Fall 2009
MBPA PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
By Jim Beckett, Ph.D.
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
(831) 345-3619
Greetings from your President. Your Board of Directors continues to address various responsibilities with a joyful and cooperative spirit. (Members are encouraged to attend any Board of Directors meeting as an observer/participant). Ongoing concern about psychologists’ involvement in torture while in government service continues to be addressed. Opportunities for continuing education have been created with Drs. Tom Butz and Jon Girvetz having given very successful workshops this year. Many other contributions have been made to the welfare of the greater Santa Cruz community. Also we have completed the 2009 membership campaign very successfully, albeit many members were very slow to renew their memberships.
Meanwhile, we’ve had a very pleasant and active year socially, with a summer party, two book club meetings, a wine tasting party, and an upcoming winter holiday party on December 5.
Best wishes to all members and wishing you an active and meaningful practice of our profession.
Jim Beckett, Ph.D.
|
Fall 2009
EDITOR'S NOTE
By Jennifer Kaupp, Ph.D.
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
(831) 295-2592
Hello,
Happy Holidays. Hasn’t it been a wondrous autumn this year? The seasonal change has lasted longer and been more colorful than I can remember. Everywhere I look there are trees outrageously decked out in reds and pinks, golden yellows, and oranges, beautiful persimmons hanging amongst bare branches, red berries and feasting birds, rose hips, and . . . holiday lights. Oh my.
A glorious autumn is moving into the winter holiday season. It all happens so quickly. MBPA welcomed the season with our annual Holiday Party on December 5th. This year, new board member Dr. Katie Dashtban and her husband hosted the party in their elegant home. We enjoyed beautiful food, fine wines and beers, stimulating conversation, and later, dancing to the Members of Broken English Band. This year the MBPA paid tribute to long-time board member Dr. Art Anton for his dedication and service to the organization. We offered our appreciation to MPBA President Dr. Jim Beckett, and welcomed him as 2010 MBPA President. Thank you Drs. Junell Silver, Katie Dashtban, and everyone who made this party a success.
Read all about what your MBPA Board did last quarter – they have been busy. Thank you, MBPA Board. And thank you, MBPA members, for making this organization special. I look forward to working with you in the coming year.
Jenny |
ANNOUNCEMENT
CPA NEWS
Submitted by Jennifer Kaupp, Ph.D.
The following is an excerpt from an announcement emailed by CPA's Jo Linder Crow. I think it is important:
As you probably know, we (CPA leadership and lobby) battled the Governor and his plan to merge the independent Board of Psychology with the Board of Behavioral Sciences. With your help, we argued that the idea of having an omnibus Board that would probably have only one psychologist is not good policy and doesn't protect consumers. We won, and the Board of Psychology is safe for now. We expect that the idea might come back, so CPA's Advocacy Team will continue to monitor this very carefully and will keep you posted on how you can help. |
MBPA Honors Art Anton, Ph.D.
Submitted by Jennifer Kaupp, Ph.D.
On December 5, 2009, at the annual Holiday Party, Dr. Art Anton was recognized for his service and dedication to Monterey Bay Psychological Association. As Program Committee Chair, Art has unwaveringly, often single-handedly, organized and overseen programs for years.
He is a welcome presence at every workshop, greeting attendees and checking them in, introducing speakers, adjusting the thermostat when the room gets too hot or too cold or too hot again, and keeping a tight schedule throughout. However, you may not know all that he does behind the scenes. Art arranges for speakers, negotiates their fees, obtains the biographical statement and syllabus required for CE units, completes the necessary forms, and then works with CPA to make sure your units are approved by the time you’re sitting in the workshop--all the while arranging for a comfortable venue and good food. Long after everyone has gone home, he catalogues and reports your credits so you don’t have to.
But there’s more. Art not only gives of his time and energy, he quietly pays out of pocket to make these workshops happen. The MBPA Board thought you should know this, and we wanted to pay tribute to Art, so we created
The Art Anton Scholarship for New Psychologists –
In Appreciation of All Your Service & Contributions to Monterey Bay Psychological Association
This perpetual scholarship will cover MBPA membership dues for a newly licensed psychologist every year, starting with 2009.
Thank you, Art Anton, for all that you do for the organization. |
ANNOUNCEMENT
Monterey Bay Psychological Association
Announces a New Ethics Chair
A poll has been conducted among the Board of Directors for the Monterey Bay Psychological Association, and by unanimous acclamation Katie Dashtban has been accepted as our new member and Ethics Chairperson.
THANK YOU, Katie, for offering to join us and serve in this capacity.
--Jim Beckett, Ph.D. |
ANNOUNCEMENT
Mental Health Loan Assumption Program
Submitted by Meg Sandow, Ph.D.
Here is some information that may be useful to some members or people they know. The website is http://www.oshpd.ca.gov/HPEF/MHLAP.html.
Mental Health Loan Assumption Program: The MHLAP was created by the Mental Health Services Act (Act), passed by California voters in November 2004. The Act provided funding to develop a loan forgiveness program in order to retain qualified mental health professionals working within the Public Mental Health System (PMHS). Through the Workforce, Education and Training component of the Act, $2.5 million is allocated yearly to loan repayment awards. As determined by the California Department of Mental Health, these funds are further allocated specifically to each County, as defined in the following link: County Allocations.
Please note: The County Employment Verification Form must be postmarked by December 10, 2009 and signed by both your direct supervisor as well as your County's Mental Health Director, in order to verify employment in a hard to fill or hard to retain position in the Public Mental Health System. A complete list of Directors can be found at http://www.dmh.ca.gov/docs/CMHDA.pdf. If you have any questions about where to send the County Employment Verification Form, please contact
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Who may apply?
Registered or Licensed Psychologists, Registered or Licensed Psychiatrists, Postdoctoral Psychological Assistants, Postdoctoral Psychological Trainees, Registered or Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists, Registered or Licensed Clinical Social Workers, and Registered or Licensed Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioners in California.
An award recipient may receive up to $10,000 to repay educational loans over a one-year period. An awardee commits to providing direct care in a hard-to-fill or -retain position within the PMHS.
|
Fall 2009
New Member Profile
G. Katie Dashtban, Psy.D.
(831) 621-1150
Dr. Katie Dashtban, Psy.D., is a licensed clinical psychologist and a new member of the Monterey Bay Psychological Association. Dr. Dashtban is trained as a health psychologist and practices behavioral medicine. She works with a wide range of patients in this population, including those with chronic pain, fibromyalgia, cardiovascular disease, and irritable bowel syndrome. In her private practice in Capitola, Dr. Dashtban offers individual and group psychotherapy incorporating psychological testing and the latest innovations and practices for the assessment and treatment of psychological and emotional disturbances. Her practice is currently open to new patients and she accepts some insurances. For more information on Dr. Dashtban’s practice philosophy and the services offered at Medical Psychology Services, please visit www.medicalpsychologyservice.com.
Katie lives with her family in Santa Cruz County, where she enjoys living close to nature, basking in the beautiful scenery, and appreciating the rich culture of the region.
Welcome, Dr. Katie Dashtban.
Contact:
G. Katie Dashtban, Psy.D.
Licensed Clinical Psychologist, PSY22256
820 Bay Avenue, Suite 248
Tel: (831) 621-1150
www.medicalpsychologyservice.com
|
Fall 2009
MBPA DISASTER RESPONSE COMMITTEE REPORT
Submitted by Diane Bridgeman, Ph.D.
Co-Chair, Disaster Response Committee
(831) 420-1109
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Team members recently attended a drill to update skills for a shelter earthquake experience. MBPA members Dr. Sheri Anselmi, Anita Whalen, MFT, and others demonstrated great leadership and hard work. Thanks to all who participated. We recently had to staff two ARC reception centers due to the heavy rains and concerns about mudslides. One center was in Davenport and one in Corralitos. Again, thanks to so many for responding to these needs. Any MBPA members interested in disaster response training and experience, please let me know (Diane, 420-1109).
The integrated ARC/MBPA/CAMFT disaster mental health team recently sent two team members, Ray and Joy LeClair, to the America Somoa response. I will be teaching ARC courses on N1H1 and Psychological First Aid within the next six weeks or so. As chair of APA's Colleague Assistance Committee, we're working to complete a survey of 5000 licensed psychologists, and working on a "tool kit" of resource materials that I can soon share with MBPA.
Diane Bridgeman, Ph.D.
Co-Chair
Rick Allen, Ph.D.
Co-Chair, Disaster Response Committee
(831) 429-1340
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
|
Fall 2009
DIVERSITY COMMITTEE REPORT
Submitted by Dr. Max Camarillo, Ph.D.
Chair, MBPA Diversity Committee
(831) 429-5826
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
(My apologies for not sending this announcement to the listserv in time for members to make plans to attend. --Jenny Kaupp)
I want to take this opportunity to inform you about an annual continuing education conference that focuses on cultural competencies for professionals, consumers/clients, and communities in California. It is the "2009 Cultural Competence & Mental Health Summit XVI: Embracing Social Justice and Equity to Build Healthier Communities."
It takes place this month in San Mateo county; November 17 and 18 (Tuesday & Wednesday) at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Burlingame. The conference/summit has an ambitious agenda but the three conferences I have attended, two in the 1990s and one in 2002 were excellent and well worth attending.
These conferences are organized by the county mental health programs/services along with the State of California Department of Mental Health's multicultural services office and alternate the annual location between Southern California and Northern California. Thus, the audience for the conference/summit is largely public providers and consumers.
The presenters are local, state and nationally recognized mental health professionals with multicultural competencies and expertise. Continuing education credits are offered for most of the presentations/workshops. Information/registration about the conference/summit can be found on the San Mateo County Health/Behavioral Health and Recovery Services website at: www.smhealth.org/bhrs
Unfortunately, the registration/ce fees are almost $400.00 and probably many of the attendees have the fees paid by their public employers and agencies.
I would like to propose that MBPA send at least one or two members of the Board of Directors, perhaps the President and President-Elect or their designee to these conferences to demonstrate our committment to increasing multicultural competencies in our own membership. It is probably too late to accomplish this in time for the conference this year; however, we could plan on attending next year's if there is support for this proposal. I invite your comments and feedback.
Maximiliano Camarillo, Ph.D.
Chair, MBPA Diversity Committee |
Fall 2009
FORENSICS COMMITTEE REPORT
Myrna J. Glick, Ph.D.
Chair, Forensics Committee
831.646.9330
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
What to Believe?
Seven years ago, in the fall of 2002, the entire country was on edge because of a series of seemingly random shootings. They were known collectively as the Beltway Sniper Attacks, even though some had occurred in western states. The attacks were carried out in such very public places as gas stations or in the parking lot of a heavily frequented store--the kind we all go to on occasion. Based on numerous eyewitness reports, much of the country was obsessively searching for a large white van. The search absorbed the law enforcement resources of several states, drawing their attention and time from leads that might have paid off.
Actually, there never was a white van. The lethal vehicle was a blue Chevrolet Caprice--ironically enough, a former police car, the trunk specially modified by John Allen Muhammad, a former Army sergeant, expert marksman, and mechanic. He transformed the trunk to serve as a mobile shooting platform, complete with a viewing hole. The platform was designed to hold Lee Boyd Malvo, an unfortunate teenager from Jamaica whom Muhammad had taken under his very controlling wing. Muhammad systematically indoctrinated Malvo, training him as a sniper. It was part of an elaborate plot designed to allow Muhammad to find his ex-wife, kill her and regain custody of his children. They started out from Tacoma, Washington, and headed toward Maryland, where he suspected his ex-wife was living, or rather hiding from him.
They headed east across the country. While Muhammad drove the car, at his direction Malvo shot targeted victims. Ultimately, they were tried for six counts of first-degree murder, although they had also committed crimes in Alabama, Arizona, California, Louisiana, Maryland, and Texas. It may never be known just how many crimes they actually committed. Ultimately, sixteen deaths and four injuries were officially attributed to the two. Today, Lee Boyd Malvo remains incarcerated. John Allen Muhammed is scheduled to be put to death on November 10 under Virginia law (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Allen_Muhammad).
Hopefully, the country learned from that horrifying case and many others that eyewitness leads and testimonies are often wildly inaccurate. Probably much of the inaccuracy occurs just because we are all human and fallible. Furthermore, most such eyewitness descriptions are taken from individuals under great stress or even in shock. The context matters too. Psychologists have also learned from the wonderful work of Stephen J. Ceci and Maggie Bruck (Jeopardy in the Courtroom, A Scientific Analysis of Children’s Testimony, 1995, Washington, DC, American Psychological Association) that we are all highly suggestible. The work of Ceci and several others has established that even sophisticated adults can easily be led to believe that they saw Bugs Bunny on a trip to Disneyland. Actually, Bugs Bunny is a Warner Brothers character and so would not be caught dead in Disneyland. Children are all the more susceptible to suggestion. For that reason, whenever children’s testimony is introduced, it is advisable to thoroughly investigate how they were questioned. Ideally, all child reports should be videotaped, but that does not always happen.
Just as the forensic psychological community became more attuned to all the ways in which eyewitness evidence can be tainted, the entire nation became mesmerized by such dramatic television shows as CSI. In most such programs, the crime scene laboratory seems to provide definitive, unimpeachable fact. However, in recent years, amazing developments in DNA analysis have been applied to criminal cases long thought irrefutably solved and settled. In many such cases, seemingly established fact turns to fiction. Many such convictions are based on eyewitness testimony, but others rely on other forensic techniques. According to The Innocence Project, “232 people nationwide have been exonerated though post-conviction DNA testing… In approximately half of those cases, unvalidated or improper forensic science contributed to the wrongful conviction” (Eric Ferrero, Director of Communications, Press Release (www.innocenceproject.org).
The tide may be turning toward more solid data. A long awaited, very thorough investigation of forensic science has been completed and presented to Congress. On March 18, 2009, Harry T. Edwards, Senior Circuit Judge, Chief Judge Emeritus and Visiting Professor of Law at NYU, presented a report to the Senate Judiciary Committee on behalf of The National Academies. Its theme was the need for wide-ranging improvement in the application of forensic science to the judicial process. Judge Edwards stated that he had “never heard an appeal in which a criminal defendant challenged the admission of forensic evidence at trial” (p. 2 of 10, http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12589). Judge Edwards’ presentation made it quite clear that many or even most forensic labs are far from infallible. He testified that, “With the exception of nuclear DNA analysis, no forensic method has been rigorously shown to consistently…demonstrate a connection between evidence and a specific individual or source. Yet for years, the courts have been led to believe that disciplines such as fingerprinting stand on a par with DNA analysis.” Aside from inconsistent practices from one crime lab to another, he pointed to unqualified personnel, often lax standards, and the absence of quality control measures. Other problems were cooperating agencies that met infrequently and a judicial system staffed by lawyers and judges who usually lacked the scientific expertise necessary to evaluate data. Further, defense attorneys often do not have sufficient resources to challenge prosecutors’ forensic experts (excluding OJ Simpson’s “dream team”). He concluded that there are no existing agencies suited to govern the forensic scientific community. He recommended on behalf of the National Academies that Congress act to create one. The report calls on Congress to establish a National Institute for Forensic Science to oversee the forensic science community.
Will it happen? Not likely while the nation has so very much on its plate. But this is a goal that would greatly enhance the validity of verdicts. In a perfect forensic world, there would be no need for The Innocence Project. Psychological testimony must meet the Daubert standard, meaning that the validity of the material presented must adhere to scientific rigor. Unfortunately, that has not been true for all forensic data, including bite patterns, bullet matching, and even several instances when the FBI utilized faulty fingerprint identification techniques. Hopefully, the psychological community will support efforts to make the judicial process more reliable and accurate.
Myrna J. Glick, Ph.D. |
Fall 2009
MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE REPORT
Autumn harvest rolls around again, marking the renewal season for MBPA. Well, it is also a spectacular season weather-wise here on the coast, I must say. Aren’t we fortunate to live and work in such a beautiful place?
And aren’t we fortunate to be members of an organization filled with talented mental health professionals? Indeed, the benefits of membership include the ability to network, consult, collaborate, and socialize with members of this professional community. In addition, MBPA works to address your concerns regarding critical issues at the state and county levels, such as the unsuccessful attempt to eliminate the Board of Psychology. The strong grassroots effort put forth by our members, as well as the rest of the California psychological community, led to a tremendous victory this year.
The MBPA listserv is up and running and will prove to be a valuable resource for our members. Stay tuned for more on this from our Technology Chair Dr. Junell Silver.
So, how to renew? Go to the website www.mbpsych.org and download the 2010 renewal form and renew the traditional way, or renew online with PayPal and pay by credit card (see instructions below). Thanks for your patience!
Thank you for your continued support.
Wishing you all a peaceful upcoming holiday season,
Ann Bolger, Ph.D.
Chair, Membership Committee
How to Renew Your Membership Online
Great News! MBPA renewal 2010 is now online!
To renew your membership online, please follow these steps:
- Log on to http://www.mbpsych.org
- Enter your username and password in the login fields on the right. If you forgot your password, click the "Lost Password" link, and a new one will be emailed to you.
- Once you're logged in, you can click on the "Renew Membership" link in the navigation bar on the right, or in the membership renewal article on the front page. A direct link is here: http://www.mbpsych.org/content/view/163/107/
- Select your membership type from the drop-down menu, and if you answered "YES" to any of the ethics questions, please provide an explanation in the text box.
- Click "Pay Now" button.
- You will be taken to a PayPal site where you can either use your existing PayPal account, sign up for an account to transfer money directly from your bank account or credit card, or forgo the account process and just pay with a credit card.
- Once you have followed directions on that page, you will be taken back to the mbpsych.org website, where you will be reminded to update your profile.
For any technical questions, please contact the webmaster at
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
.
|
Fall 2009
MBPA PUBLIC SERVICE/OUTREACH/EDUCATION COMMITTEE REPORT
Diane Bridgeman, Ph.D.
Chair, Public Service/Outreach/Education Committee
(831) 420-1109
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
We have had several calls for pro-bono and/or sliding-scale therapy within the last few weeks. If you are interested in providing occasional, time-limited pro-bono and/or sliding-scale psychotherapy, please let us know. You can contact me, Diane Bridgeman, or Anita Whalen (539-3192).
Diane Bridgeman, Ph.D. |
Fall 2009
TECHNOLOGY REPORT
Submitted by Junell Silver, Ph.D.
(831) 688-1645
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
We continue to add new features to our website, www.mbpsych.org, thanks to our web designer Charlie Kaupp. A PayPal system is now available for paying dues and training program fees online. To use PayPal, you must first log in to the website. You may also update your online member profile at the same time. The instructions for these procedures are on the website; however, I am including them in this report (see below).
Recently everyone received a notice that you are part of the new MBPA Listserv. The MBPA listserv is an e-mail forum to connect MBPA members with valuable resources including: networking; access to quick referrals; educational and research opportunities for professional psychologists; alerts related to advocacy and legislation for the profession; and job listings.
Charlie Kaupp has made using the Listserv really easy. Just one step actually.
- Send email to
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
- You can reply to an existing post over email. Simply find the post you'd like to reply to in your email inbox and click the Reply button in your email program. Type your message into the body of the email, making sure you keep the subject line of the email intact so that your post is sent to the correct thread.
The resources (hardware, software, and technical assistance) for this effort are provided without charge by the Monterey Bay Psychological Association as a service to its members.
There are very few rules for participation in this list/forum. Few restrictions, we have found, result in the greatest number of innovative contributions. However, two rules are critically important. The rules are:
Rule 1: Do not use the forum for illegal purposes, including but not limited to defamation, violation of intellectual property laws, violation of antitrust or unfair competition laws or violation of criminal laws.
Rule 2: Do not intentionally interfere with or disrupt other forum members, network services, or network equipment. This includes distribution of unsolicited advertisement or chain letters, propagation of computer worms and viruses, and use of the network to make unauthorized entry to any other machine accessible via the Forum.
If you break these rules, you will be unsubscribed.
We are all just figuring out how to implement our new means of communication. Our committee is now working on the rules and standards for Listserv use, and we will make them available by posting them on the Listserv.
Junell Silver, Ph.D.
MBPA Website Login Help
The new Monterey Bay Psychological Association website (www.mbpsych.org) has officially been launched, but in order to make the site complete, we need your help to ensure that your information is up-to-date. Please log in and update your profile. This functionality will allow you to keep your own profile up to date, and will allow users of the website to better take advantage of the 'Find a Therapist' and 'Directory' pages. To update your profile, please follow these directions:
- On the bottom right, you will find a section called "Login."
- Enter your login and password. If you're on a secure computer (non-public), you may check the "Remember me" box.
- Your login is your first initial and last name. For instance, Bob Jones would be "bjones"
- Your temporary password was emailed to you when the site was launched. If you're having trouble with the password, make sure you're typing it correctly - the third character is a lowercase "L", and if you need the information again, please email us at the address below.
- The menu on the right will now change. Click the "Edit Profile" link under "User Menu" or on the top navigation bar.
- The "Contact Info" tab on the profile page will allow you to update your basic information, including your mailing address, email address, and password.
- We strongly recommend that you change your password the first time you log in for security.
- The "Additional Info" tab will allow you to change your profile settings.
- To select multiple items in the selection boxes, use command-click (or Apple-click; on a Macintosh) or control-click (on Windows).
- When you're finished, click the "Update" button at the bottom of the screen.
At this point, you should be able to find your profile in the directory and verify that everything is correct. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to email
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
.
|
|
