MPA's Prestigious Distinguished Psychologist Award Goes to Alan Lewandowski

19 Pages·2015·25.19 MB·English

by  Emily Arents

MPA’s Prestigious Distinguished Psychologist Award
Goes to Alan Lewandowski

Jim Windell, Editor

he award for the Distinguished As an educator, Dr. Lewandowski has held academic
T
Psychologist went to Alan Lew andowski, positions at Western Michigan University, Marquette
Ph.D., at MPA’s Eighth Annual Spring University, and Michigan State University. As a
Convention on April 24, 2015. researcher, he has published numerous professional
articles in neuropsychology.
Dr. Lewandowski is MPA’s Ethics Chair, a position
And as the Chair of MPA’s Ethics Committee he is a
he held longer than any other Ethics Chair in MPA
leader in the state, fostering an educational approach
history.
to ethical issues for Michigan’s psychologists. Under
He was nominated for Distinguished Psychologist by
his leadership, the Ethics Committee has published a
Jeff Andert, Ph.D., former MPA President and
standards of practice for clarification of challenging
current Chair of the Licensure Committee.
ethical issues facing psychologists. In addition, Dr.

In nominating
Lewandowski has served as a supervisor appointed
Dr. Lewan-
by the Michigan Board of Psychology Disciplinary
dowski, Dr.
Committee to assist psychologists to meet licensure
Andert described
requirements following disciplinary action. Finally,
Dr. Lewan-
Dr. Lewandowski has been a long-standing member
dowski as a
of the MPA Board of Directors while remaining a
respected
passionate advocate for state professional
practitioner,
associations.
consultant,
In presenting the Distinguished Psychologist Award
educator, and
to Dr. Lewandowski, MPA President Dane Ver
professional
Merris said, “He is a person of integrity, a good
association MPA President Dane Ver Merris, Ph.D. (left),
with Dr. Lewandowski (right) person, a kind person, and a good friend.”
member.
Among his remarks as he accepted the award, Dr.
As a practitioner, he is a neuropsychologist who is
Lewandowski said that, “I am very proud and feel
outstanding in his field and has attained status as a
honored to be given this award.”
Diplomate from the American Board of Professional

Neuropsychology. In addition to his established
To comment on this article, email Jim Windell at
private practice as a neuropsychologist, he has been a
[email protected]
consultant to numerous hospitals.

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The Michigan Psychologist – 2nd Quarter 2015
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2

The Michigan Psychologist – 2nd Quarter 2015
MPA President Honored with Award for Advocacy

Jim Windell, Editor

Recently, Jon Bos, Psy.D., announced that MPA’s While serving on the Michigan Board of Psychology,
President, Dane Ver Merris, was awarded the Karl F. Dr. Ver Merris was a leader in the development of
Heiser Award for advocacy by the American Administrative Rules which are standards for practice
Psychological Association. The Karl F. Heiser Award based on the Michigan Public Health Code. He was
honors those psychologists who have given instrumental in the development of licensure rules
voluntarily of their time to define the discipline of regarding supervision, training and continuing
psychology statutorily by state and federal laws and education. In addition, he provided consultation to
regulations through advocacy. the Task Force on Maintenance of Competence and
The nomination of Dr. Ver Merris was submitted by Licensure for the Association of State and Provincial
Psychology Boards 2011 pertaining to the formation
the Board of the Michigan Psychological
Association. That nomination pointed out that Dr. of a Continuous Professional Development model for
psychologists practicing in Michigan.
Ver Merris has an extensive history of advocating for
the discipline of psychology. He was appointed to the Dr. Ver Merris was Chairperson of the MPA Ethics
Michigan Board of Psychology in 2005, and Committee, became a Fellow of the MPA in 2000,
functioned as the Chairperson of the Board from and was awarded the Michigan Distinguished
2008 to 2012. From 2006 to 2012, he served as the Psychologist Award by MPA in 2013.
Michigan Delegate to the Association of State and To comment on this article, email Jim Windell at
Provincial Psychology Boards. [email protected]; to contact Jon Bos, email him at
[email protected]

Notes of a Psychology Watcher
Top Ten Lessons for a Young Psychologist

Steven J. Ceresnie, Ph.D.

10. It is tough to take advice. Experience is a comb you get when you’re bald.
9. Resist feelings of omnipotence, grandiosity, and the desire to impress and do something.
8. Knowing what you don’t know is an increase in knowledge.
7. Whenever you use too many abstractions, reality leaves the room.
6. Distrust consensus. Dogma is never truth.
5. Keep your childlike curiosity and stay open to new ideas --- reject wrong ideas.
4. Learn to understand and not be thrown by hate in the countertransference and transference.
3. If you don’t know something, say you don’t know.
2. You can seldom listen your way into trouble.
1. Embrace epistemological modesty.

To comment on this article, contact Steven J. Ceresnie, Ph.D., at [email protected].

3
The Michigan Psychologist – 2nd Quarter 2015
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR REPORT
2015 Mid-Year Highlights
LaVone Swanson, Executive Director

Having survived another winter, we all welcomed hopes that we will present our recommendations by
spring and now begin to look towards the summer June of this year.
months. MPA has experienced some highlights in the
• Monitor scope of practice issues and auto no-fault
first six months of 2015 and we are looking forward
bills for issues of concern to psychologists.
to what is to come in the latter half of 2015. The 2015
• Closing in on the MPA membership renewal goal.
highlights of MPA, so far include:
Your Board participated in a campaign to bring non-
• Collaborative effort (DPA, Lobbyist, and RxP
renewing members back into the fold with great
Committee) to prepare a proposal for a Prescriptive
success, however, we did lose over 90 members, but
Authority pilot program. I’m informed by the
many of those were students, who we hope to see
Committee that this may be our opportunity to make
rejoin the ranks as new practitioners. (It’s not too late
this happen this year.
to recruit new members.)
• Visiting Washington, DC in the spring where we
• Approval of the 2015 – 2017 MPA Strategic Plan.
met with several of our Legislators. Our messages
• Two successful CE Events, including the Rural
were simple:
Affairs Conference, and the Eighth Annual Spring
1. Repeal the Medicare SGR formula (which
Conference.
finally happened in early April).
• Created a new MPA Twitter account: @PureMPA.
2. Give psychologists the ability to practice
without physician supervision under Medicare. • Ongoing communication via the listserv, e-mails,
3. Add psychologists to the HITECH Act to website, and the new MPA Facebook page.
make them eligible for Medicare electronic
• Currently have openings for volunteers on the
health records incentives.
following Committees: Membership, Communi-
4. Fix the Medicare provider payment formula.
cations, and Children and Families.
• I continue to participate in the implementation of
Enjoy your Summer!!
juvenile competency statute to assess that scope of
I welcome your input, questions and concerns about MPA;
practice limitations are being maintained. I serve on
you can contact me at [email protected]
the Treatment & Restoration sub-committee of this

group. A number of meetings have been held with the
Psychologists Needed
Cypress Counseling Center, P.C. is a growing outpatient mental health practice in Ann Arbor. It is our mission to
provide the highest quality mental health care consistently motivated by compassion. We are seeking a licensed or
license-eligible candidate with a broad range of experience. Long-term position with flexible schedule.
Comfortable offices, collegial atmosphere and supportive supervision/consultation. Fax curriculum vitae to Daniel
Bingham, Psy.D. at (734) 369-3180 or email [email protected] and visit us at
www.cypresscounselingcenter.com.

4
The Michigan Psychologist – 2nd Quarter 2015
FROM THE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT:
MPA Board and Officers Working on Many Fronts

Dane VerMerris, Ed.D.

A new MPA Board member mentioned to me that Please join me in welcoming two new Committee
MPA has a lot more going on than he ever imagined. Chairs. Dr. Tamara McKay, past-president of MPA,
Here’s an update on a few of the things we’re is the new Chair of the Public Education Committee.
working on: She and her Committee are already hard at work on
activities like establishing a Speakers Bureau.
We continue to work with masters level
psychologists to re-introduce legislation that would Dr. Kristin Sheridan is the new Chair of the
change the masters level title and supervision Diversity, Inclusion, and Social Responsibility
requirements. We have been discussing this with Committee. Dr. Sheridan is a former President of
APA, too, and hope to apply for a legislative grant to MPA, and she brings a wealth of professional and
help fund the work to support the passage of the association experience to this position.
legislation.
Although she is not new to the position, Deb Smith,
MPA leadership is monitoring the progress of the Ph.D., has agreed to serve a third term as Treasurer
proposed Continuing Education rules for Michigan and Chair of the Finance Committee. We are grateful
psychologists. If and when this change becomes for her dedication and her commitment to balancing
effective, we will notify membership right away. We the budget, which we did last year.
will also work to provide resources for psychologists
Finally, let me mention our 2015 award winners.
to comply with the CE rule.
AAA Service Network is the Psychologically
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Healthy Workplace award winner. Alan
Services has proposed a policy that would allow Lewandowski, Ph.D., received the 2015 Michigan
Medicaid fee-for-service reimbursement for up to 20 Distinguished Psychologist Award, and Susan Silk,
visits per year for psychologists in independent PhD is the recipient of the Beth Clark Service Award.
practice. MPA has been working for this change for Hearty congratulations to all!
years, and we have called and written to offer our To comment on this column, contact Dane VerMerris, Ed.D.
strong support. at [email protected]

Psychologically Healthy Workplace Award Given to AAA Service Network

A company serving the heating, cooling, and commercial customers, AAA Service Network has
appliance needs of southeastern Michigan for more offered excellent sales, installation, and maintenance
than 30 years, AAA Service Network received service for almost four decades. However, the
MPA’s Psychologically Healthy Workplace Award company prides itself at providing value and comfort
during the Eighth Annual Spring Convention in East to customers and going out of its way to make sure
Lansing on April 24, 2015. every customer is satisfied. Yet, the company takes
the same approach to its more than 50 employees.
A Howell company serving residential and
5
The Michigan Psychologist – 2nd Quarter 2015
The company maintains a family environment along

its staff and stresses an open door policy among all
Observation Challenge
employees. AAA Service Network believes that
teaching their employees the technical aspects of the

job is not the end of their training. Important also is
Most of us are psychologists in clinical practices of
teaching employees how to communicate effectively
various kinds. One thing we have in common is that
and problem solve. AAA Service Network is a
observation is a key part of what we do. Sharp
company that hires employees based first on
personality and second on technical abilities. observational skills help.
As a result of these policies, AAA Service Network The following was seen in the News Bulletin of the
has a low accident rate, low absenteeism, and very Central Intelligence Retirees Association. See if you
low turnover. Accepting the Psychologically Healthy
can identify what is so unusual about this. Let’s see
Workplace Award for the company, President Ed
how many can find what is so unusual. If you can
Copp stated “Training and development to of our
figure it out, send the answer to me by e-mail:
employees is a key part of our endeavors,” Copp said.
[email protected].
The next thing. “we focus on impressing our
customers. Our goal is to make every customer
How quickly can you find out what is unusual about
experience positive at every contact.”
this paragraph? It looks so ordinary that you’d think
While he says they have an open door policy with
nothing was wrong with it at all, and in fact, nothing is.
their employees, “what that really means is that we
But it is unusual. Why? If you study it and think about
have an open ideas policy,” Copp said.
it, you may find out, but you must do it without
In presenting the award, Terry Braciszewski, Ph.D., coaching. No doubt if you work at it for long, it will
Chair of the MPA Business of Practice Network, dawn on you. Go to work and try your skill. Par is
(cid:60)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:85)(cid:68)(cid:70)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:70)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:87)e(cid:82)m(cid:82)p(cid:3)h(cid:76)(cid:80)as(cid:83)iz(cid:82)e(cid:85)d(cid:87) (cid:68)th(cid:81)a(cid:87)t(cid:3) AAA Service Network has a simple about half an hour.
motto: “How can I make you smile?” That has served
(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:3)(cid:79)(cid:72)(cid:68)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:88)(cid:81)(cid:83)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:17)
the company well – for both customers and
employees.

(cid:42)(cid:2437)(cid:2452)(cid:3)(cid:38)(cid:2447)(cid:2454)(cid:2437)(cid:2450)(cid:2437)(cid:2436)(cid:3)(cid:58)(cid:2441)(cid:2452)(cid:2440)(cid:3)(cid:51)(cid:2450)(cid:2447)(cid:2438)(cid:2437)(cid:2451)(cid:2451)(cid:2441)(cid:2447)(cid:2446)(cid:2433)(cid:2444)(cid:3)

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(cid:3) (cid:3)(cid:36)(cid:14)(cid:14)(cid:3)(cid:51)(cid:2450)(cid:2447)(cid:2438)(cid:2437)(cid:2451)(cid:2451)(cid:2441)(cid:2447)(cid:2446)(cid:2433)(cid:2444)(cid:3)(cid:47)(cid:2441)(cid:2433)(cid:2434)(cid:2441)(cid:2444)(cid:2441)(cid:2452)(cid:2457)(cid:3) (cid:48)(cid:2441)(cid:2446)(cid:2453)(cid:2452)(cid:2437)(cid:3)(cid:2433)(cid:2452)
(cid:38)(cid:51)(cid:43)(cid:44)(cid:49)(cid:54)(cid:17)(cid:38)(cid:50)(cid:48)
(cid:44)(cid:2446)(cid:2451)(cid:2453)(cid:2450)(cid:2433)(cid:2446)(cid:2435)(cid:2437)(cid:3)(cid:41)(cid:2447)(cid:2450)(cid:3)(cid:51)(cid:2451)(cid:2457)(cid:2435)(cid:2440)(cid:2447)(cid:2444)(cid:2447)(cid:2439)(cid:2441)(cid:2451)(cid:2452)(cid:2451)
(cid:135)(cid:3) (cid:50)(cid:70)(cid:70)(cid:88)(cid:85)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:70)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:41)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:80)(cid:3)(cid:180)(cid:47)(cid:76)(cid:73)(cid:72)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:80)(cid:72)(cid:181)(cid:3)(cid:38)(cid:82)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:68)(cid:74)(cid:72)

(cid:135)(cid:3) (cid:56)(cid:83)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:3)(cid:24)(cid:19)(cid:8)(cid:3)(cid:39)(cid:76)(cid:86)(cid:70)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:73)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:49)(cid:72)(cid:90)(cid:79)(cid:92)(cid:3)(cid:47)(cid:76)(cid:70)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:86)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:51)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:73)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:86)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:86)

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(cid:135)(cid:3) (cid:50)(cid:81)(cid:79)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:83)(cid:83)(cid:79)(cid:76)(cid:70)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:70)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:86)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:80)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:88)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:29)(cid:3)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:72)(cid:76)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:92)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:82)(cid:73)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:73)(cid:3)(cid:70)(cid:82)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:68)(cid:74)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:80)(cid:80)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:76)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:79)(cid:92)(cid:4)
(cid:135)(cid:3) (cid:21)(cid:3)(cid:41)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:43)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:85)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:73)(cid:3)(cid:36)(cid:87)(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:92)(cid:3)(cid:38)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:86)(cid:88)(cid:79)(cid:87)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:92)(cid:72)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:43)(cid:44)(cid:51)(cid:36)(cid:36)(cid:3)(cid:38)(cid:82)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:68)(cid:74)(cid:72)
(cid:135)(cid:3) (cid:56)(cid:81)(cid:79)(cid:76)(cid:80)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:39)(cid:72)(cid:73)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:86)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:38)(cid:82)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:68)(cid:74)(cid:72)
(cid:135)(cid:3) (cid:3)(cid:54)(cid:87)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:47)(cid:76)(cid:70)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:86)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:3)(cid:37)(cid:82)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:38)(cid:82)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:68)(cid:74)(cid:72)(cid:29)(cid:3)(cid:7)(cid:22)(cid:24)(cid:15)(cid:19)(cid:19)(cid:19)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:88)(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:80)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:70)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:79)(cid:92)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:83)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:70)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:68)(cid:86)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:88)(cid:83)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:3)(cid:7)(cid:20)(cid:19)(cid:19)(cid:15)(cid:19)(cid:19)(cid:19)

CPH & Associates | 711 S. Dearborn Street, Suite 205 | Chicago, IL 60605
Web www.cphins.com | Email [email protected] | Phone [phone]
6
The Michigan Psychologist – 2nd Quarter 2015
Susan Silk Receives Beth Clark Service Award
Jim Windell, Editor

Susan Silk was on the scene after Hurricane Katrina, George, Katrina and Ike. As part of the Aviation
she was there to help out after the Oklahoma City Disaster Response Team for the American Red
bombing, and she was in Blacksburg, Virginia after Cross, she has responded to multiple flight disasters
the mass shooting at Virginia Tech. As Chair of the in this country and Guam. After being there after the
Disaster Resource Network for MPA for many years, Oklahoma City Bombing in 1995, she was part of the
Dr. Silk has been at more than her share of response in 2001
earthquakes, hurricanes, floods, bombings, and to the terrorist
tornados offering help and comfort to victims.
attacks at the
On April 24, 2015, at the MPA Annual Spring World Trade
convention she was honored with the Beth Clark Center in New
Service Award for her selfless dedication to offering York City and at

services to people in need. the Pentagon.

She’s also
Dr. Silk was nominated by MPA member Delia
Thrasher, Ph.D. Dr. Thrasher pointed out in her responded to her
share of floods
nomination that for the last 15 years Dr. Silk has
served as the North Central Regional Representative and tornadoes –
not to mention
to the APA Disaster Response Network, and for the
last 26 years she has been a consultant to the last year’s MPA President Dan Ver Merris (left)
presents the award to Dr. Silk
winter ice storm
American Red Cross. She has also been an instructor
for more than 20 years for the American Red Cross power outages in Lansing, Michigan.
Disaster Mental Health and Psychological First Aid Dr. Thrasher commended Dr. Silk for volunteering
Team.
her time, her energies, and her expertise repeatedly in
Since 1989 when she helped with the Loma Prieta the service of those in greatest need and in the most
earthquake response in California, Dr. Silk has dire of circumstances.
continually been responding to disasters around the
In accepting the award, Dr. Silk said that she was
world – usually staying on the site for 10 days to two “humbled and grateful to accept an award with Beth
weeks. For example, in 1994 she helped out at Clark’s name on it.”
earthquakes in Northridge, California, and in Seattle,
To comment on this article, email Jim Windell at
Washington in 2001, and then in Haiti in 2010. She
[email protected]
has responded to Hurricanes Andrew, Hortense,

BOOK REVIEW
The Ethics of Private Practice: A Practical Guide for Mental Health Clinicians
Jeffrey E. Barnett, Jeffrey Zimmerman, & Steven Walfish (Oxford University Press, 2014)
Review by Jack P. Haynes, Ph.D.

This is a concise, readily usable sub-200 page book volumes with which the writer is familiar -- Donald
providing information and ethical guidance regarding Bersoff’s Ethical Conflicts in Psychology and
private practice for psychologists as well as other Koocher and Keith-Spiegel’s Ethics in Psychology
mental health clinicians. Compared to the two and the Mental Health Professions -- Barnett,
7
The Michigan Psychologist – 2nd Quarter 2015
Zimmerman, and Walfish focus is on producing a care was practical and useful. Some of the content
book that is briefer and more parsimonious. There are reminded me that during the first years after
no case histories and no tables or graphs in this book, completing my training, it sometimes would occur to
but the book is well-organized, practical rather than me when encountering such issues: “I sure don’t
abstract, readable, and portable. The other two books remember discussions of this in graduate school.”
exceed 600 pages. Many issues, like the financial decisions, are handled
The headings of the nine chapters: -- and handled well -- making the book particularly
valuable for new practitioners and for seasoned
• Ethics Issues in Beginning a Practice
practitioners leaving agency work to begin private
• Clinical Practice
practice.
• Documentation and Record Keeping
Also excellent was the chapter titled Dealing with
• Dealing with Third Parties and Protecting
Third Parties and Confidentiality. The latter chapter
Confidentiality
discussed general policies such as establishing clear
• Financial decisions information protocols for self and staff members,
• Staff Training and Office Policies HIPAA and local regulatory requirements, how to
• Advertising and Marketing explain the limits to confidentiality at the beginning
of treatment, how to do informed consent, dealing
• Continuing Professional Development
carefully with legal requests and demands, and the
• Leaving a Practice
challenges of communication by telephone, mail, and
The book references ethical principles and
e-mail. In that chapter special situations were
emphasizes ethical process. In presentations I have
discussed, such as ethical issues in treating children
given on ethics, I too have emphasized the
and adolescents, dealing with workers’
importance of ethical process and developing ethical
compensation, schools and employers, collection
thinking as an intrinsic part of psychological practice.
agencies, and even thanking referral sources.
Ethical thinking is a framework and should be part of
ongoing activity, not something occasionally The length and structure of the book has led to less
emphasis on informed consent, boundary issues, and
considered and utilized in problem situations. Ethics
should frame our thoughts and actions. Ongoing other competence issues, though such issues are well
covered in depth in other sources. Some topics
ethical thinking also encourages flexibility and
creativity and fosters option consideration, not only presented are relevant to ethical practice but often do
not appear in other texts -- such as wait time, waiting
when one is faced with ethical dilemmas but as part
of the framework of what we do and how we think of lists, exceptions to confidentiality, personal
what we do. psychotherapy, self-care, peer consultation groups,
and other topics.
Most chapters of the book have sections on pitfalls to
avoid, key points to keep in mind, and practical The Ethics of Private Practice is a thought-provoking
contribution, useful especially to the early career
recommendations. There are citations at the end of
chapters regarding relevant ethical code standards: clinician but also of value to seasoned psychologists.
APA, NASW, ACA, and AAMFT. For experienced clinicians, the book reinforces the
value of ethical process in private practice and
The chapter on Financial Decisions was notably well
reminds us that a variety of ethical behaviors
done. The discussion of some of the topics such as
contribute to a rewarding and satisfying private
fee setting, collections, and working with managed
practice.

To comment on this article, email Jack Haynes, Ph.D., at
[email protected]

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Attractive fully furnished office space exists, full or part time, for a mental health professional. The office is one
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8
The Michigan Psychologist – 2nd Quarter 2015
Notes of a Psychology Watcher:
WHAT’S GOING ON?

Steven J. Ceresnie, Ph.D.

“I am going to live forever. So far, so good.” I hate to tell you this, fellow baby boomers, but when
someone in your weekly card group doesn’t show up,
--- Steven Wright
it’s not because they found another group to play in.
Most people don’t know that the songs that defined
And remember At the Hop by Danny and the Juniors
the boomer generation have taken on new meanings
in 1957?
for this aging population. For instance, take Ray
Charles’s 1959 song What’d I Say: And remember when you, aging boomer, could
actually hop, roll, and stroll -- and not fall down?
The memorable lyric in this song is:
But think of the memorable lyrics from At the Hop:
See that girl with a diamond ring
she knows how to shake that thing You can rock it, you can roll it;
Do the stomp and even stroll it.
Baby boomers take this song literally due to hearing
At the hop
loss (“Why is everybody mumbling?”) and memory
deficits. If you were to listen to this song today, you’re more
likely to say to yourself: “Why is this music so loud,
And what about Aretha Franklin’s great 1967 tune
and why can’t I hear anything?”
Respect?
Of course, everyone’s favorite rock ‘n’ roll group
The memorable lyrics in this song are:
was the Rolling Stones. In 1965, they sang (I Can’t
R-E-S-P-E-C-T Get No) Satisfaction. This song captures the spirit of
Find out what it means to me aging, although today, for us boomers it should be re-
R-E-S-P-E-C-T titled: I Can’t Get the Satisfaction I Used To.
Take Care, TCB
But recall the memorable lyrics in the Rolling Stones
Aging boomers crave respect because they tend to hit:
think of themselves as special, very different from
And that man comes on to tell me,
previous generations, rejecting traditional values,
How white my shirts can be,
seeking higher levels of consciousness through drugs,
But he can’t be a man cause he doesn’t smoke
sex, and an expectation to change the world for the
The same cigarettes as me.
better.
You know as well as I do that your greatest
But, try telling your grandchildren about your
satisfaction today is eating an early dinner and going
specialness and see how much RESPECT you get.
to bed at about the same time your children and
Then there was Motown’s Marvin Gaye who sang grandchildren are leaving their houses to go to a
What’s Going On in 1971. concert, restaurant, or bar. And if you’re still
smoking cigarettes, it’s likely to be on the porch or in
Even today, this is a frequently heard greeting
the garage --some satisfaction!
members of the boomer generation: “Hey, what’s
goin’ on?”
To comment on this article, contact Steven J. Ceresnie, Ph.D., at
But the memorable lyric from this tune was: [email protected].
Brother, brother, brother…
There’s far too many of you dying
9
The Michigan Psychologist – 2nd Quarter 2015
Professional Development: Keeping Up

James Windell

1. Association of COMT and TPH-2 genes with all of which are disrupted in PTSD. Antidepressants
DSM-5 based PTSD symptoms called SSRIs, or selective serotonin re-uptake
Authors: A. Goenjian, E. P. Noble, A.M. Steinberg, inhibitors, which were designed to treat depression,
D.P. Walling, S. T. Stepanyan, S. Dandekar, and J. N. target serotonin. More physicians are prescribing
Bailey SSRIs to treat disorders beyond depression, including
PTSD.
Journal: Journal of Affective Disorders (Feb. 2015)
“We found a significant association between variants
Why do some people develop post-traumatic stress
of COMT and TPH-2 with PTSD symptoms,
disorder (PTSD) while others who suffered the same
suggesting that these genes contribute to the onset
ordeal do not? A new UCLA discovery may shed
and persistence of the disorder,” says Goenjian. “Our
light on the answer.
results indicate that people who carry these genetic
UCLA scientists have linked two gene variants to the variants may be at higher risk of developing PTSD.”
debilitating mental disorder, suggesting that heredity
2. Family environment and the malleability of
influences a person’s risk of developing PTSD. The
cognitive ability: A Swedish national home-reared
findings could provide a biological basis for
and adopted-away co-sibling control study
diagnosing and treating PTSD more effectively in the
future. Authors: K.S. Kendler, E. Turkheimer, H. Ohlsson,
J. Sundquist, and K. Sundquist
“Many people suffer with post-traumatic stress
disorder after surviving a life-threatening ordeal like Journal: Proceedings of the National Academy of
war, rape or a natural disaster,” explains lead author Sciences (online March 23, 2015)
Dr. Armen Goenjian, a researcher at the Semel
A new study suggests a nurturing environment plays
Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior at
a strong role in enhancing a child’s intelligence.
UCLA. “But not everyone who experiences trauma
suffers from PTSD. We investigated whether PTSD Researchers from Virginia Commonwealth
has genetic underpinnings that make some people University (VCU), the University of Virginia, and
more vulnerable to the syndrome than others.” Lund University in Sweden discovered that young
adults who were raised in educated households
Goenjian and his team discovered that PTSD was
develop higher cognitive ability than those who were
more common in survivors who carried two gene
brought up in less ideal environments. While the
variants associated with depression. In the current
study does not contest previous findings that DNA
study, Goenjian and first author Julia Bailey, an
impacts intelligence, it does prove that environmental
adjunct assistant professor of epidemiology at the
influences play a significant role in cognitive ability
UCLA Fielding School of Public Health, focused on
as measured in early adulthood.
two genes called COMT and TPH-2 that play
important roles in brain function. Researchers compared the cognitive ability — as
measured by IQ — of 436 Swedish male siblings in
COMT is an enzyme that degrades dopamine, a
which one member was reared by biological parents
neurotransmitter that controls the brain’s reward and
and the other by adoptive parents. The IQ of the
pleasure centers, and helps regulate mood, thinking,
adopted males, which was measured at ages 18-20,
attention and behavior. Too much or too little
was 4.4 points higher than their non-adopted siblings.
dopamine can influence various neurological and
psychological disorders. “In Sweden, as in most Western countries, there is a
substantial excess of individuals who wish to adopt
TPH-2 controls the production of serotonin, a brain
compared to adoptive children available,” says joint
hormone that regulates mood, sleep and alertness —
first author Kenneth S. Kendler, M.D., professor of
10
The Michigan Psychologist – 2nd Quarter 2015