Division 42 - Psychologists in Independent Practice

1.  What have been your primary contributions to psychologists in independent practice through divisions, state associations or other organizations?  What, in particular, have been your contributions to Division 42?

First and foremost my contributions to psychologists in private practice have been through my work as a trainer and supervisor. When I established the pre-doctoral internship in psychology at The University of Memphis I was unwavering in my insistence that assessment be a part of that training. Though we were pressured to drop that training because we were a university counseling center, we kept it and those who have completed the program have been grateful. Of all the private practitioner interventions that psychologists can claim and get appropriately paid for, assessment stands alone. So I train to the strengths of our private practitioners. I have also supervised private practitioners for licensure. I have served as an oral examiner and conducted continuing education workshops, including ethics and multicultural vocational psychology. Perhaps the single largest contribution to continuing education came during the two years I served as an organizer of the National Multicultural Conference and Summit . In addition, I was on the Executive Board for Division 17 when we established a Vice President for Practice and have resolutely supported the practice efforts in 17-- even recruited individuals to run for the office. Divisions 17 and 42 have often worked together because we have so much overlap in membership. I also chaired the Board for Professional Affairs and have attended the State Leadership Conference.

2. From your perspective what are the two most significant issues facing the practice of psychology?  As APA President how would you address them?

The practice of psychology continues to be plagued by a lack of public awareness as well as a clear understanding of psychology. Similarly, insurance companies, corporations, and many in the medical profession fail to appreciate all that psychology has to offer. We must continue with large scale efforts to change these misconceptions and work to educate the public on the value of evidenced-base outcomes. In truth, we should promote these same concepts through continued education for ourselves as scientist-practitioners as well as our students. Our science and practice venues need to continue unified efforts that further evidenced-based interventions and stress the importance of such outcomes for the welfare of our public and the enhancement of our credibility.

3.  From your perspective what are the two most significant issues that psychologists in independent practice are facing in their work lives and what will you do to address them as APA President?

I believe that managed care is a significant issue for psychologists in private practice for two reasons. Managed care has caused many psychologists to earn less for their services than they did ten years ago. In some parts of the country psychologists say they do individual therapy as "a hobby" because they are unable to earn a living practicing independently. Secondly in many instances managed care has contributed to pathologizing client issues through the usage of labels we must use to satisfy coding requirements that justify insurance benefits.

Another issue facing private practitioners is licensure portability and reciprocity. This issue can cause psychologists to be geographically restricted in their ability to work across borders. Further, because of prohibitive laws, psychologists often can not offer gratuitous help to people in need even during a national disaster.

The states, some divisions, APA, and other organizations are working on these efforts. I will wholeheartedly support those efforts and lend the weight of the presidency to this important work. I will be calling on all psychologists to support lobbying efforts that make it possible for psychologists to practice more freely and perhaps even more prosperously. And if our practitioners and scientists take on these problems together - we are sure to find solutions.

4.  What advocacy roles have you taken on behalf of the practice of psychology and what have you accomplished?

As Chair of BPA I advocated for all guidelines to be practice friendly. While we need all of the guidelines that I have seen, we must insure that they are not so restrictive that they overly constrain effective practice. I have lobbied for practitioners to get paid for the work that they do. I recently finished a nine month crusade that led me to our State's Board of Regents to request an increase in pay for our interns at The University of Memphis counseling center.

5.  What do you plan to do for professional practice as APA President?

My theme for this presidential run is Exclusion is Easy but Inclusion is Power! It is my fondest dream to see science and practice working together to solve the major issues and obstacles for both practice and science. I have noted some of the problems for practice above and for science in additional campaign forums (research funding, and publishing issues). I would like to see our field take a problem-based, solution-focused approach to these problems through the organization of a summit and further work in task groups. If we build a strong collaborative model then we can use that model to address the major practice, science, and societal issues of the day. In the meantime I will continue to support the work between APA, the National Register, State organizations and others as we work to find solutions that promote human welfare and the field of psychology.