March 2009

MBPA PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

By Jim Beckett, Ph.D.
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(831) 345-3619

I’m happy to report that Monterey Bay Psychological Association is very well served by a very dedicated Board of Directors who meet quarterly to consider the business of our Association. We are a friendly and mutually respectful group who seem to enjoy one another’s company. Our hope is to be as effective as we are congenial. And let me add at this point that we welcome new members and would encourage you to step forward and offer your services to serve on the Board of Directors, if you are at all inclined. This is an especially useful opportunity for new members of MBPA to become acquainted with some of your colleagues.

We are dedicated this year to providing additional benefits to the membership. I am particularly eager to foster more collegiality among the members. I find that when members do get together they seem to very much enjoy the experience. Our psychotherapy practices can be isolating at times, and finding opportunities to be in touch with colleagues can be meaningful.

In 2007 we effected an improvement in the communications capacity of members, both with each other and with the greater community, by upgrading our website (www.mbpsych.org). Hopefully you have discovered the usefulness of the website, and in fact are probably reading this newsletter from the website. However we are aware that some members are not comfortable with Internet use. If a member prefers to obtain a hard copy (paper version) of the newsletter and cannot download it from the website, we will be happy to print a copy and mail it to you. If you know of other members who may not have heard that we wish to accommodate them in this way, please let them know.

This year we have two methods by which to serve the members better. Beginning with the Winter party, we hope to offer monthly opportunities for “get-togethers” at which we can simply come together for some kind of social event and enjoy the company. So be on the lookout for announcements of these events.

Secondly we are now planning three simple Friday afternoon Continuing Education events this year. These workshops will be relatively inexpensive ($75) thanks to the generosity of the presenters, our own MBPA colleagues. We are in the process of obtaining CPA sponsorship. I know I find it much more satisfying to obtain CE units in a context of shared time with colleagues than in the increasingly used format of online courses. I learn a lot from colleagues as they share cases, questions and struggles in live sessions. So again be on the lookout for announcements of such events.

Finally we have a new CLASP chairperson, Dr. Cindy Fabry. I wish to conclude by emphasizing that the work we do as therapists is difficult and draining. Self care needs to be a priority for each of us. CLASP stands ready to serve any colleague who wishes to access their service. Hopefully we can support one another in crisis as well as in our ongoing work. YES WE CAN!!!!! (heard that before??)

Best wishes to all our members and please feel free to contact me with any concerns you may have.

Jim Beckett, Ph.D.