Candidate Statements - Diversity Member-At-Large


Independent Practitioner/Spring 2006

Candidate Statements

Diversity Member-At-Large: (one to be elected)

Contents

Table of Contents

Editorial and Opinion

President’s Message — Lillian Comas-Diaz

Editor’s Column; Bad Therapy — Ed Lundeen

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Board Meeting — Stanley Graham

Our Hawaii Colleagues Continue Their Exciting RXP Quest — Pat DeLeon

Managed Behavioral Health Care Isn’t — Wallace Wilkins

Give It Away, Get It Back Bigger — Ari Tuckman

Classic Reprints

The Dose/Effect Relationship — Howard et.al.

Countertransference — D.W. Winnicott

Funding Allocated for Mentally Ill Offender Act — AAP Newsletter

Mental Health Parity — Steve Pfeiffer

Rural Practice — Dave Grundel

Technology Updates

Online Bookmarks – Pauline Wallin

Candidates for Division Offices:

Division News and Notes

Distance Learning Course in Marketing — Nancy Molitor

Membership Update — Ambassador Program — Miguel Gallardo

Highlights of the APA Expert Summit on Immigration — Josephine D. Johnson

Autobiography — Stan Moldawsky

Pictures from the 2006 Division Mid-Winter Meeting — Alan Entin

Mentors Corner — Tiffany Snyder & Monica Neel

Book Review

The Office Survival Guide – Reviewed by Sandra Haber

What Therapists Don’t Talk About and Why: Understanding Taboos That Hurt Us and Our Clients – Reviewed by Ray Arsenault

Silliness

Clem Sets Psychologists’ Salaries — Martin Williams

Miguel E. Gallardo, PsyD

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

I am honored to have been nominated for the position of Diversity Member-at-large for Division 42. For the past six years, I have served the division as the first Student/Early Career Psychologist (S/ECP) board member in my role as Chair of the S/ECP Committee. I have also been a member of the Bylaws and Resource Development Taskforces, Nominations Committee, Program Chair for the 2005 convention, and I currently serve as the Membership chair.

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

I have served in a number of leadership roles in the area of multicultural diversity. My current leadership positions in this particular area include serving as the Chair of the Diversity Taskforce for the California Psychological Association, a member of the Executive Committee for the National Institute for Multicultural Competence, State Chapter Development Chair for the National Latina/o Psychological Association, and President of the California Latino Psychological Association. In each of these positions I have worked diligently to promote and sustain the integration of multicultural issues throughout the practice of psychology.

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

The development of cultural competence continues to receive much attention in the areas of practice, training and research. In the practice arena, practitioners are faced with the challenges of staying abreast of the multicultural movement. Multiculturalism is no longer an “addition to” or a “nice thing to have,” it is an ethical obligation of all psychologists. The role the division needs to play in the growth of this movement is to assist and educate our members in this area. Most importantly, the division needs to educate our members that their already existing clinical skills and knowledge are essential to aspiring to be culturally responsive. There needs to be a recognition that to be culturally responsive simply means incorporating a more expanded and flexible approach to practice. It does not mean discarding already existing clinical skills, but modifying and further refining clinical skills. Additionally, we are faced with mandates to be multiculturally sound, while simultaneously, we are also engaged in discussions with others about empirically supported treatments and evidenced based practices. The division needs to continue to take a leadership role in both of these areas. Multiculturalism and empirically supported treatments and evidenced based practices are not exactly a match made in heaven at this point in time.

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

Division 42 has one of the strongest voices in APA governance, yet we continue to lack diverse representation. The division needs to continue to build alliances and coalitions with other divisions who represent the areas we feel are relevant to the changing demographics in the country as well as to the changing practice community needs. Working together with other psychologists who represent diverse needs is a must. In essence, it has become increasingly important for us to work together. For too long there has been a divide among divisions and individuals. It is important for the diversity member-at-large position to continue to bridge these gaps and solidify relationships with others. This is already happening in the division, but it must continue. There are still some who question our motivation and interest in multicultural issues. I want people to know that our interests are not simply a response to the multicultural movement, but rather a proactive stance to take the movement to the next level.

John M O’Brien, Ph.D.

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

I have been a long time member of Division 42 among the “silent majority”. I am honored to be asked to run for a position on the Executive Board.

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

My previous professional activity as a psychologist has been through APA and my state organization, the Maine Psychological Association. In APA, I have been very active in Division 17. I am the current Chair of the Independent Practice Section within the Society of Counseling Psychology and I have served as the Chair of the Section on Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual Issues and as the Chair of Sections. I am currently the President-elect of the Maine Psychological Association. The Member at Large position in Division 42 would be my first service to the Division.

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

I believe that there are many issues currently confronting independent practitioners. In the interest of space I will limit my comments. The three issues that are of greatest concern to me at present include (1) shrinking reimbursements for service. Even when we are able to maintain Medicare reimbursement (or other insurance) levels, we are actually taking a pay cut when we factor in inflation. (2) authorization of care and outcomes management. I have been active in the Maine Psychological Association on the Reimbursement Oversight Committee. We are actively tracking the authorization process with insurers in our state and meeting with those insurers who are presenting problems to our members. We are also currently planning an outcomes measure pilot study in our state association. Many different insurers are asking us to complete different measures on different timelines with many of our clients. This is adding significant complexity to the process for our members. We hope that our pilot study will demonstrate efficacy of specific measures that we can then encourage managed care to implement.

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

I am convinced that advocacy at the federal and state level is critical. The APA Practice Organization does an excellent job of coordinating advocacy efforts and I think that we can be sure that our members are aware of how to be involved in their efforts. I believe that Division 42’s primary role is to support our members in dealing with these issues (via networking and mentoring). We can put energy toward both changing the current system and supporting our membership in their struggles with what is presently.

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