November 2008 MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE REPORT
We have had a busy year in membership with the 2007-2010 Directory being assembled, published, and distributed. It looks really great! If you have not received your copy yet, please let me know and I would be happy to send one to you or provide a copy for pick-up. Directories cost $25.00 if you would like one sent to you, and $20.00 if you would like to pick one up. The cost includes our distribution of the directory to community and service agencies, medical offices, and schools county-wide Next up on the agenda is 2009 Membership Renewal. We are hoping to have an online renewal process, including online payment for membership. However, it is unclear as of this writing whether or not we can make this happen in time for this year’s renewal. In the meantime, in the next couple of weeks, be on the lookout for an email that will explain our renewal process for this year. Please note (see President Dr. Junell Silver’s column) that after years of no increase, the 2009 dues for Full Membership will be $85.00 ($90.00 if not also a CPA member), and $50.00 for Associate Members. As is our custom, membership is free for retired professionals, post-doctoral and graduate students. We appreciate your continued support of this organization of fine mental health professionals. Thank you in advance for your renewal! I am always keenly interested in learning if any of you would like to help out on the membership team. It really is a great way to get and stay connected. Give me a ring if this appeals to you. Finally, feel free to email or call me if you have membership concerns, thoughts, or questions. Warm wishes for a wonderful Holiday Season,
Ann Bolger, Ph.D.
Chair, MBPA Membership Committee
2009 Membership Renewal For membership renewal, click here to download the 2009 membership form. |
November 2008 APA MEMBERS SPEAK OUT – VOTE FOR NEW REFERENDUM AGAINST TORTURE Submitted by
Jennifer Kaupp, Ph.D.
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Jon Girvetz, Ph.D.
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Co-Chairs, Social Issues Forum "… the membership of the American Psychological Association (APA) passed a referendum banning participation of APA member psychologists in U.S. detention facilities, such as Guantanamo or the CIA's secret "black sites" operating outside of or in violation of international law or the Constitution. The Coalition for an Ethical Psychology congratulates our colleagues, and in particular, we congratulate the referendum authors – Dan Aalbers, Brad Olson, and Ruth Fallenbaum – as well as the activists withholding dues and otherwise protesting professional collusion with unethical behavior." (Coalition for an Ethical Psychology, 9/17/08) In a letter dated October 2, 2008, APA President Alan Kazdin advised President Bush about the new APA policy that unequivocally prohibits APA member psychologists from participation in military interrogations and on CIA rendition teams. The text of the letter follows, but if you want to see it with your own eyes go to http://www.apa.org/releases/kazdin-to-bush1008.pdf. October 8, 2008 Dear Mr. President:
On behalf of the American Psychological Association (APA), I am writing to inform you and your administration of a significant change in our association's policy that limits the roles of psychologists in certain unlawful detention settings where the human rights of detainees are being violated, such as has occurred at the naval base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and at so-called CIA black sites around the world. This new policy, which pertains to detention settings that operate outside of, or in violation of, international law or the U.S. Constitution, was voted on by APA members and is in the process of being implemented.
The effect of this new policy is to prohibit psychologists from any involvement in interrogations or any other operational procedures at detention sites that are in violation of the U.S. Constitution or international law (e.g., the Geneva Conventions and the U.N. Convention Against Torture). In such unlawful detention settings, persons are deprived of basic human rights and legal protections, including the right to independent judicial review of their detention. The roles of psychologists at such sites would now be limited to working directly for the persons being detained or for an independent third party working to protect human rights, or to providing treatment to military personnel.
For the past 20 years, APA policy has unequivocally condemned torture and cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment, which can arise from interrogation procedures or conditions of confinement. Unlike our previous policies, which had expressed grave concerns about settings where persons are deprived of human rights and had offered support to psychologists who refused to work in such settings, APA's new policy now prohibits psychologists from working in such settings, save for the exceptions cited above. To be clear, our policy limits psychologists to working directly for the persons being detained or for an independent third party working to protect human rights unless they are offering therapeutic services to other military personnel.
There have been many reports, from credible sources, of torture and cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment of detainees during your term in office. Therefore, the American Psychological Association strongly calls on you and your administration to safeguard the physical and psychological welfare and human rights of individuals incarcerated by the U.S. government in such detention centers and to investigate their treatment to ensure that the highest ethical standards are being upheld. We further call on you to establish policies and procedures to ensure the independent judicial review of these detentions and to afford the persons being detained all rights guaranteed to them under the Geneva Conventions and the U.N. Convention Against Torture.
Best wishes,
Alan E. Kazdin, Ph.D., ABPP
President, American Psychological Association
Social Issues Forum Commentary Thanks to all of you who signed the petition, wrote letters, withheld APA dues, and voted for the Referendum. This is very good news for psychology, though not without caveats. While the APA leadership appears to be listening to members’ concerns, and has come a long way since the first Resolution, there are questions about its implementation. The MBPA position remains unchanged – we are unequivocally opposed to any psychologist involvement in military interrogations and on rendition teams. We long ago distanced ourselves from the Bush administration torture doctrine, but worry about lingering effects. On March 8, 2008, in obstinate and angry defiance, the president vetoed a Congressional bill prohibiting the use of torture techniques in military interrogations. Ignoring international law, the advice of military commanders and FBI personnel, the will of the people, and evidence that torture doesn't work, George W. Bush satisfied his unbridled aggression and gave the CIA carte blanche to carry out “enhanced” interrogations, including waterboarding, on enemy combatants and terror suspects. And in his propaganda address to the nation he lied about terrorist plots successfully aborted because of enhanced interrogation techniques (torture) and, exploiting base fears, insisted that such methods are crucial to Americans’ continued safety. Most of us know that his eight-year reign of terror has made us less safe. Americans are disliked around the world, soldiers are more likely to be tortured upon capture, and those who have participated in harsh interrogations, in Iraq, Afghanistan, Guantanamo Bay, and rendition sites, are suffering serious psychosocial, professional, and ethical consequences (e.g., Sharrock, Mother Jones, March/April 2008). A lot has happened since then. Extremely unpopular and relatively powerless, the Bush Administration is being pressured to close the infamous Guantanamo Bay. While he and other key players involved in the shameful business of torture are audaciously seeking retroactive immunity for war crimes, serious questions remain about what to do with the detainees. Whether guilty or innocent, the veracity of information obtained through harsh interrogation (torture) is questionable and probably inadmissible in a court of law. Fortunately, a more thoughtful, ethical President Obama will oversee this process. It is my fervent hope that an ethical APA will prevail. For a bit of history on psychology’s involvement in torture, read “What is Happening to Psychology?” (Kaupp, Monterey Bay Psychologist, 2007). And Stephen Soldz writes in Psychologists for Social Responsibility about next steps in the struggle against torture. The entire PsySR newsletter is available at http://www.psysr.org/newsletter and the extracted article is available at http://tinyurl.com/5zw7c9. The MBPA Social Issues Forum will continue to follow the APA/military interrogations controversy, and report the progress to you. We are categorically opposed to any and all psychologist involvement in military interrogations, CIA Black Site activities, and renditions as consultants, participants, even as the voice of restraint or as moral watchdogs. I am proud of MBPA for publicly voicing our ethical values and beliefs. But for now, let us celebrate this first step toward a more ethical APA with Dr. Kazdin's letter. |
November 2008 MBPA PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE By Junell Silver, Ph.D.
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It’s hard for me to believe this is the last month of my tenure as President of MBPA. I have enjoyed working with all the BOD members on numerous projects, and I thank them all for their hard work. I especially appreciate the support of Dr. Jenny Kaupp and look forward to working with Dr. Jim Beckett as he takes up the reins of being MBPA president next month. One of my major goals for the year was to produce an electronic infrastructure to support the major functions for our organization. For example, one of our chapter’s most important needs is the ability to maintain accurate membership information that can be updated dynamically, along with the ability to quickly access that data for distributing chapter forms, announcements and newsletters. We have now accomplished this. In this, our second electronic newsletter, our costs are very much lower than under the old paper mail system. Great thanks go to Dr. Jenny Kaupp and the design services of Charlie Kaupp and Carol Leyba for creating the infrastructure that has already increased efficiency and will continue to lower the cost of running our organization. This infrastructure also allows us to bring new capabilities to meet the emerging needs of our membership. During the last two months we have held some fabulous workshops: one on September 19th titled “The Embodied Mind: Trauma, Attachment, & Psychotherapy” by Dr. Helen Resneck-Sannes, and another on October 17th, with Dr. Shane Hill presenting “Working with Transgender Clients.” The good news is that the people who attended thought the workshops were very valuable. The bad news is that we continue to lose money on the workshops no matter how much advertising we put out. I want to thank Dr. Art Anton for his amazing behind-the-scenes work as our program chairman and for his generosity in taking on some of MBPA’s cost. We also issued the 2008- 2010 MBPA directories, and thanks to all the members who paid for them. Drs. Jon Givertz, Diane Bridgeman, Cheryl Bowers, and I have distributed many of the directories to target community sites. As you may know, the introduction to the Directory includes information about how to use our “Find a Therapist” function on our website (www.mbpsych.org). Hopefully this information will transition the community to our website for referral information in the future. I want to congratulate the Social Forum Committee co-chairs, Dr. Jenny Kaupp and Dr. Jon Givertz, for the efforts in coordinating efforts between our chapter and APA regarding the psychologist’ participation interrogations. The BOD also supports Dr. Steven Reisner (a main proponent of getting APA to change its position) for APA president. Please vote! At our October 10th BOD meeting we made an important decision concerning membership dues. First, we unanimously voted to raise full membership dues to $85.00 and associate’s dues to $50.00. This increase is necessary for several reasons: (1) dues have not been raised for over 6 years; (2) our dues are lower than any other California chapter; and (3) the ability to make money from training is no longer possible. Several of the BOD members are putting the final touches on a Paypal system to allow members to pay renewal dues online. Expect to receive an email notification soon about our new renewal process. In addition, the BOD decided to have a New Year’s open house on January 17, 2009, tentatively set to be held at Dr. Jenny Kaupp’s home in Ben Lomond. This party will replace our usual holiday party. One of the events at the open house will be a raffle drawing for a free MBPA membership In conclusion, I am hoping – in our new atmosphere of “making change” not only in our government but in ourselves – that more of you will step forward and become involved with our organization. MBPA critically needs new people to step up and chair some of our committees (e.g., ethics, program) and to take leadership positions. The most wonderful part of “stepping up” is working with some fabulous, dedicated psychologists who are interested in creating a community in which psychologists can thrive. I’ve enjoyed being your president! Thanks! Junell Silver, Ph.D. |
November 2008 EDITOR'S NOTE
By Jennifer Kaupp, Ph.D.
Editor, The Monterey Bay Psychologist
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Hello all –
Change is in the air! On this beautiful fall day nearly two weeks after the momentous election of Barack Obama, I join a world filled with optimism and hope. George W. Bush’s legacy – an astronomically expensive and illegal war, financial collapse, destruction of the Constitution and disregard for international law, indifference to the wishes of Americans, disrespect for Congress, sheer obstinacy, duplicity, outrageous entitlement, ongoing executive misbehavior and lack of accountability – nearly ruined the country. Now, America can finally begin the process of healing. To be honest, I anticipated another election stolen by the disingenuous Republican machine, emboldened by an administration fouled by corruption, fraud, and hypocrisy. But the campaign, though anxiety-provoking, was enormously entertaining. Witness the stunning transformation of the swaggering cowboy into a pitbull with lipstick. The old tried and true tactics – false allegations of palling around with terrorists, tax and spend, Socialism, elitism. Oh my! Personally, I want an elite President. And isn’t reading Marx a bit elitist? As Obama countered every lie, every allegation with the facts, he became more and more presidential. Over and over again, calmly and respectfully, he repeated the truth. Despite the considerable efforts of the RNC, the country didn’t buy into the negativity this time. Americans are tired of being lied to, frightened and bullied into submission, and this time, a large majority – a mandate – regained their critical thinking skills and elected the smart, educated, thoughtful, empathic, and humble candidate. We have a long way to go. If I’m still a bit idealistic, it’s because I don’t want the feeling to end just yet. Obama will inherit a failing economy, broken schools, a healthcare crisis, wars on two fronts, the CIA, the likes of Blackwater and Halliburton, the felonies of his predecessor, and death threats. There are reports of actual death threats against the President-Elect and his family. Echoes of ugly, malignant racism – second graders singing about assassination, college students writing racist graffiti, burning crosses, hatred. How can this be? I think about the night Obama won the election, beginning with the jubilant shouts of UCSC students at the news of victory, the celebration in the streets as I drove home (I honked my horn!), and sharing tears of joy with Ray and our dog as we watched Obama’s gracious acceptance speech. I think about the tears streaming down Jesse Jackson’s face – he’s worked all his life for equality and justice for African Americans. I think about all of the beautiful faces in the crowd in Chicago – this is the America I know, this is the America I love. I trust that Obama will steer the country back to the basic moral and ethical beliefs of the Founding Fathers. Yes, the healing has begun. In other news of change – so much good news – APA President Alan Kazdin has finally, unequivocally, denounced psychologists’ role in torture. You can read Kazdin’s letter to G. Bush in this issue, along with some of the hopes and reservations associated with the Referendum’s implementation. MBPA has endorsed Dr. Steven Reisner for APA President – he has been a dedicated and passionate voice against psychology’s involvement in military interrogations (click here to read that announcement). But there’s more. This issue is packed with news and information, from informative articles by Drs. Myrna Glick (see the Forensics report), Cheryl Bowers (see the Government Affairs report), and Max Camarillo (see the Diversity Committee report), to in-depth articles on psychology and torture in the Social Issues Forum section. Two art shows are not to be missed. Our own Dr. Rick Alloy is showing his gorgeous photographs at Lulu Carpenter’s in the Octagon Building of Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History. We have a real artist in our midst. And one of Ray’s Cabrillo College students, Jeremiah Ridgeway, an Afghanistan War veteran, is displaying photos from his tour of duty at The Tannery Gallery. These dramatic and beautiful photos are a poignant expression of the humanity and destruction of war. I encourage you to have a look at:
http://www.lightstalkers.org/galleries/slideshow/11755. Finally, I’d like to use this space to thank Drs. Tom Butz, Junell Silver, and Michele DeAntoni for sharing their time and expertise with my UCSC students. The students appreciate hearing about the profession from practicing psychologists, and your talks enrich their education. Have a Happy Thanksgiving. Take care,
Jenny |
November 2008 Minutes / Highlights from October 10, 2008,
Board of Directors Meeting Cheryl Jacques, Psy.D.
MBPA Secretary
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831-768-7681 Members Present: Junell Silver (President), Jenny Kaupp (Past President), Andy Carman (Treasurer), Cheryl Jacques (Secretary), Cheryl Bowers (Government Affairs), Michele DeAntoni (Prescription Privileges), Diane Bridgeman (Disaster Response Co-chair & Public Service), and Jon Girvetz (Social Forums Co-chair)
MINUTES of 7/18/08 were approved. OLD BUSINESS: MBPA dues will increase to $85/year for full member psychologists and $50/year for associate members. Effective now. The end date for renewal will be the New Year’s party on January 17, 2009. NEW BUSINESS: Cheryl Bowers reported that other chapters have taken a no position on Prop 8. Discussion ensued whether or not chapters can make endorsements regarding candidates and propositions. Andy Carman mentioned that we could host a dialogue regarding issues that we consider important, such as Prop 8. Diane Bridgeman mentioned that mental health issues are significant in people who have been stigmatized. John Girvetz mentioned that the Issues Forum could take up this matter soon. I&R REPORT: By letter, Pam Kangas recommended a procedural change to appoint the I & R committee chair and officers each January. Jon Girvetz proposed that the I&R might negotiate with insurance companies regarding fees, will research this issue, check with CPA’s Chuck Faltz, and report back at the MBPA planning meeting in December. DIRECTORY: Junell [Silver], Jon [Girvetz], Diane [Bridgeman] and Cheryl [Bowers] have distributed directories to many sources in the community. Thank you. TREASURER’S REPORT: Andy Carman provided the Board with a statement of the current balance and expenses, not counting the next workshop or incoming dues before 1/1/09. NEWSLETTER and TECHNOLOGY: Jenny Kaupp reported that the newsletter is now on line. The Board discussed guidelines and a new fee structure for advertisements in the newsletter, as well as a members’ only classified ad section on the MBPA website at www.mbpsych.org. A classified section may be redundant, and we will discuss this at our planning meeting. The board decided to make the online newsletter accessible to the public, rather than a ‘members’ only’ item. The upcoming newsletter will be emailed and appear online. WINTER PARTY: The MBPA holiday Party, traditionally held in December, has been moved to January 17, 2009 – a celebration of the New Year. The location is tentative. A raffle for a free MBPA membership will be held. CEU REPORT: By letter, Jim Beckett stated that the upcoming workshop with Shane Hill is expected to go well, though MBPA workshops continue to lose money. The Board is interested in a committee to help with workshops. PRESIDENT-ELECT REPORT: By letter, Jim Beckett proposed that the Board yearly planning meeting take place on Friday December 5, 2008, from 10 AM to 2 PM at Junell Silver’s home. The Board agreed with Jim that this event is important for reflection and planning for the upcoming year. Jim asks for assistance in finding a president-elect, who likely will come from either past officers or Board members. Discussed the possibility of a shared Presidency. CPA BOARD: Junell Silver proposed an alternate for the CPA Representative position on the next ballot. Cheryl Bowers is interested in this role.
GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS: Cheryl Bowers – parity bill has passed but was vetoed by Governor Schwarzenegger. MEMBERSHIP: MBPA membership renewals are going out soon. The committee is working on getting Paypal up and running so that members can renew and pay dues on line. SOCIAL ISSUES FORUM: Jon Girvetz shared a letter from APA to President Bush that denounces participation in torture by any psychologist (see p. xxx). RX PRIVILEGES: Michele DeAntoni noted that 13 preceptorships in psychopharmacology are assigned, supervised by psychologists who are already authorized to prescribe. We are in support of the proposed scope of practice regulations in licensed California health facilities related to psychologists' practice. To read a sample letter, go to this web sight below and click to view: http://www.cpapsych.org/displaycommon.cfm?an=1&subarticlenbr=202. DISASTER RESPONSE: Diane Bridgeman reports that her committee has been busy this summer with the three local fires, then with sending out, training and follow up with volunteers returning from disaster mental health assignments in the Gulf States. The combined ARC Disaster Mental Health Committee composed of MBPA Disaster Response, County Mental Health, and CAMFT members recently attended her training on Foundations of Disaster Mental Health. Now more local DMH professionals are available both locally and nationally, though more volunteers are needed for the Gulf Area disasters. Contact Diane if you are interested and available. PUBLIC SERVICE/EDUCATION/OUTREACH: Diane Bridgeman and her volunteers continue to offer pro bono presentations to local community organizations. Please let her know if you are interested, or available, to make a presentation. The committee is also looking for volunteers to offer time-limited pro bono counseling. If interested, please contact Anita Whalen at (831) 539-3192. Motions approved and carried:
1) July minutes approved.
2) Dues increase to $85 for psychologists, and $50 for associate members, effective now.
3) The Board has approved a “no” vote on Prop 8. The next Board meeting is 12/5/08, the yearly planning meeting. Respectfully submitted, Cheryl Jacques, Psy.D. |
November 2008 MBPA PRESIDENT-ELECT'S MESSAGE By N. James Beckett, Ph.D.
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As I compose this report from the President-Elect, there are less than 48 hours until we all know whether it's McCain or Obama. What we all know is that our nation faces tremendous challenges. We've yet to discover how devastating the recent financial disasters will be. We will conduct our professional lives in this context. Our patients will be struggling with these realities. Our accustomed sources of income (e.g. insurance companies and the U.S. Treasury) may be compromised, affecting compensation for services. I've recently been cut back by 5% on what was already a very reduced rate in my work with veterans of war. I expect more of the same. I anticipate that we will all discover more profound meanings in the remarkable coincidence that, in both the case of psychology and economics, the word expressing the extreme negative state is "Depression." "Panic" is another word we may develop more respect for. Hopefully we will find the opportunity in the present crisis. Hopefully we will discover within our MBPA community resources for community that will be a comfort. It is my hope as your new President to facilitate this process. One resource we might want to further develop is CLASP. We might envision CLASP as not only a resource in times of personal/professional crisis, but also as an ongoing opportunity to maintain mental health and obtain support before major crises arise. The MBPA Board of Directors will be meeting on 12/5 to consider our agenda for next year. I encourage anyone who has a strong feeling about this agenda to e-mail me with your ideas/concerns at
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. |
November 2008 CPA BOARD OF DIRECTORS COMMITTEE REPORT By Jennifer Garbarino, Ph.D.
CPA Board Representative
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This quarter, your CPA Board has been continuing to work on your behalf. Highlights include: - We have the convention section for the website almost ready to go.
- We are preparing the paper invoices for membership renewal. CPA dues for 2009 have been raised to $310. This amount is in the range of dues for other large state associations. The rationale for this decision is primarily to avoid a 10% staff reduction, which amounts to 2.5 staff members. Further, other cuts have already been made, and so the decision to raise dues, which would lessen the impact on staff reductions, was necessary.
- We have determined that online renewals save us a great deal of staff time, so please consider (once you receive your invoice) going to the website and renewing your membership online. You can now pay your dues, renew your Division membership, and contribute to the PAC and the Foundation in one transaction.
- CPA and The Trust have entered into a collaborative partnership that will benefit CPA members and CPA as a whole. If you are a CPA member and not an APA member, for example, and decide to get your Liability Insurance from The Trust, you will receive a check that will pay your first year of APA dues. Likewise, psychologists who are APA and not CPA members will receive the same benefit—they will receive a check to offset most of the first year of CPA membership.
- Dr. Penman, who is transitioning into the CPA Presidency, and Dr. Janet Hurwich (who will be President-Elect in 2009) will be part of the final Executive Committee meeting of the year. Dr. Kamena has been to our office here in Sacramento to meet with me and go over financial information, and will visit us again in November. This makes for a seamless shift to our new leadership for 2009.
- As you know, we joined APA this previous spring in an amicus brief that was submitted to the California Supreme Court on the gay marriage case. That brief was the only one cited by the Court in their decision. Proposition 8 would overturn the decision, and so CPA is being consistent in opposing the proposition.
- I’m happy to say that we have officially launched our new online Career Center. This online career center offers anyone seeking a job the opportunity to search job postings at no cost, and to post a resume at no cost. Employers can advertise positions and reach a large audience of qualified applicants. CPA members can advertise job openings at a discounted fee, so please take advantage of this and let your institutions or agencies know about this service. CPA is part of a psychology network that includes APA and several other large psychological associations, and the number of participating associations will continue to grow. This is a non-dues revenue opportunity for CPA—we get part of the fees paid by employers to advertise. Take a look…you will see jobs posted from across the US and even internationally! Check it out at http://careers.cpapsych.org.
- We are also working toward a collaborative agreement between CPA and CSPP for what will be a new Online CE portfolio that will include some excellent online courses offered at a special discount for CPA members.
- Dr. Gilbert Newman and Dr. Jo Linder Crow had a very good meeting with several representatives from the California Primary Care Association to discuss potential collaborations between their organization and CPA related to the integration of psychologists into primary care settings. This complements efforts at the national level to encourage new practice areas for psychologists. There will be a continued effort in this area.
- We are working on the scheduling for the 2009 convention. If you submitted a proposal, you will be hearing from the convention committee shortly. We had a record number of proposals (143) this year, so the competition was tough. It’s a good problem to have, but it makes the decision-making difficult. We’re also working on the convention website. Registration will be “live” on November 1st.
As you can see, there is much activity happening with our CPA Board and Representatives to provide support and advocacy for our field. These are difficult and exciting times of change, which bring with them opportunities and challenges. Let's all move forward with positive attitudes and flexibility. Jennifer Garbarino, Ph.D.
CPA Board Representative |
November 2008 MBPA DISASTER RESPONSE COMMITTEE REPORT Submitted by Diane Bridgeman, Ph.D.
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The Disaster Response Committee has been busy consistently, first this summer with the three local fires and then with sending out, training and following-up with post-assignment check-ins with those volunteers returning from disaster mental health assignments in the Gulf States. I recently conducted a workshop on Foundations of Disaster Mental Health for the combined ARC Disaster Mental Health Committee members, composed of MBPA Disaster Response Committee, County Mental Health, and CAMFT. Now more more local DMH professionals are available to work disasters, both locally and nationally. More people continue to be needed to go to the Gulf area, so contact Diane for details if you are interested and available. Thank you. Diane Bridgeman, Ph.D.
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831-420-1109 Rick Allen, Ph.D.
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Co-chairs, Disaster Response Committee |
November 2008 DIVERSITY COMMITTEE REPORT Submitted by Dr. Max Camarillo
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831-429-5826 How many of us know much about the "other psychological associations"?-- I'm referring to the psychological associations of people of color. The only two I'm fairly familiar with are the National Latino Psychological Association and the California Latino Psychological Association, since I am a member of both. I had never, however, looked at the websites of the Association of Black Psychologists, Asian American Psychological Association, nor did I even know if there was a psychological association for Native or American Indians. It was interesting and informative to peruse the websites of the associations I knew very little about. I recommend that we all leave our familiar or comfort zone frames of references by informing ourselves of the diverse perspectives represented by the psychological associations listed below. The Asian American Psychological Association http://www.aapaonline.org/index.shtml The Association of Black Psychologists http://www.abpsi.org/index.htm The National Latino Psychological Association http://www.nlpa.ws/ The California Latino Psychological Association http://www.latinopsych.org/ The Society of Indian Psychologists http://www.geocities.com/indianpsych/
Maximiliano Camarillo, Ph.D.
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831-429-5826 Art Anton, Ph.D.
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Co-Chairs, Diversity Committee |
November 2008 FORENSICS COMMITTEE REPORT Myrna J. Glick, Ph.D.
Forensic Chair
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Are those of us who are interested in forensic psychology just a trifle twisted? Whatever. In doing the research for this article, I was intrigued by a term that was new to me: “Red Collar Crime.” Red Collar Crime refers to white-collar crime that results in injury or death (www.corporatecrimereporter.com/redcollarcrime080306.htm). It covers a broad range of potentially criminal acts, such as the failure of a tunnel contractor in Boston to heed warnings that the bolts supporting heavy concrete panels were not up to the job. The panels later collapsed on a passing car, resulting in the death of a woman. Perhaps inappropriately, the term has even been applied to violent interactions between countries. It is an attention-getter.
In a context more directly related to clinical psychology, the Fall 2008 issue of the Forensic Examiner explores the concept as it applies to parricide, or the murder of one or more close family members. The authors specifically relate the term to situations were homicide is triggered in an attempt to avoid the exposure of criminally fraudulent behavior (see Perri, Frank S., Lichtenwald, Terrance G., and MacKenzie, Paula, “The Lull Before the Storm: Adult Children Who Kill Their Parents,” pp. 40-54). The “lull” alludes to a period immediately after the threat of disclosure when the perpetrator reduces characteristically anti-social behavior in order to plan a violent way out. In 2004, Christopher Porco murdered his father with an ax and savagely attacked his mother. She survived, but was disfigured. The elder Porcos had threatened to report their son’s activities to the authorities. Porco had fraudulently obtained loans and sold goods on eBay that were not his, and then failed to deliver. Despite the ferocity of the attack, his mother later recanted her charges against Christopher and pled for his freedom. Such is the power of motherly love. In another horrible example of parricide committed by a psychopath, in February 2008 Eric Hanson was found guilty and sentenced to death for murdering his mother, father, sister and brother-in-law. The killings occurred following Hanson’s mother’s threat to report him for various forms of theft and fraud. Hanson stole $150,000 from his parents through systematic forgery, mail fraud, credit card manipulation and identity theft. At first, his mother was furious. After threatening him, she then attempted to raise money in order to save the family reputation. Perhaps Eric was not grateful. As they slept, he shot his father in the back of his head and his mother in the face. Then he carried the bodies to his sister’s home, where he had already killed her and her husband. He committed the quadruple murders execution style, and continued to use his parents’ credit cards after their death. Some parricides are committed by children who are mentally ill, or abused. In these cases, the perpetrators presented as psychopathic. The authors conclude, “the quality of the family unit has no effect on the emergence of criminality in psychopaths.” These murders were not attributable to a history of abuse or mental illness. We may find them especially difficult to contemplate because such behavior is so abhorrent to our societal values. The authors recommend that parents of seriously antisocial children begin by first acknowledging that the child does possess psychopathic personality traits and is indeed dangerous. (Probably easier said than done.) On a practical level, the authors recommend firm steps to secure important data such as computer codes. The family should not give the child in question a key to their home and should install an electronic security system. Even with these protections in place, communication between the family and adult child must be handled with extreme care. In many cases, mental health personnel may not be involved. Those who are should carefully document the antisocial behavior, drives, and desires of the potential perpetrator. The clinician also needs to assess his or her personal understanding that such individuals are capable of killing. Finally, fraud against parents and violent threats should be considered as significant risk factors, leading perhaps to psychological evaluation. For example, Eric Hanson had threatened to kill his sister if she disclosed his fraud to their parents. Following the murder in 1968 of Tatiana Tarasoff, the California Supreme Court mandated that when a patient threatens violence against an identifiable victim, the clinician has a responsibility to evaluate that patient’s risk potential and to take appropriate action to protect others from danger. The potential victim must be warned as well as the police. In 2004, the Court expanded the definition of Civil Code S43.92 to include “family members as persons covered within the statute who, upon communication to a therapist of a serious threat of physical violence against a reasonably identifiable victim, would trigger a duty to warn.” However, this decision does not extend beyond family members (http://www.zurinstitute.com/tarasoff.html, 10/24/2008). Ofer Zur, Ph.D. recommends that the psychotherapist in such a situation consult with a legal expert and document the clinical-ethical-legal decision-making. He further suggests that California psychotherapists add the following to their Office Policies and Informed Consent statement: “Some of the circumstances where disclosure is required by the law are: where there is a reasonable suspicion of child, dependent or elder abuse or neglect; where a client presents a danger to self, to others, to property, or is gravely disabled…” At Dr. Zur’s website, those interested can be added to his e-mail list for regular updates as the law changes. I personally recommend that the clinician follow up personally to be sure that his or her warning is appropriately heeded. Many years ago, a client of mine, the mother of a large family of adopted children, threatened to carry a gun to the trial of her oldest son, a seriously disturbed teenager. Her stated intention was to shoot him in the courtroom. I offered to go with her on the condition that she not attempt to bring a gun into juvenile court, and also gave personal warning to the judge. Unfortunately, the judge seemed to have confused the case. He stated that he intended to send the boy home to his family, where he had repeatedly raped younger siblings. Fortunately, the mother and I rose to our feet to object, and he reversed his decision. Myrna J. Glick, Ph.D.
Chair, Forensic Committee
Psychopathic Personality Traits, as defined by Robert Hare, Ph.D. (1991) Interpersonal - Superficial charm
- Grandiosity
- Lying
- Conning and Manipulation
Affective - Remorselessness
- Shallow affect
- Callousness
- Failure to accept responsibility
Lifestyle - Impulsivity
- Seeking of stimulation
- Irresponsibility
- Parasite lifestyle
- Lack of realistic goals
Anti-Social - Poor behavior controls
- Delinquency
- Criminal versatility
- Early behavioral problems
Myrna J. Glick, Ph.D.
Chair, Forensic Committee |
November 2008 GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS COMMITTEE REPORT By Cheryl Bowers, Ph.D.
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831-430-0100 The biggest news for mental health is that Full Mental Health Parity has finally become a federal law after more than a decade of work to end insurance discrimination against Americans with mental illnesses and substance use disorders. This is very good news, and we have many thanks to offer for all of those who have worked tirelessly on this very important milestone in the field of mental health service provision. This law will have a beneficial impact on over 113 million Americans -- requiring full parity coverage with physical health benefits. This means that there is finally a glimmer of recognition that physical health and well-being are clearly and firmly tied and associated with mental health. By wiping away restrictions on access to mental health, it will be easier for people to obtain treatment for a wide range of conditions, including depression, autism, schizophrenia, eating disorders, and alcohol and drug abuse. We will now wait to see how this will affect the billing practice of psychology. It will be important for everyone to follow this law closely as it is put into practice. Another important piece of news: Governor Schwartzenegger recently vetoed a record number of bills, citing the time spent on the budget negotiations as the reason for having no time to review any of these bills. Sadly for mental health, a large number of these 415 bills were related to health care, including the California state version of mental health parity. For those following legislative action in Sacramento, the insurance companies were often opposed to the legislative initiatives, and a veto is a feather in the cap of the insurance industry. In the recent election, California (as a leader in many national issues) has voted not to recognize the civil right of same-sex marriage, despite the juxtaposition to our state constitution. MBPA and other chapters joined CPA to oppose Proposition 8, but our voices were overwhelmed and outspent. This clearly remains a serious concern for all mental health practitioners. On the bright side, the Board of Psychology tenure has been extended until January 1, 2011. This Board is critical to our status as professionals distinct from other professions, so this is not to be taken lightly and should be on the mind of every psychologist as we inch toward 2011. The Lowenthal Bill (SB 1533), signed by the Governor, mandates that health care plans have useful information on the websites. Sad to note, but this had to be legislated rather then being an automatic best practice of the industry of health care insurance provision. The upcoming issue of importance is the continuing effort in protecting psychologists’ legal ability to deliver services in health facilities. CPA is working hard (and you ARE sending in those letters and making phone calls to legislators) to bar psychiatrists from limiting psychologists’ services. For a complete listing of every bill CPA has a position on, visit the CPA website, www.cpapsych.org. Please stay involved in the legislative process. Your votes, phone calls, emails, letters, and direct contacts with our state and federal legislators really and truly do make a difference. Respectfully submitted, Cheryl Bowers, Ph.D.
Government Affairs Representative, MBPA |
November 2008 MBPA PUBLIC SERVICE/OUTREACH/EDUCATION COMMITTEE REPORT Diane Bridgeman, Ph.D.
Chair, Public Service/Outreach/Education Committee
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831-420-1109 We continue to offer pro bono presentations to local community organizations. Please let me know if you are interested, or available, to make a presentation. We also offer time-limited pro bono counseling. If you are available to occasionally offer such services, do let us know. You can contact MBPA member Anita Whalen at (831) 539-3192. Diane Bridgeman
Chair, Public Service/Outreach/Education Committee |
November 2008 MBPA/PSI CHI REPRESENTATIVE REPORT
Hi, my name is Kera Conforti and I am pleased to be the new MBPA/Psi Chi representative from UCSC! Psi Chi is an academic honor society for psychology undergraduates. I’m very excited to meet and work with such a professional and esteemed group of psychologists, and know my colleagues and I are eager to learn from your experiences. Last year, Psi Chi hosted a panel for UCSC psychology students – several MBPA members generously agreed to discuss their work and some of the different career options available to psychologists. Everyone agreed that it was a grand success. I am organizing this year’s panel, and I am hoping to replicate (and possibly increase) that success. Although the focus of this panel has not yet been decided, I will be looking to recruit a diverse population from the professional field of psychology as panelists. We have tentatively planned the panel for UCSC’s winter quarter 2009, which goes from January to March. I would greatly appreciate MBPA members’ input and participation in this event. As some of you may know, our old Psi Chi representative, Samuel Jain, has been elected president of Psi Chi, and he has given our club a new face! Along with many changes in the structure and atmosphere of the club, we also have several new goals for this year: First, Psi Chi wants to create a community of high achieving psychology majors; second, we aim to improve the learning experience of both Psi Chi members and UCSC psychology majors; and finally, we aspire to help the larger Santa Cruz community. These goals are all important, and I believe that our MBPA panel is in sync with goal two. Thank you all so much for your interest in helping UCSC’s psychology undergraduates. I believe your knowledge is invaluable to UCSC students, as you provide an important resource from the larger psychology community. I look forward to meeting you! Kera Conforti
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November 2008 SOCIAL ISSUES FORUM Jennifer Kaupp, Ph.D.
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Jon Girvetz, Ph.D.
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Co-chairs, Social Issues Forum Committee
Psychology’s Role in Torture
Comment by APA President Alan Kazdin Dear Friends and Colleagues, Last week was an important one for the Association. During the week we learned the results of a significant petition calling for a new APA policy pertaining to psychologists’ work in settings were people are detained. As you know, by a vote of 8,792 to 6,157, the membership has now adopted as APA policy a resolution prohibiting psychologists from working in detainee settings in which International Law or the U.S. Constitution are violated, unless the psychologists are working directly for the persons being detained or for an independent third party working to protect human rights. Over the past five months, the Board of Directors took a number of steps to ensure fairness in the petition process including using an outside vendor to count and verify all votes to ensure neutrality. I am proud of the process we have undertaken. I believe it has been a healthy one for the association. Our predecessors in APA governance created the APA Bylaws and Rules to guide the association through such processes. These rules and bylaws create a mechanism by which the members have a direct voice in the association’s decision making; they also codify specific roles for the Board of Directors and the Council of Representatives in the process. Our members have spoken. As the Council of Representatives, our mandate is to embrace the will of the membership and to ensure that the intent and scope of the resolution are clear and fully communicated. Many of you are now asking about next steps. As was noted in earlier communications, according to the association’s bylaws and rules, the resolution will become effective as official policy as of our next annual meeting—August 2009. Judging from discussions on the Council Listserv and conversations I have had with members at governance meetings this weekend, there is some sentiment to make the policy effective sooner than August. There are also questions about the meaning of the resolution. Members want to know what it means for them personally; what it means in their work setting. We now need to move expeditiously toward answering these questions and to put in place processes for implementing this new policy. Toward that end, and in the next few days, I will be asking for volunteers to be part of an advisory group on the resolution implementation. This advisory group will include two members of the Board of Directors and six members of Council. I believe six Council members will allow me to appoint people to the group who represent the broad range of constituent groups with concerns and questions. I also plan on inviting Dan Aalbers to be a member of this group. Mr. Aalbers was the original sponsor of the petition. The charge to this advisory group will be to: - Determine what issues need clarification concerning the resolution; including its intent and scope;
- Identify and think through possible actions which would provide such clarifications for Council to review and consider at its February 2009 meeting; and
- Identify other possible Council actions to implement the resolution, including any new business items, for Council’s review and consideration in February.
Thank you all for your help and participation and for taking the time to read this. Best wishes, Alan Alan E. Kazdin, Ph.D., ABPP
President, American Psychological Association
John M. Musser Professor of Psychology and Child Psychiatry
Department of Psychology
Yale University
PO Box 208205
New Haven, CT 06520-8205
Tel: 203-432-9993; Fax: 203-432-4525 www.yale.edu/psychology/FacInfo/Kazdin.html
www.yale.edu/childconductclinic
www.alankazdin.com
www.apa.org/about/president
SEPTEMBER 2008: “By a vote of 8,792 to 6,157, the membership has now adopted as APA policy a resolution prohibiting psychologists from working in detainee settings in which International Law or the U.S. Constitution are violated, unless the psychologists are working directly for the persons being detained or for an independent third party working to protect human rights.” Alan E. Kazdin, Ph.D., ABPP
President, American Psychological Association What is Happening to Psychology? by Jennifer Kaupp, Ph.D.
Edited and updated, originally published July 2007, Monterey Bay Psychologist Psychology, Department of Defense, and the CIA: An Unethical Alliance A declassified report (May 2007) by the Department of Defense Office of the Inspector General (OIG) has exposed the long-standing role of psychologists as consultants, instructors, and participants in “enhanced” interrogations of “enemy combatants” at Guantanamo, Afghanistan, Iraq, and other offshore military prisons. Immediately following earlier reports that medical personnel, including psychologists, were routinely involved in harsh military interrogations and on rendition teams (e.g., The New Yorker, February, November 2005; Democracy Now! 2005-2006; New York Times, June 2006; Los Angeles Times, June 2006; Washington Post, July 2006), the American Psychiatric Association and American Medical Association vociferously condemned the practice as unethical and publicly distanced themselves. Conversely, APA Ethics Director Dr. Stephen Behnke invoked psychology’s ethical responsibility to society in the war on terror (New York Times, June 2006; Democracy Now! August 2005). The Monterey Bay Psychological Association (MBPA) began writing letters, and in 2006 took a public position criticizing the APA leadership for their failure to categorically denounce the use of psychologists or psychological principles in this manner as unethical and amoral. Concerned psychologists from APA Divisions 9, 35, 39, 42, and 48 drafted an APA Moratorium Resolution specifically condemning “psychologist involvement, either direct or indirect, in any interrogations at U.S. detention centers for foreign detainees… or individuals identified as ‘enemy combatants” (Altman, Division 39, Council of Representatives, p. 2).1 Evidence that some psychologists, in association with the military and CIA, participated in harsh interrogations and extraordinary renditions as training members of Behavioral Science Consultation Teams (BSCT or the cleverly named ‘biscuit’ teams) turned up in the popular press (e.g., Vanity Fair, July 2007; The Charleston Gazette, July 7, 2007). Furthermore, serious flaws in the PENS Task Force Report gained media attention (e.g., Goodman, Democracy Now! June 2007; Goodman, Santa Cruz Sentinel, July 9, 2007). Here is some background information. SERE (Survival, Evasion, Resistance, Escape) Following the attacks of 9/11, president Bush ordered the military and the CIA to find the terrorists using any and all means necessary. A military program called SERE (Survival, Evasion, Resistance, Escape), developed after the Korean War to train American soldiers to resist harsh interrogations and torture in the event of capture by the enemy, was reverse engineered for use against ‘unlawful combatants.’ The ‘Unlawful Combatant’ designation denies these detainees the protections afforded ‘Prisoners of War’ by the Geneva Conventions (OIG, 2007; Mayer, 2005). Techniques such as sensory deprivation or overload, sleep deprivation, prolonged isolation, religious and sexual humiliation, forced nudity, use of stress positions, exposure to extremes of heat and cold, exploitation of individual phobias (e.g., dogs), and waterboarding (simulated drowning), have been routinely used in the service of “the War on Terror.” Such practices, inherently unjust and immoral for most, became a national disgrace with the publication of the shocking photos of detainees at Abu Ghraib Prison. The PENS Task Force Report In the midst of earlier evidence (e.g., The New Yorker, 2005) of mental health professionals’ use of these torture techniques on prisoners at Guantanamo, the APA convened the Presidential Task Force on Psychological Ethics and National Security (PENS Task Force) in 2005. As reported by Chair Olivia Moorehead-Slaughter (2006, April), the PENS report was grounded in APA Ethical Principle A, "Do No Harm," and Ethical Principle B, which speaks to psychologists' ethical responsibilities to society. The Task Force established that “Psychologists do not engage in, direct, support, facilitate or offer training in torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment.” However, many psychologists believed that the PENS Report didn’t go far enough in unequivocally separating the profession from the unethical interrogation practices promoted by the Bush administration and the CIA. In fact, the APA continued to assert “psychologists have a critical role in keeping interrogations safe, legal, ethical, and effective” (e.g., APA, 2004; Soldz, Reisner, & Olson, 2007). The PENS Task Force Report soon came under public fire. Amy Goodman interviewed three PENS Task Force members who condemned the Report, in part because the Task Force was stacked with military psychologists (Democracy Now!, June 1, 2007). An accompanying article ran in the Santa Cruz Sentinel, criticizing the profession for being complicit in this shameful business. Fortunately, we were able to voice our own outrage with an op-ed version of the MBPA Position paper, written by Jon Girvetz, Diane Bridgeman, Meg Sandow, Junell Silver, and myself (Santa Cruz Sentinel, June 17, 2007). Then, on July 24, 2007, the APA Board released a Resolution (available on the APA website), to be discussed at the August 2007 APA Convention. However, many psychologists believed that the language of this Resolution was once again too vague. Unfortunately, the APA Council rejected the Moratorium on Military Interrogations (www.peacepsych.org, Torture and Terrorism Resources for full text) prohibiting all psychologist involvement, in favor of the more lenient APA Resolution Against Torture (http://www.apa.org). 2 As enhanced interrogations continue, many concerned psychologists have worked tirelessly to end the practice. After a successful petition drive, another Resolution denouncing illegal interrogations was passed by the APA membership. APA President Dr. Alan Kazdin is taking steps to implement the mandate as intended by the membership, including convening an advisory group and writing a letter to President Bush (see p. 1). Dr. Steven Reisner, a leader in this struggle and founder of the Coalition For an Ethical Psychology, is running for APA President on a platform of social justice that prohibits psychologists from participating in torture. Based on the belief that he will implement the Resolution and work for inclusion in the APA Ethics Code, MBPA has endorsed him for APA President-elect. What to Do? There is no place in our profession for torture of any kind for any reason. The members of the APA Presidential Advisory Group on the Implementation of the Petition Resolution must adhere to the APA code of ethics, the U.S. Constitution and international law, and represent all psychologists in restoring the credibility and dignity of the profession. The military and CIA cannot co-opt psychology this time – we will remain vigilant and speak out, once again, if we see any abuse. We still firmly believe that Do No Harm means Do No Harm. 1 To read the full text of the "Call for an APA Moratorium" or the 2006 APA Resolution Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, go to http://www.peacepsych.org, Torture and Terrorism Resources. 2 To read the full text of the APA Board’s Resolution and dissent by Dr. Uwe Jacobs and others go to www.psychoanalystsopposewar.org/blog/ References Altman, N. (2007, January). A moratorium on psychologist involvement in interrogations at US detention centers for foreign detainees. Retrieved from http://psychoanalystsopposewar.org/blog/index.php?s=moratorium&searchbutton=Go%21. Eban, K. (2007, July 17). Rorschach and awe. Vanity Fair. Retrieved from www.vanityfair.com/politics/features/2007/07/torture. Farberman, R. K. (2006). Ethics and national security. Monitor on Psychology. Retrieved from http://www.apa.org/monitor/apr06/security.html. Goodman, A. (2007, June 9). Psychologists have no role in military interrogations, Santa Cruz Sentinel, p. 14. Goodman, A. (2007, June 25). The CIA’s torture teachers: Psychologists helped the CIA exploit a secret military program to develop brutal interrogation tactics. Democracy Now! Retrieved from www.democracynow.org. Goodman, A. (2007, June 1). The Task Force Report should be annulled. Democracy Now! Retrieved from www.democracynow.org. Goodman, A. (2006, June 12). Dr. Robert Jay Lifton: American Psychological Association should “prohibit any involvement” of psychologists in interrogations. Democracy Now! Retrieved from www.democracynow.org. Goodman, A. (2005, August 11). Psychological Warfare? A debate on the role of mental health professionals in military interrogations at Guantanamo, Abu Ghraib and beyond. Democracy Now! Retrieved from www.democracynow.org. Mayer, J. (2005, February 14). Annals of justice: Outsourcing torture. The New Yorker. Retrieved from www.newyorker.com/archive/2--5/02/14/050214fa_fact6 Mayer, J. (2005, November 14). The deadly interrogation: Can the CIA legally kill a prisoner? The New Yorker. Retrieved from www.newyorker.com/archive/2005/11/14/051114fa_fact Moorehead-Slaughter, Olivia. (2006). Ethics and national security. Monitor on Psychology 37/4, 20. Editorial (2007, July 7). Torture: Psychologists involved. Opinion, The Charleston Gazette. Retreived from http://wvgazette.com/section/Opinion/200707064. Soldz, S., Reisner, S., & Olson, B. (2007, June 7). Q & A: How the Pentagon’s Inspector General Report contradicts what the APA has said about the involvement of psychologists in abusive interrogations. Message posted on www.counterpunch.org/apa.
Jennifer Kaupp, Ph.D.
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Co-Chair, Social Issues Forum
Support the Troops By Jennifer Kaupp, Ph.D. This July 2007 article is being re-run, with a few edits, because it is still important. As Americans enthusiastically anticipate the final gasps of the Bush Administration, we also see a country, a world, in disarray. Barack Obama will inherit wars on two fronts, and the needs of thousands of returning veterans with psychosocial and medical problems. Fortunately, there is a renewed hope that the women and men who have given so much to America, to all of us, will get the help and respect they have earned. This article provides historical context of wars past and present, and offers a few ways we can help. The other night we went to see Stephen Stills at the Catalyst. We were in line when an intoxicated and unkempt man walked by, rambling about this and that in the way some street people do. He stopped in front of me, looked me in the eye, and said, “I’ve been on a 38-day bender.” Everyone else in line stepped back and began inspecting their fingernails – I on the other hand, stood there, a deer in the headlights. He talked about nightmares and flashbacks and vodka, so I asked if had been to the VA. In and out of the VA, jail, streets, for 35 years now. He went to Vietnam as a 19-year-old kid, an athlete and “peacenik,” he said. On his first day in-country he was given an M-16 and ordered to shoot into a group of men. He refused – at this point these men were still people and killing was still killing. His commanding officer pulled a gun on him and bellowed, “You will do this, son, or I will shoot you.” He again refused. The commanding officer, gun trained on this adolescent kid, told him, “You are in the Army now, and you will do this to save the lives of your fellow soldiers.” So, he did it. He shot into that crowd of people. Standing there on the sidewalk he reenacted the scene complete with sound effects, the kick of the big gun, and the falling bodies. He then came close and whispered that this is when he was forever changed. This street person, this addict, who makes us all so uncomfortable, gave his life to his country in a dirty war waged by unscrupulous, powerful men, for a purpose he still doesn’t understand. He grieves the loss of his innocence, potential, dignity, his sense of self. And he worries about the young soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. He of all people knows what many of them face. My husband asked if I believed his story – he didn’t. But after working with combat vets at the National Center for PTSD in Menlo Park, I believed his story. I’ve talked to dozens of men who went to Vietnam as idealistic young adults, only to return as developmentally arrested and traumatized men. Many learned to relish the kill after seeing countless friends and comrades blown to bits – their enemy became vermin, any and all humanity lost. So here’s this 55 year old man, broken by PTSD and alcoholism, horrified and burdened with guilt, enraged at a country that treated him as cannon fodder, spat upon by his peers, unsupported and misdiagnosed by the VA, still ignored because he makes us uncomfortable. I suggested he talk with someone at the Veterans Hall about getting help from the VA. He stressed that veterans are the only people he can talk to, then asked, a little defensively, “Who said I need help?” I reminded him that he was on a 38-day bender. “Oh yeah, that,” he laughed, “my girlfriend’s going to kill me if I don’t stop.” I again told him that there is help for him through the VA, wondering if this is really true… As he walked away I thought about the estimated18% of veterans returning from extended tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, broken, addicted, traumatized, depressed, and forever changed because of another dirty war waged by unscrupulous, powerful men. Many brave and patriotic young men and women joined the military after the 9/11 attacks because they wanted to fight for their country. It’s no surprise that the incidence of PTSD, major depression, and generalized anxiety disorder in soldiers returning from Afghanistan is 11.2%, compared to 15-17% diagnosed in soldiers returning from Iraq (New England Journal of Medicine, 2004). But I can only speculate why this discrepancy exists. The Iraq war is not about patriotism or love of country, it’s about… does anybody really know? We were lied to from the beginning – with the spurious 9/11-Iraq connection an enduring propaganda tool. Whatever the motivation for Bush’s destruction of Iraq, and his stubborn insistence on staying there, we must care for the casualties of his war. According to more recent reports, up to two-thirds of soldiers returning from Iraq suffer from posttraumatic stress symptoms (Washington Post, 2006) and 33% disclose substance abuse problems (Military Medicine, 2007). As we know, the onset of PTSD can occur years after the actual traumatic event, so these numbers may be low. The Bush administration unjustly labeled war resisters as unpatriotic and unsupportive of the troops, yet continues to fail them. Support the troops is but a slogan in an administration that has cut the pay of active duty personnel, squeezed millions out of the VA budget, sent emotionally disturbed soldiers back into battle. Support the troops. Remember Walter Reed Hospital, where our injured, broken, brain-damaged, blind American heroes, the real patriots, are housed in appalling conditions? When the neglect and criminal disregard for the actual people who comprise ‘the troops’ became public, an embarrassment to the administration, Walter Reed got a coat of paint. Bush turned this into a photo-op – there he was, flanked by WWII veterans and his dwindling supporters, strutting through the shiny lobby, shaking hands with the young, wounded soldiers he sent into battle, never once taking responsibility for this travesty. Instead, the administration leaked another terrorist threat and waited for the next news cycle, dependent, as always, on the short attention span of the American people. It didn’t take long for further injustices to surface. After long waits for treatment, benefits, respect, thousands of our brave soldiers suffering from symptoms of PTSD and closed head injuries were misdiagnosed with personality disorders. A personality disorder is considered a pre-existing condition that exempts people from medical treatment by the VA, disability payments, and in some cases, results in discharge from the military (Army Times, 6/28/07; The Nation, 4/9/07, Salt Lake City Tribune, 1/2/07). After giving so much to country, their leaders turned their backs on them, again. Many people have long-recognized the speciousness of the yellow ribbons and abhor the posturing of the administration. Our veterans deserve better. As psychologists we can support the troops, and maybe prevent the 35-years of despair that has plagued the Vietnam veteran I spoke with downtown. The VA is hiring psychologists, and the people who treat our veterans are smart, well-trained, dedicated, hard-working clinicians. There is now a mandate that veterans of the Afghanistan and Iraq Wars receive assessment, treatment and case management in a timely manner. The VA is overwhelmed, so funds have been made available for private clinicians to provide these services. If you are interested in working with veterans from the Monterey Bay VA extension of the National Center for PTSD, please contact me at
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for more information. However, by some estimates less than half of the soldiers suffering from post-combat symptoms do not seek treatment because of stigma, the long wait, or concern about damaging their military careers (New England Journal of Medicine, 2004). The Red Cross offers pro bono psychotherapy to soldiers and their families (contact Dr. Diane Bridgeman at
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), as does another organization, The Coming Home Project at http://www.cominghomeproject.net. We can make a difference in the lives of the men and women who have bravely and proudly served in the Armed Services. We can thank them by helping them heal their wounds.
Jennifer Kaupp, Ph.D.
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Co-Chair, Social Issues Forum |
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