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Member-at-Large (2 to be elected)

1) What has been your history of service to Division 42?

My involvement in Division 42 began as a student and continues today as an Early Career Psychologist. For the past four years, I have served the Division as a current board member in my role as Chair of the Student/Early Career Psychologist (S/ECP) Committee, and have also served as a member of the Bylaws and Resource Development Taskforces, Nominations Committee and was recently appointed to the position of Convention Chair for 2005.

2) What experience have you had relevant to the position you are seeking?

Selected Leadership Positions include:

• 01/04-present   President, California Latino Psychological Association
• 01/03-present   Board of Directors, Orange County Psychological Association
• 01/03-present   Chair Services and Benefits Committee, California Psychological Association
• 01/02-present   State of California Representative - Business of Practice Network, American Psychological Association
• 08/00-present   Board of Directors Division of Independent Practitioners (42), American Psychological Association
• 01/01-present   Co-Chair Governmental Affairs Committee, Orange County Psychological Association
• 07/00-08/01   Board of Directors, California Psychological Association
• 07/00-08/01   Chair, California Psychological Association of Graduate Students
• 01/98-08/01   Board of Directors, Los Angeles County Psychological Association
• 01/98-08/01   Governmental Affairs Committee, Los Angeles County Psychological Association

3) What are the most critical issues confronting independent practitioners?

Independent Practitioners are facing the challenges of managed care, less than adequate reimbursement, mobility issues, a lack of recognition as a primary healthcare profession and an increased need to work together with our culturally diverse colleagues. I also believe that we need to look at how our definition of independent practice has changed, and adapt to these changes. When I think about the role that psychologist play in society on multiple levels, I become energized to ensure that others become aware of our impact. The shift is moving in our direction, however, it will take more than a simple social shift to make the field of psychology what it can be, and needs to be. Today, when the cost of graduate school education has increased, yet our new graduates are earning less, there is a problem. What this means is that we need to incorporate practice issues and the business of psychology courses into our graduate school education, early. We need to begin this process now to ensure that the next generations of psychologists build a strong practice foundation.

4) How do you propose that Division 42 address these issues?

Much of we need to do, is to educate. We need to educate our members on how the division impacts their lives, but more importantly, we need the public to become more educated on the role of mental health. Many of our efforts should be directed towards educating the public through programming and outreach and by establishing more of a political presence within our states and nationally. While our role in society continues to grow, our voice slowly lags. As this continues to occur for us, we will continue to face the challenges of today far into the future. Before we ask more from our members, we need to think creatively on how to make small tangible changes our members can experience. Through advocacy work, we can target true licensure mobility for psychologists and full mental health parity, ensuring our long-term role as a primary healthcare profession. In addition, the need to reach out to our colleagues of color is a must. In order for practitioners to meet the needs of the changing demographics in this country, it our ethical responsibility to collaborate more with our culturally diverse colleagues and work together towards this end. Finally, we need to develop outreach programs with graduate schools facilitating the link between our students and the profession of psychology. My perspective is a “fresh” one. I bring the input of the next generation of practitioners to the table. The sooner we encourage and teach our students and early career psychologists how to be leaders, the closer we come to meeting the goals of all psychology.

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