The Mentors’ Corner is a regularly featured column in the Independent Practitioner (IP) that highlights discussions from the MENTORS listserv. In each issue of the IP, questions and answers pertinent to the Division 42 Student/Early Career Psychologist members will be addressed. If you are currently not signed on to the listserv, we encourage all members to participate and share in the stimulating discussions that take place. The Division consists of members who have a wealth of knowledge and various areas of expertise that should be shared with our new colleagues.

It is important to note that the opinions expressed on the listserv and within this column reflect individual perspectives and ideas only. As noted on the listserv, there are more than one means to an end. This column is intended to highlight important topics and to generate additional areas of thought and insight for our members.

Division 42 Mentor Program:

Division 42’s mentoring program, Colleague to Colleague, is growing. If you are interested in being paired with a mentor to assist you to be successful in your practice, or if you are interested and willing to share some of your knowledge and expertise with a colleague, please contact the coordinator of our mentoring program, Frank Froman, at frankf@adams.net.

Kathleen Hickey asked:

Does anyone know whether the MMPI-A can be given to a developmentally disabled youth (by being read to him or listening to the audio version available) who could independently understand the meaning of the questions without having them explained in any way? Although I know it should not be given as a matter of course to most developmentally delayed (DD) youth, can’t that determination be on whether a youth could understand the meaning of the questions without having them explained in any way?

Mitch Hicks replied:

Not my field of expertise but let me give a few initial thoughts in the service of avoiding my other work.  First, the major question is the one you already mentioned: does the youth understand the denotative and connotative meanings of the questions?  If no, then I’d not give the MMPI-A.  Second, a question for me is about norming.  Did this test have any DD youth who met criteria one above included in the normative sample or have special norms for this population?  If no, then I think that you should tread with the utmost of caution.  It’s not that we never give tests under violations of the second condition especially when it’s the “least poor” option, but we just have to be really clear about the implications and limitations of the data.  

Before doing it, I would think long and hard about whether or not the potential data I would glean from the test not meeting criterion 2 in one of the two mentioned ways would actually give me anything useful in service of answering the referral question that I cannot get some other way that is more sound.  But like I said, you may need the data and it may be the “least poor” way to get it.

Some alternatives might be parental or caregiver rating scales that deal with personality. I know this is not a definitive answer because I am sure that people who do DD evals in their sleep will speak up and give you more definitive advice. These are just two of my guiding thoughts when I enter new territory.

Frank Cushing added:

I agree with Mitch’s caveats but I have used the auditory taped version with this population and gained some useful hypotheses about functioning to be cross checked with clinical observations including adaptive behavior scales and parent/care-giver behavior rating scales like the Reiss and the ABAS II.

Tom Mazzarella wrote:

I am a Master’s Level graduate student running a Depression-Bipolar Support group. I have recommended a number of books and articles on topics such as alcoholism, mood disorders, and life planning to assist in helping people begin to make progress in improving areas of their lives that they feel to be deficient.

Does anyone have any suggestions for publications on improving self-esteem? The person to whom I would like to direct the information would be to a married woman with two children who had come from a broken home, raised by a stern, critical but caring woman with an alcoholic father who left abruptly when she was 7 years old never to be involved again. I consider her to be very intelligent and kind; has a very good job and a stable family life by is somewhat thwarted by a very prominent lack of self-confidence.

Steve Walfish responded:

David Burns has a workbook based on cognitive therapy concepts called “Ten Days to Self-Esteem” that I would highly recommend.

Mike Dorr added:

I think the Tao of Pooh by Benjamin Hoff is a very worthwhile book to read.

Emily Kehr commented:

I really enjoyed these two books. I don’t know if they apply specifically, but they certainly helped me when I was having self-esteem issues.

I’m Ok You’re Ok by Thomas Harris

Ten Stupid Things Women Do to Mess Up Their Lives by Laura Schlessinger

The key, I believe, is to change the internal dialog (self talk) to be positive in order for a person to value themselves equally to others. Its really tough, though, and I believe it to be a life long challenge for some people because a lot of people seek their self-esteem status from others, instead of from within themselves. Learning to like oneself despite what others think is very hard to change when a person has been programmed differently for so long, but it can be done!

Alexis Bernstein wrote:

I am in the last semester of my M.S. Counseling Psychology program in and am re-evaluating whether or not I want to pursue my MFT licensure for the ultimate goal of having a private practice.

After nearly 2 years in a traineeship, I am realizing that although I thoroughly enjoy my clients & the world of psychotherapy, working one-on-one sometimes feels a bit too isolating. I am finding that I long for the “energy” and “interaction” one usually finds in a corporate business environment. I have about 10 yrs of professional business experience under my belt and am now brainstorming ways in which I can blend together my skills as a budding psychotherapist with my corporate business experience .I am curious if anyone has any suggestions or advice on how someone in my position can weave together both worlds-psychotherapy & business?

Emily Kehr responded:

From my understanding there is a huge field for what you are looking to do. I believe its industrial and business psychology? You can go into Human Resources or you could become an industrial psychologist who is hired by companies to analyze their organization and make suggestions to how they can improve their productivity, based on a multitude of factors that you are trained to analyze. I believe there is a lot of training required for this type of position, but from what I have read, it seems to pay very well.

Jodi Schwartz added:

Following a 2-year post-doctoral clinical neuropsychology fellowship, I had the opportunity to join one of the major psychological test publishers in the industry, where I developed clinical and neuropsychological tests with “authors” around the country. This of course utilized my clinical and neuropsych background and skills, while giving me wonderful exposure to the “corporate” environment.

From there, I re-located and because I really loved the mix of psychology and business, I looked to stay in the corporate environment and for the past 8 years, have been working for an organization that publishes tests for business and industry for employment screening (both skills and personality assessments). Over the past 3 years, I have also taken on a broader research role at this same organization. I now conduct/manage all types of customer and market research (survey development, focus groups), analyze the data from these studies and present results to various business teams within the organization.
 
I’m also an adjunct professor at a local university and teach clinical psychology graduate students. I hope this little bit of information is helpful and illustrates some of the wonderful and unique opportunities as a psychologist.

Fallynn asked:

I have just opened my own private practice in a large Victorian home, now an office building. It is VERY NOISY and I am looking for anything to help to reduce the noise.  Can anyone give me some feedback that might be helpful?  
 
Also, can others please share how they made decisions to decorate their office and what really seems to ‘work’ and what does not?  I am trying to create a warm, relaxed, and safe environment.  

Stephanie Brooke replied:

Have you thought about having a fish tank in your waiting room? It can be very relaxing for clients.

Erin Blasdel added:

I just walked in yesterday to the counseling center I work at and the Director had made a wonderful change: the lighting. The lighting in the waiting room is no longer bright like it is in the typical waiting room. Through the sole use of nice lamps, the lighting has made for a different atmosphere. It’s warm and peaceful. Also, nicely painted walls and a few wall hangings have added a special touch. It may cost a little but they’ll be there for many years. Finally, I have found that the clients in the waiting room really appreciate it when they’re asked if they would like anything to drink- coffee, tea, water.

Esther Lerman Freeman commented:

One of the best purchases I ever made was one of the white noise machines advertised in The Monitor.  It not only allowed me to be confident that no one outside my office could hear patients confidential sessions, but it was excellent at screening out external noise. The only issue is to remember that for patients with low-level hearing loss you may need to turn it off as the background noise interferes with their speech comprehension.

Francesca Skowronski added:

I think lighting plays a huge role to creating a relaxed atmosphere.  I’d stay away from harsh fluorescent lighting; use lampshades instead.  Small tabletop fountains are both relaxing and helpful in masking noise.  Also, consider having one of those plug-in fragrances for aromatherapy. Have fun decorating and good luck!

Carin Lefkowitz commented:

Thriving plants can be a very powerful symbol to have in a waiting room, but only if you are capable of growing them. For example, I needed a lot of tutelage from my boss, the resident green thumb. Dying plants can also be a powerful symbol, but not as encouraging!  As far as coffee, my office invested in a Keurig coffee machine, which clients love.  Of course, this can be pricey if you’re shouldering the cost on your own.

Geneva Reynaga-Abiko added:

I think it’s a great idea to have some culturally specific things in the waiting area, be they magazines relevant to particular audience (LGBT, African Americans, etc.) and/or decorations that are a reflection of a variety of cultures.  This can really set the tone nicely. Clients have often commented to me about decorations helping them feel comfortable.

Stacey L. Salant shared:

I too am in a noisy Victorian. I invested in a plush rug, hung larger pieces of art to deaden my room, and placed a white noise generator outside the door to keep my noise in. I also painted the walls a cheery yellow. The waiting room and hall are deeper, Victorian colors (red and green) so my office seems light and friendly. I keep my possessions to a minimum. I use 2 softly ticking clocks and have a few small plants. My room is only 9x12 but seems open and relaxed. I furnished at Ikea, by the way; great stuff to start off with!

Mitch Hicks added:

Moreover, make sure you have things that suggest that you are “male friendly” as well (unless of course you wish to chase men away).  I have been in many an office where there are lots of copies of Parents (which is fine, but has only 2 pages at my last count devoted to fathers), Better Homes and Gardens, and other magazines aimed at a primarily female audience.  If I were seeking treatment there, I might not be very encouraged. Things like “Time” and “Consumer Reports” are ok, but I see them as more gender neutral.  Consider Sports Illustrated or an Auto magazine. Even if a particular man does not like either of those, he will likely get the impression that the concerns of men are important. Plants are nice, but most men are unimpressed by them.  Even paint colors can communicate something here.  Fred Rabinowitz and Sam Cochren have a book called “Deepening Psychotherapy with Men” that addresses some of these issues.