated through registration.

5. Masters Level License – Dr. Nelson reported that LPA was leaning toward favoring a masters level licensing, and although it is still trending, the movement has died down. Dr. Gormanous suggested that LSBEP wait and see where the American Psychological Association will be going with approving masters level programs and also wait and see if the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards develops guidelines and definitions for masters level licenses. Dr. Henke expressed her desire that, from a board perspective, if this is to come to fruition, that masters level psychologists will be licensed with this board (the LSBEP). The group expressed its concerns that the masters level psychologist scope be clearly differentiated from the Ph.D. psychologist. The Board discussed creating an AdHoc study group to follow this trend and make recommendations and reports to the LSBEP on developments.

6. Reciprocal Licensing – The Board discussed that consideration would be given to revising the regulations guiding reciprocal applicants for licensure, given the diversity in licensing requirements, to ensure that there were no loopholes for applicants who would not meet Louisiana’s minimum standards for licensure.

7. Jurisprudence Examination – The Board discussed the development of an online jurisprudence exam for initial licensure as well as offering the examination to licensees as CPD to fulfill the ethics requirements.

8. EPPP2 – The Board discussed the EPPP2 and Dr. Gormanous and Ms. Monic’s attendance at ASPPB’s Annual Meeting. The Board requested that attendees bring up Louisiana’s desire that states who are not early adopters are not penalized and their applicants are allowed to take part 2 of the examination it if they want to.

9. Continuing Education Requirements – The board reflected on the comments received during the hearing. Dr. Henke explained that the Board desired to move toward a model that focused on quality over quantity; consider reducing the number of hours; and requiring only formal approved activities. The Board discussed soliciting additional comments on this matter through a survey. Dr. Moore agreed to develop the survey.

[Long Range Planning, October 11]

6. FINANCIAL: The Board thoroughly reviewed the budget for the current Fiscal Year 2019-20, Dr. Amy Henke moved in favor of approving amendments to the budget to accommodate the Compliance Officer position previously approved. The Board also reviewed the budget for the impending Fiscal Year 2020-21, by motion of Dr. Gregory Gormanous, the following resolution was formally adopted:

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the LSBEP adopts revisions to the current July 1, 2019 through June 30, 2020 budget which reflects an increase in the Total Salaries from $111,540 to $168,787; an increase in projected revenue due to expense sharing with the La Behavior Analyst Board from $301,680 to $329,831; and an increase in anticipated Total Operating Expenses from $289,093 to $366,236; and,

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the LSBEP adopts the proposed July 1, 2020 – June 30, 2021 Budget, reflecting anticipated Total Means of Financing of $342,936, Total Salaries of $194,249, and Total Operating Expenses of $365,654; and,

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the LSBEP will engage in rulemaking to address the requirement for registration of assistants to psychologists in order to protect consumers of psychological activities which are performed by “unlicensed assistants” (e.g., need for authorizing criminal background checks) and the preapproval of continuing professional development activities which will impact the budget, therefore requiring continued financial analysis of the projected 2020-21 Budget for future amendments.

The resolution having been submitted to a vote of the majority of the LSBEP, the vote thereon was as follows: Koren Boggs – YEA; Amy Henke – YEA; Gregory Gormanous – YEA, Gina Gibson – YEA, Michelle Moore – YEA; 0 – Neys; 0 – Abstained; 0 – Absent; 1 – Vacant Seat(s)

[EDITOR'S NOTE: Excerpts from Long-Range Meeting to be continued in February issue.]

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

Article archive / January 2020

Originally published: January 2020. Volume 11, No. 1. Source pages: 1.

The Psychology Times 2019 COMMUNITY AWARDS

Scanning the many wonderful contributions during the year, the Times staff had a wealth to choose from for our 2019 Community Awards. We gave credit for efforts along the lines of community psychology, where contributions benefitted many, and were strategic and humane. We looked for creativity, win-win solutions, contributions to scientific truth, and improvements in subgroup functioning––and we easily found them. We gave bonuses for courage and vision, for those stepping out of their silos and comfort zones, and for going the extra mile. We applaud all these fine colleagues for their work and vision. We noticed!

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

Article archive / January 2020

Originally published: January 2020. Volume 11, No. 1. Source pages: 8.

The Psychology Times 2019 COMMUNITY AWARD COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT Dr. Tiffany Stewart –AND– Leaders of OCD Louisiana Kristin Fitch, PhD, Leslie Higgins, PsyD, Michele Carroll, PsyD, Melissa Dufrene, Psy.D., Suzanne Chabaud, PhD and Gail Pesses, MSW

We named both Dr. Tiffany Stewart, clinical psychologist, inventor and entrepreneur, and the board of OCD Louisiana, for their considerable accomplishments in community development.

Dr. Stewart is Associate Professor at Pennington Biomedical Research Center, and has been spearheading her large multisite prevention work in the health behavior change area and finding new ways to help people. Her work was acknowledged by the state legislature and she continued to bring her health goals to community in wonderful ways throughout 2019.

Also on our viewfinder are the psychologists at OCD Louisiana who are accomplishing amazing things, including organizing their "Walk for Awareness." Helping those in the Louisiana community who suffer from OCD is clearly a calling for these ladies, who deserve our kudos – Kristin Fitch, PhD, Leslie Higgins, PsyD, Michele Carroll, PsyD, Melissa Dufrene, Psy.D., Suzanne Chabaud, PhD and Gail Pesses, MSW.

Dr. Tiffany Stewart speaking at Knock Knock Children's Museum in Baton Rouge. (Photo courtesy The Advocate/Travis Spradling)

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

Article archive / January 2020

Originally published: January 2020. Volume 11, No. 1. Source pages: 9.

The Psychology Times 2019 COMMUNITY AWARD ALTRUISM Dr. Charles Figley

Dr. Charles Figley, Director of the Tulane Trauma Institute, has no small list of accomplishments in the world of helping people understand and cope with trauma. In 2019 he packed up his bags and traveled to Puerto Rico to assess the area one year following landfall of the Category Four Hurricane Maria. It is just one more service in Dr. Figley's life of assistance to others, aimed at helping to promote economic and social development for those who need it most.

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

Article archive / January 2020

Originally published: January 2020. Volume 11, No. 1. Source pages: 11.

The Psychology Times 2019 COMMUNITY AWARD COURAGE Dr. Michael Cunningham

Tulane's Dr. Michael Cunningham continued his steady and dignified efforts to help move us all to a more representative society and profession. Speaking out in The Hechinger Report, Dr. Cunningham authored "Divided We Learn," an article about lack of diversity in higher education, its causes and corrections. His consistent influence in the state and nation, is a gift to us and we thank him for his dedication and courage.

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

Article archive / December 2019

Originally published: December 2019. Volume 10, No. 12. Source pages: 7.

Drs. Gengel, Gillespie, and Ransom Speak at Thinktank's ADHD Symposium in November

Dr. Stacey Gengel, Dr.Gail Gillespie and Dr. Sean Ransom presented at Turbo Thinktank's ADHD symposium, a day-long event that touched on topics and challenges related to ADHD. Covered were diverse treatment options, strategies and solutions for individuals in the community, including for networking and support. The event was held at Metairie Park Country Day School in New Orleans on November 16.

Dr. Stacy Gengel presented on “Maybe You Should Get Him Evaluated” and information about psycho-educational evaluations and a step-by-step guide for what to expect. Dr. Gengel is a licensed psychologist with over 20 years of experience working with children in schools, treatment centers, and private practice. She received her doctoral degree in School Psychology from the University of Northern Colorado.

Dr. Gail Gillespie presented "Emotional Freedom Technique: A Complementary and Alternative Therapy for Calming ADHD Symptoms and Behaviors." Dr. Gillespie is a licensed psychologist in private practice in New Orleans. She received her Ph.D. in 1992 with a specialization in school psychology after completing her internship through LSU Medical Center’s School Psychology Internship Consortium. She worked as a school psychologist in Jefferson Parish for five years before going into full-time private practice. She provides evaluation and treatment to school aged children and their families.

Dr. Sean Ransom, the founder of the Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Center of New Orleans, trained in CBT at the University of South Florida, a member institution of the Academy of Clinical Psychological Sciences, where he received his doctorate. He received additional training with the founders of CBT at the Beck Institute for Cognitive Therapy and Research.

In 2009, Dr. Ransom began serving as a clinical faculty member in the Tulane University Medical School’s Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, and led the Patricia Trost Friedler Center for Psychosocial Oncology. Through his affiliation with Tulane, Dr. Ransom continues to lecture and to provide service to psychiatry residents and medical students.

He presented on "Busting ADHD-Related Anxiety with CBT: An Interactive Workshop."

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

Article archive / December 2019

Originally published: December 2019. Volume 10, No. 12. Source pages: 12.

by Janet & Lee Matthews [Editor’s Note: We are re-running this delightful contribution from our Christmas issue in 2014. We shared the article from Drs. Lee and Janet Matthews as a letter to the editor and enjoyed their messages and their greeting of " Happy Holidays from the Matthews Ménage, Janet, Lee, Judy and Lucy." We lost our colleague Janet in March this year. See the article this issue on her endowed chair at University of Tampa.] The holiday season for most people is a fun time of the year filled with parties, celebrations and social gatherings with family and friends. For some people, it is a time filled with sadness, self-reflection, loneliness, depression and anxiety.

Whether you call it Holiday Blues, Holiday Depression (sometimes called Winter Blues just to confuse things) or Holiday Grief, these feelings may impact us or our clients at this time of the year. The Blues can result from a mismatch between high expectations for the perfect holiday mixed with memories of holidays past, loved ones no longer present and the reality of the current holiday. There are several factors responsible for these feelings. Fewer daylight hours, and the fact that between 2-5% of the population have some symptoms of seasonal depression (the old term was Seasonal Affective Disorder).

A second factor is extra costs that often strain our weekly, monthly or yearly budgets, whether it is special presents or last minute travel costs. The holidays also mean more activities and less time. We know you will not believe it, but there are only 168 hours in each week. The normal responsibilities and tasks involving family and work get added to by other chores, so many of us and our clients feel a significant time crunch. We all know and tell our clients that when you are stressed, exercise and sleep are good antidotes for those feelings, but they often take a back seat to extra errands and household chores. Throw in overindulgence in food and drink, and the blues may follow.

Relationships can be a trigger point for holiday blues. Whether it is the cousin Lee whose personality you can’t stand, or the first holiday season without a loved one, you can find yourself feeling sad. Another factor is non- traditional living. Back around the middle of the last century (You know, 1950-1960), the family was two parents, two children, (and maybe two dogs). Today less than 23 % of all households meet that criteria. We have redefined the family, but separations, divorce, death, adoptions, social change have lead to the creation of alternative family forms that may cause some people to feel some dissonance with the traditional holiday-related behavior and values. What about intervention for holiday blues. Here are a Baker’s dozen (We are both related to families named Baker) keys to reduce holiday blues.

1) One key to minimizing holiday blues is to know that the holidays can trigger stress and depression.

2) Accept that things aren't always going to go as planned. Something always comes up. Accept those imperfections, both in yourself and in others.

3) Acknowledge and express your feelings. You can't force yourself to be happy just because it's the holiday season, especially if you have had a recent loss in the family or you can’t be with loved ones.

4) Don't be a martyr. Seek support, be it from family, friends, the community, or religious activities. Helping others can lift your spirits and broaden your friendships.

5) Be realistic. Traditions and rituals change as families change and grow. Hold on to those you can and want to keep, but accept that you may have to let go of others. Find new ways to celebrate.

6) Stick to a budget. You can’t buy happiness with gifts.

7) Set realistic resolutions. Don’t resolve to change your whole life, return to basic healthy routines with small specific goals set in a reasonable time span.

8) Accept family members and friends as they are. Practice forgiveness, or at least set aside grievances for later.

9) Plan ahead, whether it is menus, shopping trips or travel.

10) Learn to say “NO”. If you say yes only when you want to do something, you will avoid feeling overwhelmed, resentful or bitter.

11) Make some time for yourself. Hide in the bathroom, take an evening walk, listen to music, even if only for a few minutes.

12) Don’t abandon health habits. Get some exercise, some sleep, and some indulgence, but not overindulgence.

13) Seek “professional” help. Whether it is your own psychologist, your spouse, significant other, fishing buddy, coffee group, canine or in our case, feline companions to help you realize you need to do the 12 above keys.

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