Article archive / December 2022

Originally published: December 2022. Volume 13, No. 12. Source pages: 5.

From the Minutes Selected Items from the Sept & Oct 2022 Minutes of the Louisiana State Board of Examiners of Psychologists (LSBEP)

Friday, September 23, 2022 Posted November 3, 2022

ii. Review and discuss the qualifications and credentials (including Letter of interest and Curriculum Vita) of Laura Brown, Ph.D. for a Complaint Coordinator contract position – The Board reviewed the letter of interest and Curriculum Vita of Dr. Laura Brown and moved in favor of interviewing Dr. Brown for the contract position of Complaints Coordinator III.

7. DISCUSSION/ACTION ITEMS

a. ASPPB 62nd Annual Meeting of Delegates, Oxon Hill, Maryland, October 26-30, 2022 i. Discuss LSBEP Caucus process & approve ASPPB Candidate Questions – The Board discussed Dr. Gormanous' recommendation to utilize a caucus process to determine support of nominees for ASPPB office. Dr. Moore moved that the board approve the process to 1. Generate up to 5 questions/issues for board approval; 2. Ask nominees to share their views on the board approved questions/issues; and 3. Discuss/finalize our support at the regularly scheduled board meeting on October 21, 2022. Additionally, the board discussed current issues and approved the following questions to pose to ASPPB nominees: 1. Please address the belief ASPPB should re-focus on and re-affirm its core Mission: To support member jurisdictions in fulfilling their responsibility of public protection. The perception is that marketing ASPPB products & programs sometimes overshadows our core mission. ii. Dr. Sam
reported that ASPPB would likely be covering her room, but requested a reservation be made to hold a room until she could confirm.

c. Acknowledge receipt: Louisiana Association for Psychological Science, Letter of August 30, 2022 regarding their position on the EPPP and discrimination. – Ms. Monic provided this letter to the Board. Dr. Sam moved to note the letter as received and read.

Friday, October 21, 2022 Posted November 21

III. BOARD CHAIR'S GOALS, BOARD FUNCTIONS, AND KINDRED MATTERS: Dr. Gormanous read the following declaration of goals, board functions and kindred matters for the record as follows:

"Recall that after being elected as LSBEP Chair, I did a “Shallow Dive” by phone individually with members of the Board to solicit their input on organizational issues. This “Shallow Dive” is a less extensive version of ASPPB’s self-examination process which they call a “Deep Dive.” Many of my goals & objectives for my term were derived from the feedback I received during my “Shallow Dive” efforts, and I want to thank those who took their valuable time to provide me with their considered thoughts. Additionally, my perspectives below are offered in a spirit of collegiality without attributing fault. Based on the responses I received and incorporating them into my own vision, I would like to pursue the following:

On Board Goals & Objectives I. Ensure basic services are provided to psychology stakeholders effectively by integrating technology. II. Enhance relationships to cultivate trust with more openness & transparency.
III. Utilize basics in goal setting, problem-solving & decision-making.
IV. Enhance board meeting interactions. V. Prepare for what might be expected to be transformational changes in the regulatory arena in the next 3 to 5 years.
OBJECTIVES
1. To expand technology use to reduce time & effort to process credentials & perform other gatekeeping requirements and to process & adjudicate complaints. 2. To pursue aggressively outreach to licensees, professional organizations, & targeted stakeholders (e.g., students). To achieve this goal, I propose: a) To shape the Board's future by cultivating better relationships with ASPPB, BRASP, LAMP, LPA, & LSPA as well as with broader classes of psychology stakeholders, such as: public consumers; colleges & universities; applicants and licensees; legislators, etc. b) To invite stakeholders to meetings. c) To include at least one non-Board member to serve on appropriate Board committees & workgroups. […]

On Meeting Decorum The desired outcome is transparency, accountability, and careful adherence to LOMA. And more collegiality, efficiency, effectiveness, & general recombobulation.[…]

On Board Communications & LOMA
Board communications have sometimes been hindered by the incorrect idea that members cannot share information. Members cannot make board decisions outside an open meeting. Members may share perspectives outside an open meeting. Please review LOMA resources to confirm this. As Chair, I expect to be copied on all agenda items sent to the Executive Director. Also, please copy both of us on Board related emails unless there is a reason not to.
[…]

On Messaging
Messaging involves the public image, persona, and culture of the Board. In I-O Psychology, there is a saying: “Culture is the Root (positive) or Rot (negative) of an organization.” Our image based on reports from stakeholders who have contacted me is not favorable. Hopefully this is misperception by a small group of individuals. Either way, our image & culture can be enhanced by listening to applicants, licensees, & other stakeholders without making attribution errors.

On Outreach
Outreach is critical. The Board must be seen as being proactive and not reactionary. Historically the Board would travel around the state and hold Board meetings in the major metropolitan areas like Shreveport, N.O., and Alexandria so that the public and licensees in those areas could visit during the public hour. With technology, the board meetings can be streamed/zoomed. The Board can be much more accessible to the public and to its licensees.

i. Executive Director Report: Ms. Monic reported on Board operations as follows:
1. The In-house attorney position is still open. Dr. Gormanous noted that he would be overseeing efforts to reach out to interested applicants.

7. Most "Old Business" has been docketed for discussion, except procedures to comply with the Louisiana Legislative Performance Audit, which remains a priority.

i. Discuss board meeting frequency, managing the licensing process and calendrical deadlines. Dr. Harness requested the Board revisit options for meeting quarterly as an opportunity to streamline the licensing process through delegated authority to examining board members, committees and staff; and cut costs related to board meeting expenses. The Board discussed the proposed schedule and general calendar in consideration of the new meeting schedule. Dr. Harness moved that the Board adopt the policy of meeting quarterly effective immediately, with the first quarterly meeting being the Long Range Planning meeting scheduled for January 19, 2022 and January 20, 2022; Further that the timetable outlined for completing applications and oral examinations be adopted to facilitate licensing on the new quarterly schedule, with options to a) offer Continuing Education Credit to former board members approved as Board Examiners for participation in conducting Oral Examinations and b) offer flexibility to Examining Board Members/Board Examiners in dates selected for scheduled oral examinations,

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

Article archive / December 2022

Originally published: December 2022. Volume 13, No. 12. Source pages: 6.

Gov. Announces the Resignation of DCFS Sec. Marketa Walters

On November 10, Gov. John Bel Edwards announced that he has accepted the resignation of Department of Children and Family Services Secretary Marketa Walters.

Walters, who has led the agency since 2016, has a long and distinguished career of working to improve the lives of Louisiana children and families, recognized nationally for her expertise. Her many accomplishments include implementing significant changes to the agency's approach to foster care through the Quality Parenting Initiative and working closely with Gov. Edwards and First Lady Donna Edwards in establishing Louisiana Fosters, which provides support for foster children and parents, the announcement said.

Under her leadership, Louisiana has had a record number of adoptions from the foster care system, with more than 5,379 children and youth being united with their forever families since Gov. Edwards' first term in office.

"I'm grateful for Marketa's service to our state that has been fueled by her passion to create a better future for all children and families across Louisiana," said Gov. Edwards. "She has worked tirelessly to improve our foster care system and as a result, we have been able to help thousands of foster children find safe and nurturing permanent homes with loving adoptive families. In addition, Marketa has been on the front lines helping to provide shelter, nutrition and other much needed assistance to those directly impacted by natural disasters and the COVID-19 pandemic. Her dedication as a public servant has never wavered, and there are countless Louisianans who have benefitted from her hard work and that of the many men and women who make up the agency.

"There is no denying that child welfare agencies nationwide are facing very difficult and complex challenges and Louisiana is no exception. Those issues include staff retention, high worker caseloads, increased substance and domestic abuse, and sadly the tragic deaths of innocent children. While there are no quick solutions, it is urgent that we find new and effective ways of addressing the problems to make certain we provide the help our families need and deserve and to move our agency forward. We have engaged a third-party expert organization to do a top-to-bottom review of DCFS and make recommendations on improvements to policies, practices, and personnel that can be made to ensure we are serving the children and families of Louisiana in the manner they deserve."

"The DCFS executive team will continue its work in evaluating and addressing the critical needs of the agency throughout this review. As Deputy Secretary, Terri Porche Ricks will serve as acting Secretary while the search for a new Secretary is being conducted. I will name a new Secretary to lead the agency as soon as possible."

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

Article archive / December 2022

Originally published: December 2022. Volume 13, No. 12. Source pages: 13.

The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America’s Great Migration by Isabel Wilkerson.

Classic recommendations from Decembers past! We asked people what books they’ve read and which ones they would recommend to others to read for education, inspiration, or entertainment.

For this Bookshelf we review some of the best recommendations from 2010–2015 issues. (The credentials may be dated.) Marva L. Lewis, PhD Sociocultural Psychology Associate Professor Tulane University School of Social Work

“One of the most inspirational books I have recently read is The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America’s Great Migration, (2011) by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, Isabel Wilkerson. She tells the story of the exodus of almost six million African Americans from the south to northern and western cities from 1915 to 1970. As I read her beautifully written and well-documented narrative I emotionally connected with the human stories she brought to life. I understood for the first time the back-story of my father and mother’s journey from Birmingham, Alabama to Detroit, Michigan in the 1940s. They were eager adolescents in their late teens and early twenties, having left their high school for the ‘warmth of other suns’ of Michigan. Ms. Wilkerson used the stories of several individuals to illustrate the compelling sociological, economic realities that drove people from the south. She helped me understand the untold story of so many of my relatives who journeyed north to the lure of the ‘promise land’ of high paying factory jobs of General Motors. This book described in graphic detail the brutal reality of life the south in the early twenties that propelled the largest urban migration in American history. The life of Blacks in the south included lynching, psychological terrorism, and unremitting racial discrimination. After reading this book I cried. I felt I had heard the poignant stories of my Uncles Charlie, Silas, and Robert, my Aunts Sadie, and Annie Mae; who were the relatives my parents joined as they began their new life filled with the promises of life ‘up north.’”

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

Article archive / December 2022

Originally published: December 2022. Volume 13, No. 12. Source pages: 13.

Judith Stewart, PhD Psychologist, Past President FL Psychological Assn Sorcerer’s Apprentice: An Incredible Journey to the World of India’s Godmen by Tahir Shah

I have a fascinating, non-fiction, fun book by the author Tahir Shah. He is descended from Afghani royalty, lived in London and his dad, Idries Shah is a premier writer of books on Sufism.

Sorcerer’s Apprentice: An Incredible Journey to the World of India’s Godmen is about his desire to learn illusion, which started when the guardian of his royal relative ‘s tomb came to London, uninvited, camped at his bedroom door and began teaching him magic.. When, as an adult, he wanted further training he went to his childhood trainer’s teacher in India. He lived and learned with a premier godman under very strange circumstances. Then he toured India looking for illusionists, of which there are many. On the way he picks up an unbidden sidekick he calls the trickster. To me the whole story is magical itself and I was left with the feeling that there is more in this world than we know.

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

Article archive / December 2022

Originally published: December 2022. Volume 13, No. 12. Source pages: 13.

The Secret Life of Pronouns by James Pennebaker

Bill McCown, PhD Associate Dean, College of Business and Social Sciences. U. of Louisiana Monroe, Author (Strange Attractors: Chaos, Complexity, and the Art of Family Therapy, Treating Gambling Problems, Procrastination and Task Avoidance, and others.)

I’m reading The Secret Life of Pronouns for the third time and it’s incredible. It’s an outstanding book that you can apply to your own emails and correspondence and find out aspects of your personality that you might not have realized, especially regarding how you interact with others.

Pennebaker is a well known scholar in the field of stress related disorders and therapeutic writing. He was one of the first to show that expressive writing was related to health in a variety of areas, everything from mental health to Aids. It is based on computerized text analysis of hundreds of thousands of posts, blogs, tweets, and other communications. He shows that very low level words like articles, “the,” “a,” or “and” can be just as important. We used this program and looked into predictions for people with ADHD for words and thoughts.

It is unbelievable. I highly recommend it.

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

Article archive / December 2022

Originally published: December 2022. Volume 13, No. 12. Source pages: 13.

Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking (cid:0) by Susan Cain

Jack A. Palmer, Ph.D. (cid:0) Chair of Psychology, University of Louisiana at Monroe(cid:0) Author (Evolutionary Psychology: The Ultimate Origins of Human Behavior; Science, Wisdom, and the Future: Humanity’s Quest for a Flourishing Earth.)

This engaging book tells how our lives are shaped profoundly by the personality traits with which we are born. She begins with an exploration of how extroversion and introversion have been defined by psychologists and researchers. The heart of the book explains the types of environments and conditions in which introverts and extroverts work best and why. She tells how those with extroverted personalities tend to be valued more in our modern societies than introverts, even though introverted people—by their very nature— make enormous contributions to society. Fascinating stories from the real lives of both famous and everyday people illustrate the research that she cites.

In chapters that build on each other, Cain describes how education, business, and even parenting styles today are increasingly geared to encourage extroversion and discourage introversion. The theme throughout the book is that introverts offer a great deal to our world, and our culture could be making a serious error by not accommodating and encouraging the introverted personality type. Teachers, counselors, psychologists, parents, business people— anyone who works with people or who wants to understand themselves better—would benefit from reading this best-selling, well- written book that explains much about the value and potential of the introverted person.

My introverted friends, family members, and I resonated with and enjoyed the encouraging message found in this book’s pages!

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

Article archive / December 2022

Originally published: December 2022. Volume 13, No. 12. Source pages: 14.

The Goldfinch: A Novel by Donna Tartt

Donna Thomas, Ph.D.

Department Chair, Psychology & Behavioral Sciences; George and Jean Baldwin Endowed Associate Professor; Louisiana Tech University

At a hefty 785 pages, the hardcover version of The Goldfinch: A Novel might not have been the smartest purchase to stick in my carry-on bag, but that’s the only strike I have against the book, so far. I highly recommend it if for the beautiful language and writing style of Donna Tartt. The Goldfinch is a story of a young boy, Theo, who tragically loses

his mother in a terrorist attack, bounces from home to home, but never quite finds the solace and sanctuary he desperately seeks. The book’s title refers to a painting Theo steals from the museum in the confusing and heartbreaking moments following the attack. Tartt weaves a captivating tale of a young man who suffers greatly as he navigates the art world that his beloved mother treasured, eventually resorting to a life of crime that is, at least, well-intentioned.

The Goldfinch: A Novel was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for fiction, but was not popular among noted critics from The Washington Post, Vanity Fair, and several others, due to its unlikely plots, distracting turns, and mundane characters. I am not a trained critic, so I can only rely on the fact that once I had read twenty pages, I decided this book was so beautifully written that I wanted to read it every night before I fall asleep. I have maintained that pledge most nights and I have not been disappointed yet.

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

Article archive / December 2022

Originally published: December 2022. Volume 13, No. 12. Source pages: 14.

Spirituality at Work: 10 Ways to Balance your Life on the Job by Gregory F.A. Pierce

Judith Miranti, PhD Director of Counseling at Xavier Past President of National Association for Spirituality, Ethics, and Religious Values in Counseling

Pierce has done a great job of defining ten disciplines needed to nourish our spiritual lives as we attempt to balance work, family, relationships, etc. It is not your typical pious treatise on spirituality but rather a laymen’s attempt to find meaning and purpose in our everyday lives in the workplace.

The disciplines are not esoteric or monastic but down-to-earth practical activities and behaviors that serve to nourish and enhance our spirit. He talks about finding sacred objects, (which can be a family portrait, a piece of art work, a souvenir, etc.), living with imperfection, assuring quality, giving thanks and congratulations, building support and community, dealing with others as you would have them deal with you, deciding what is enough-and sticking to it, balancing work, personal, family, church and community responsibilities, working to make “the system” work and engaging in ongoing personal and professional development.

The book begins with a saying that was carved in a plaque that hung over the door to the office of psychoanalyst Carl Jung “Bidden or not bidden, God is present”. The divine reality can be encountered in tangible ways in the workplace. Studies have shown that increased productivity and a spirit of collaboration are evident when employers, managers, white collar workers, professionals, CEOs recognize the importance of the universal search for something greater than ourselves. You will find this book inspiring and life-enhancing. It is a recommended read which offers a provocative and unusual guide for developing our spirituality on the job.

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

Article archive / December 2022

Originally published: December 2022. Volume 13, No. 12. Source pages: 14.

The First Phone Call from Heaven by Mitch Albom

Marilyn Medoza, PhD Psychologist Author, We Do Not Die Alone

I read the most delightful book, The First Phone Call from Heaven by Mitch Albom. It is about a small town in which people begin receiving phone calls from their deceased

loved ones. It is full of humor and pathos. He does a wonderful job of capturing human nature and the impact these calls have on the town and the country. For me, it was one of those books that I did not want to end.

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

Article archive / December 2022

Originally published: December 2022. Volume 13, No. 12. Source pages: 14.

The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren

Cindy L. Nardini, MS, LPC Government Relations Chair, Louisiana Counseling Assn Member of Louisiana Coalition for Violence Prevention

I am currently reading The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren. This is not a new book, on the shelves or for me. I bought it years ago, read it, and put it with my collection. Because of some circumstances in one of my son's life, he started this book, which encouraged me to read it again. Amazing! Isn't it interesting how the context of what's happening currently in our life changes what we "read" on the page? To me, that's evidence of how our lives are constantly changing and growing. The same experience will effect us differently – from one person to the next and one time to the next. I'm enjoying the book. It is helping me understand myself better, which I see as a Iifelong process. I also believe that for us to be the best agents of positive change for our clients that we need to be constantly learning and growing ourselves.

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

Article archive / December 2022

Originally published: December 2022. Volume 13, No. 12. Source pages: 14.

The Fantastic Flying Books of Morris Lessmoree by William Joyce

Kim E. VanGeffen, PhD Neuropsychologist LPA Director and Past President 2015 Distinguished Psychologist

I would recommend The Fantastic Flying Books of Morris Lessmore by William Joyce. This book was also an Oscar winning short film made in Shreveport. It tells the tale of Morris Lessmore who loses his book collection to a storm reminiscent of Hurricane Katrina. This book has been described as a “book about books” but also as a “deeper story of love, loss and healing.”

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

Article archive / November 2022

Originally published: November 2022. Volume 13, No. 11. Source pages: 8.

by Leslie Todd, LCSW, ACSW AFCC Correspondent

After two years of review and revision, The Association of Family and Conciliation Courts (AFCC) Board of Directors has approved new Guidelines for Parenting Plan Evaluations. These Guidelines replace the former Model Standards of Practice for Child Custody Evaluations. They are offered as a roadmap to make certain the evaluator is properly trained and employs proper methodology to ensure an unbiased and comprehensive evaluation.

The 33-page document is an excellent resource for mental health professionals who may be interested in adding Family Court work to their services. Here is a brief summary of the subjects which are more fully covered in the Guidelines:

1. An overview of guiding principles and values: Transparency and accountability are essential, as is informed practice that is sensitive to just and equitable processes. Families undergoing evaluation deserve the utmost respect of their personhood during this stressful process.

2. Education and competency: A master’s degree is the minimum educational requirement, but family law work requires specialization. AFCC provides in-person and on-line training throughout the year in every aspect of custody evaluation.

3. Knowledge of family law: A sufficient understanding of state law and local procedures is necessary. Mental health practitioners are often afraid to ask, but they can request formal clarifications from the Court regarding the particulars of an Order or a procedure. The Court is usually eager to assist its mental health experts—they need us!

4. Multiple relationships and role conflicts: This is usually where mental health professionals get in trouble. It is essential to keep very clear boundaries between therapeutic and evaluation work: they cannot occur in the same case. Once you’re the therapist, you can’t become the evaluator, and vice versa.

5. Communication: This begins with the Court’s Appointment Order, and the scope should be very clear. Your own policies and procedures, contracts and other written information should be very clear. All parties, including children, must be made aware that there is only limited confidentiality in court- ordered evaluations.

6. Records: Meticulous record-keeping is essential, from phone calls to contemporaneous notes. The Guidelines suggest that records should be kept until the youngest child in the case reaches majority. Ensure your paperwork covers all the bases and refine it continually by consultation with peers.

7. Data gathering: Multiple data streams are necessary for an objective, well-sourced evaluation. The use of questionnaires as well as interviews of each party are discussed. It is important to cover specialized topics such as domestic violence, substance misuse, and information regarding possible relocations, for examples.

8. Child interviews: Special skills are required to gain the trust of children and elicit relevant information. Advanced training is necessary not only in the stages of child development and the effects of familial separations in those stages, but also in attachment theory and ACES. Also, forensic interviewing skills are necessary to insure the reliability and validity of the information gathered.

9. Observational and interactional assessments: Use of playroom toys and interactional games between parents and children help assess the quality of relationships. The Guidelines note that evaluators should look for clues about the parent’s empathic attunement and methods of influencing or managing the child’s behavior during the session. 10. Collateral data collection: Medical and mental health records, school records and other data from third party sources are necessary. Policies addressing submissions are also discussed.

11. Use of formal assessment instruments: The decision whether to use testing instruments like the MMPI must be explained, and of course if they are used, they must be administered and interpreted only by qualified experts. The Guidelines cautions that there may be “an aura of precision which may be misleading,” and recommends that test results are not granted greater weight than the sum of the other data points.

12. Interpretation of the data: The Guidelines discusses how to write a report which clearly links the gathered data to the conclusions and recommendations made, and that keeps within the scope of the Order.

13. Multiple evaluators: In institutional or clinical settings, two or more evaluators may work together. In such cases, a lead evaluator should be named (and be available for court appearances.)

14. Virtual evaluation: Since the pandemic, Family Courts have shifted rapidly to on-line services. Special care should be taken to assess whether a virtual evaluation is contraindicated.

Parenting Plan Evaluations are evolving into less-traumatic, more family-friendly procedures, and the Louisiana Chapter of the AFCC (AFCC-LA) is very interested in seeing more mental health professionals join us in providing these services. If you are interested, take a look at the Guidelines at www.afccnet.org/practiceguidelines and contact admin@afccla.org.

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

Article archive / November 2022

Originally published: November 2022. Volume 13, No. 11. Source pages: 15.

10 Years Ago … What The Psychology Times was reporting on November 2012

LA School Psychological Association

Conference in Lafayette Nov 7 to 9

The Louisiana School Psychological Association will host its Annual Conference, November 7 – 9, 2012, at the Hilton Lafayette, in Lafayette, Louisiana. This year’s theme will be “Resilience and Reconnection.”

Tulane psychology professor, Dr. Michael Cunningham, will speak on “Promoting Education Resilience in African American Adolescents.” Dr. Cunningham is the Suzanne and Stephen Weiss Presidential Fellow(cid:0)in the Psychology Department at Tulane.

LA Psychologists Note Issues for

Understanding Military Life

The Times spoke with two Louisiana psychologists, Dr. Dana Boose and Dr. Andrew Thrasher, about what their perspectives and what they view as important in the Louisiana community and in efforts to assist the returning servicemen and women to transition back to home.

Dr. Dana Boose is a Clinical Psychologist in the Post Deployment Healthcare Clinic at the Alexandria VA Healthcare System. She is also commissioned as a Captain in the Louisiana Army National Guard. Dr. Thrasher is a licensed psychologist at the Psychotherapy Clinic, LLC, in Sulphur, Louisiana. He is also a veteran and he is member of the Give An Hour program.

Psychology Gumbo

• “Measuring the Suicidal Mind: Implicit Cognition Predicts Suicidal Behavior” — Journal of Psychological Science, 2010. M. Nock, et al. Researchers found implicit associations exceed the predictive validity of known risk factors in suicide.

COMMENT: Dr. Gary Pettigrew, Licensed Clinical Psychologist, Dawson Psychological Associates, Coordinator of Complaints, LSBEP. “More impressively, this association predicted future suicide attempts during six-month follow-up better than the patient's own prediction or other clinical factors studied. emotional self-regulation, and self esteem. BOOKSHELF

Living in an Environmentally Traumatized World:

Healing Ourselves and Our Planet

Darlyne G. Nemeth, Robert B. Hamilton, and Judy Kuriansky, Editors

The work is an outgrowth of the 2007 symposium on behalf of the World Council of Psychotherapy (WCP) titled, "Strategies to Facilitate Biosphere Management and Lifestyle Change: Measures to Protect the Environment and Prevent Drastic Sequelae of Current and Future Climate Changes," presented at the 60th Annual United Nations DPI/NGO Conference Mid-day workshops in New York, NY. This is where Dr. Nemeth linked with many of her contributors. “I chaired this event and spoke about the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina,” she explained. AG Opinions Clarify LMFT

Scope of Practice, ABA Issues

The Louisiana Attorney General issued an Opinion on October 12, 2012 after reviewing objections submitted last year by the Louisiana State Board of Examiners of Psychologists (LSBEP) about rules for Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFTs), put forth by the Counselors state board.

The Attorney General (AG) found no problem with the rules, and summarized, “The permitted scope of practice of licensed marriage and family therapists includes the assessment and treatment of emotional, behavioral, personality, and mental disorders, subject to the specific limitations …” And […] " do not expand said statutory scope of practice by rule, are not violative of the prohibition on the unlicensed practice of psychology …".

Children’s Cabinet

Dr. Simpson Launches Kid’s

Dashboard

The Children’s Cabinet launched its “Louisiana Kid’s Dashboard” on October 9, 2012, a continuing step in the Cabinet’s efforts to coordinate and engage agencies, policy makers, families and the larger community, with the goal of improving conditions for Louisiana’s children.

The Children’s Cabinet is part of the Office of the Governor, and Dr. Tiffany Simpson, a graduate of the University of New Orleans psychology department, is the Executive Director.

ABA Study Group to Begin Final

Decision-Making Friday

The “Behavior Analysts Licensure and Regulation Study Commission will meet on Friday, November 2, 2012, to continue efforts in outlining the state’s approach to regulation for applied behavior analysts, and preparing for the final and perhaps most difficult of their decisions.

The Times spoke with Vice Chair of the Commission, Ms. Catherine Morrell, who explained that on November 2nd the group would watch four presentations, from four different sets of members. These presentations are to prepare the group for a future decision as to where the behavior analysts will fall in the state regulatory structure, Morrell said.

“Yes, But” Opinion on ABAs Practicing Psychology from AG The psychology board received an answer in October from the

Office of the Attorney General (AG) regarding injunctions against behavior analysts who practice psychology. Writing to the current psychology board Chair Dr. Lee Matthews, the AG noted, “…the LSBEP may seek an injunction against a party […] “Although the LSBEP has the authority to seek an injunction against a party for violating Chapter 28, it still must meet the injunction requirements of the court,” the author, Assistant Attorney General, Jessica Thornhill wrote, on behalf of James Caldwell, the AG.

Dr. Michael Cunningham (Courtesy photo)

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

Article archive / November 2022

Originally published: November 2022. Volume 13, No. 11. Source pages: 1, 3.

APA's "Stress in America" Researchers Find Dissatisfaction, Stress

In their annual "Stress in America" survey, the American Psychological Association' (APA) has found deep dissatisfaction and stress related to the state of the country and the government.

According to the APA press release, the researchers found that 70% of adults do not think people in the government care about them and 64% said they felt their rights are under attack.

Almost half of adults (45%) said they do not feel protected by the laws in the United States and more than a third (38%) said the state of the nation has made them consider moving to a different country, said APA.

More than three-quarters (76%) said that the future of our nation is a significant source of stress in their lives, while 68% said this is the lowest point in our nation’s history that they can remember.

A significant majority noted stress from inflation (83%), violence and crime (75%), the current political climate (66%), and the racial climate (62%) as major sources of stress.

A total of 27% reporting that most days they are so stressed they cannot function. The nationwide survey was conducted by The Harris Poll on behalf of APA.

Seventy-five percent of Black adults pointed to the racial climate in the U.S. as a significant source of stress, while 70% of Latino/a adults, 69% of Asian adults and 56% of white adults reported the same, said the researchers.

"Furthermore, Latinas were most likely, among racial/ethnic groups, to cite significant sources of stress related to violence, including violence and crime (89% Latinas; 80% Black women; 79% Asian women; 77% Latinos; 75% Black men; 73% white women; 72% white men; 70% Asian men), mass shootings (89% Latinas; 78% Latinos; 77% Black women; 77% Asian women; 73% white women; 71% Black men; 67% Asian men; 66% white men) and gun violence (87% Latinas; 83% Black women; 77% Asian women; 76% Latinos; 75% Black men; 69% white women; 68% white men; 63% Asian men).

"Adults reported that stress has had an impact on their health; 76% of adults reported they had experienced at least one symptom in the last month as a result of stress—such as headache (38%), fatigue (35%), feeling nervous or anxious (34%) and feeling depressed or sad (33%). Seven in 10 adults (72%) experienced additional symptoms in the last month, including feeling overwhelmed (33%), experiencing changes in sleeping habits (32%), and/or worrying constantly (30%).

"Various disparities in stressors emerged among population subgroups. For example, 72% of the members of the LGBTQIA+ community reported feeling as if their rights are under attack, which is a higher proportion than non-LGBTQIA+ adults (64%). Younger adult women (ages 18 to 34) were more likely to report that most days their stress is completely overwhelming, in comparison with older women (62% vs. 48% 35–44; 27% 45–64; 9% 65+) and men ages 35 or older (62% vs. 48% 35–44; 21% 45– 64; 8% 65+)," noted the report.

“It’s clear that the impacts of uncontrollable stressors are profound for most Americans, but psychological science shows us that there are effective ways to talk about and cope with this type of stress,” said Arthur C. Evans Jr., PhD, APA’s chief executive officer. “Focusing on accomplishing goals that are in our control can help prevent our minds from getting overwhelmed by the many uncertainties in life. From using our breathing to slow racing thoughts, to intentionally limiting our social media consumption, or exercising our right to vote, action can be extremely empowering," he said. "With so many people suffering health effects from these unrelenting external stressors, it’s important that all health care providers understand the research and offer their patients evidence-based techniques to reduce the effects of extreme stress and build their resilience,” said Evans.

The 2022 Stress in AmericaTM survey was conducted online within the United States by The Harris Poll on behalf of the APA between Aug. 18 and Sept. 2, 2022, and included 3,192 adults age 18+ who reside in the U.S. Interviews were conducted in English and Spanish, according to APA.

Data are weighted where necessary to reflect their proportions in the population based on the 2021 Current Population Survey (CPS) by the U.S. Census Bureau. Weighting variables included age by gender, race/ethnicity, education, region, household income and time spent online, said APA.

More information on the survey findings and how to handle stress related to uncertainty is available from APA at www.stressinamerica.org (http://www.stressinamerica.org).

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

Article archive / November 2022

Originally published: November 2022. Volume 13, No. 11. Source pages: 2.

Political Diversity by J. Nelson

The country is in quite a tizzy. Even the Stress in America survey is showing that most people are fed up, stressed out, and down on government. Being the one profession that might be able to help resolve conflicts of this type and magnitude, does psychology have a role in this? I think yes. But only if we make a paradigm shift.

In an article, "Faculty Voter Registration in Economics, History, Journalism, Law, and Psychology," in Econ Journal Watch, some economists got together and figured out what we already know–– but it is shocking anyway. The faculty ratio of Democrats to Republicans in psychology is 17.4 to 1. Sadly, journalism is even worse at 20 to 1.

Some years back, a study by Yoel Inbar & Joris Lammers, found that psychology is predominately liberal. Only six percent described themselves as conservative “overall.” The report was picked up by the media which emphasized the juicy news that psychologists discriminate against their conservative colleagues, and those colleagues are hiding in the closet. This lack of diversity of values leads to a homogeneous, groupthink culture and a tendency toward overconfidence in group judgment. Limited political diversity, just like limited ethnic/racial diversity in a group, reeks havoc on quality decision-making. Psychologists are well versed in this dynamic––at least when it comes to everybody else.

But we are just as vulnerable to the unavoidable traps of social judgment: ignoring base-rates, being misled by compelling details, my side bias, selective attention, and so on.

When problems are complex, when the issue in front of our nose clashes with our preexisting beliefs, when time separates our dots, when we are tired, and so on, we are prone to flawed judgment. Nobel Prize winning psychologist Daniel Kahneman would probably tell us that we are influenced by “WYSIATI” – What You See Is All There Is.

The most common human judgment error is probably overconfidence. Even when we are 98 percent sure that we are correct, we are only right 68 percent of the time.

Are we in an age of overconfidence? Stanley Silverman, an IO psychologist, might say so. “Arrogance has run amok lately,” he wrote in, “Arrogance: A Formula for Leadership Failure.” He said that we are in an “age of arrogance" which promotes a “weak learning orientation."

Psychology’s liberal worldview is certainly an honorable one: concern for the well-being and dignity of all people, compassion for those in need, openness, tolerance, appreciation of intellectual pursuits. But at 94 percent, can we prove we aren’t neck deep in groupthink?

Groupthink. The warm, comforting molasses of friends who feel and think exactly the way we do, who support us and never criticize. To know we’ll be always validated, that we and our best friends are on the right side of things. That all is well in Mudville. That our daddy’s rich and our mama’s good looking.

The military suicide rate is a serious concern. Our returning servicemen and servicewomen say we don’t get it. “The public does not understand the problems faced by those in the military or their families,” 84 percent of the veterans say.

Could undiagnosed groupthink account for problems that appear to have no straightforward answer? “The amount of fundamental discovery is staggering, and medical journals are chocked with spectacular science,” writes Julio Licinio, MD, editor of Molecular Psychiatry. “Paradoxically, research advances have not led to new cures,” he writes in an editorial.

Research doesn’t lead to cures? Imagine that.

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