The Bexar County Psychologist - Bexar County Psychological

Bc
December 2011
Inside this Issue
President’s Column……....1
2011 BCPA Fellow…..…...2
Trainee Corner…..….….….3
Bibliotherapy…………….…4
Walk-in Therapy……….….5
Lighter Side…………………6
Telepsychology……..………7
Spring Workshop………….8
Continuing Education…...8
Fall Social………………….…9
Member Spotlight….……10
Fall Workshop……….…….11
Local Resources………..…12
Save These Dates
February 7, 2012
Drs. Esquivel & Naidoo –
Psychological Testing
February 24, 2012
Jeff Gately, J.D. —
Professional Practice
Wills
Spring Workshop
April 13, 2012
9-4pm;
Kim Munsinger, J.D. &
Harry Munsinger, J.D.,
Ph.D.
Collaborative Law
The Bexar County
Psychologist
President’s Column ~ Allyson Baker, Psy.D.
Dear BCPA Friends,
I hope you are enjoying the cooler weather and cheer of the holiday season. It’s hard to
believe that another year is coming to an end. It’s been a good one for BCPA, and we have
been busy with several events.
We had a great evening at our annual Trainee Social in September! We were so excited to
welcome trainees from Our Lady of the Lake University, the South Texas Veterans Health
Care System, the United States Air Force/Wilford Hall, The University of Texas at San
Antonio, and UTHSCSA Department of Psychiatry. Participation from area training
directors, faculty and BCPA members made the night very special. Most of all, the evening
afforded the trainees the opportunity to get to know each other better, and to form some
connections that they will hopefully nurture throughout the year. The BCPA Executive
Committee was happy to welcome Dr. Meghan von Linden and Cpt. Reed Reichwald who
volunteered to serve as Trainee Representatives this year.
Our Fall Social, held at the beautiful Holt Center at Trinity University, was co-hosted again
this year with our psychiatry colleagues from the Bexar County Psychiatric Society (BCPS).
It was a wonderful night of catching up with friends and colleagues, enjoying good food
and wine. We provided awards to honor the outstanding BCPA service of Dr. Jill Squyres
(a Past President), Dr. Nancy Logan (past Member-at-Large), and Dr. Robert Fallows
(past Trainee Representative). We also presented the 2011 BCPA Fellow Award to Dr. Lisa
Kearney, a Past President of BCPA. We plan to continue our collaboration with BCPS early
in the New Year by co-sponsoring a seminar “Psychological Testing in Adults, Adolescents
and Children” presented by Drs. Anne Esquivel and Reshma Naidoo on 2/7/12.
Dr. Jeff Younggren returned for our Fall Workshop presenting on “Adventures on the
Electronic Frontier: Ethics and Risk Management in the Digital Era.” It was a wellattended, outstanding workshop! Dr. Younggren covered issues related to computer
security, encryption, social networking technologies, as well as relevant ethics, court
decisions, and licensing board rules. Our Spring Workshop is set for 4/13/11, so mark your
calendars. The topic “Collaborative Law: A Positive Alternative to Divorce Litigation” by
Kim Munsinger, J.D., and Harry Munsinger, J.D., Ph.D., promises to be interesting and
informative.
As always, BCPA truly appreciates your continued membership, support, and
participation. Our primary goal is to advance psychology as a science, as an academic
discipline, as a profession, and as a means of promoting human welfare. We are able to
carry out our mission because of your involvement and input. Please spread the word
about BCPA membership and events, and encourage your colleagues to participate. Let us
know of any ideas you have, share your knowledge and skills by providing a seminar,
and/or consider serving on the Executive Committee in April when we seek nominations.
On behalf of the BCPA Executive Committee, warmest wishes for a happy and healthy
holiday season. Looking forward to seeing you in 2012!
With thanks,
Allyson
BCPA President
~
2
~
2011 BCPA Fellow
Lisa Kearney, Ph.D.
BCPA was honored to present Dr. Lisa Kearney with the 2011 Fellow Award at the Fall Social in
October. Fellows are members who have distinguished themselves within the association with their
outstanding service, and Dr. Kearney exemplifies this with her service to BCPA and to the overall field
of psychology.
Dr. Kearney earned a B.A. in Psychology from the University of Texas at Austin (proudly
distinguishing herself as a Longhorn), a Master’s degree in Christian Education from Dallas
Theological Seminary, followed by a M.A. in Community Counseling from St. Mary’s University. Her
love of psychology grew, and she went on to earn her Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology at the University
of Texas at Austin in 2004. She completed both her Internship in Psychology and Postdoctoral
Residency in Palliative Care and Behavioral Medicine at the South Texas Veterans Health Care
System. In 2007, Dr. Kearney earned a Postdoctoral Certification in Clinical Psychopharmacology
from Texas A&M University.
Following her residency with South Texas Veterans Health Care System, Lisa was hired as a Primary
Care Psychologist and in a few short years moved to the position of Primary Care Behavioral Health
Director and Director of Psychology Training. In 2008, she was promoted to Assistant Chief of
Psychology and then to Chief of the Psychology Service in 2009. It was not long before the Central
Office of the VA recognized her talents and hired her in November of 2010 as the “National Integrated
Care Coordinator” for the VA Central Office, Office of Mental Health Operations. She has a
tremendous commitment and passion for Veterans’ health care and for serving our nation’s heroes.
Dr. Kearney continues to be involved in research, serves as Associate Editor for APA Division 18’s
Journal Psychological Services, presents at conferences, maintains status as a Clinical Assistant
Professor for the UT Health Sciences Center, serves on the board for the Association of Psychology
Postdoctoral and Internship Centers (APPIC), and serves on several national workgroups for the
American Psychological Association. She is an active member of psychological associations at the
local, state and national levels, including BCPA, TPA, Association of VA Psychologist Leaders
(AVAPL) and APA.
Most of us who know Lisa are continually in awe of her energy and accomplishments. Her service to
BCPA is no exception! Beginning as a Trainee Representative in 2003, Dr. Kearney served BCPA for
six years in various roles. She served as Secretary from 2005, then moved on to the Presidency of the
organization in 2008. During her time on the Executive Committee of BCPA, she established a
mentoring program and did excellent work in strengthening our psychological community through
organizing events and connecting with membership.
BCPA is proud to recognize Lisa for her accomplishments and contributions. She is truly an example
of service and dedication to the profession of psychology!
~
3
~
Trainee Corner
Meghan von Linden, Ph.D. & Reed Reichwald, M.A.
Whether you’re a graduate student working on applications, an intern struggling with a demanding
caseload, or an early-career psychologist desperately seeking supervision, no doubt your life is filled
with stressful, and rewarding, challenges. It’s good to know that there is a community of local
professionals that you can connect with, who can help you succeed as a budding psychologist. The
BCPA organizes training events and socials throughout the year to help you meet your learning goals
and expand your professional networks. In September, the BCPA kicked off the year with the annual
Trainee Social. It was a great opportunity to get out of the office, interact with peers and faculty from
various training sites, and meet local area psychologists. Training directors shared their enthusiasm
and ideas for achieving greater collaboration between local training sites.
We know it can be intimidating attending social events where you don’t know many of the attendees,
or finding your way around a new city for that matter. However, it’s important to remember that these
potentially stressful activities connect us to the professional world which we’ve been working so hard
to join. The BCPA Fall Social brought together residents, interns, and BCPA, as well as BCPS,
members, all with the common goal of strengthening our ties to our community (and enjoying good
food and drinks!). San Antonio doesn’t have to be the community you’re hoping to settle in for the
long haul in order for these events to be worth your while. If we’ve learned anything over the years, it’s
that the field of psychology is small and tightly woven. In every new state that we’ve lived, we’ve met
colleagues who have lived in the state we just left, worked in the state we went to school in, or know
someone in the state to which we hope to move next. As your trainee representatives to the executive
committee, it is our goal to help you find your place in this community, no matter what point you are
at along your journey, or where you’ve set your sights as your final destination.
To further our goal, we would like to draw your attention to our Facebook page! Simply search for
BCPA Psychology Trainees, and “Like” us please. We are working to make sure this page will bring you
up-to-date information about future social gatherings as well as trainings offered locally. This would
also be a great way for you to leave us feedback by posting on our wall or through private message, as
we always want to know what you would like to see more of, or what we could improve upon.
An upcoming event we especially hope to hear your thoughts on is a trainee get-together tentatively
planned for February or March. This is a chance for us to socialize and make connections while doing
something fun. We encourage you to share your ideas on our Facebook page about potential plans for
this event. Any and all suggestions are welcome!
Sincerely,
Meghan and Reed
~
4
~
Bibliotherapy and Beyond
Jill Squyres, Ph.D.
The latest business advice for psychologists encourages us to cultivate a niche of expertise. A niche will allow your practice
to stand out amidst the clutter of treatment options and help potential clients decide whether you are likely to be the
psychotherapist best suited for their needs. My practice niche is helping gifted people cope and thrive in the face of their
uniquely rarified universe of talents, challenges and stressors. To further this aim, I love to read biographies of exceptional
people who have achieved the outstanding kind of greatness and impact on society that can come from being driven,
creative, and intellectually gifted.
Steve Jobs, who passed away October 10, is one such genius. If you would like to better understand what makes people like
Steve Jobs tick, you should read Walter Isaacson’s new book Steve Jobs. It can be difficult for most people to fathom the
way brilliant, opinionated, persistent, irreverent, visionary people actually think. You can enjoy a front row seat to the
mystery and wonder of an amazing mind when you read this biography. A compelling biography about the “other” Steve, at
Apple, Steve Wozniak, is called iWoz: How I Invented the Personal Computer and Had Fun Along the Way by Patrick
Lawlor. While Jobs was moody, charismatic, grandiose and ambitious, Woz, is a sweet, shy, solitary dreamer with an
admittedly high level of social awkwardness. While I don’t diagnose people I’ve never met, he comes across as a classic
presentation of high functioning Asperger’s Syndrome. His autobiography is both touching and inspiring. Both Apple
creator biographies stand well on their own but they convey an interesting synergy when read in tandem. They chronicle
an exciting time in the history of technology and provide an answer to the age-old question, “If things are the way they are
because they got that way, how DID they get that way?”…At least with regard to Apple computers, anyway!
The author who wrote Steve Jobs also wrote a biography of Albert Einstein (entitled Einstein: His Life and Universe)
published in 2007. Isaacson is particularly skilled at making the minute details of life lyrical and informative. He
integrates great chunks of history into his books and strives to help the reader understand the “theory of mind” of his
famous subjects. He debunks many of the popular myths about Einstein, such as the absurd idea that Einstein failed math
in elementary school, which he did not. As a psychologist, it is especially interesting to understand how visionary men like
Einstein, Wozniak and Jobs integrate their exceptional giftedness with the other relatively mundane but meaningful
priorities in their lives such as family, relationships, home-life, travel, values and inspirations.
A Madman Dreams of Turing Machines, by Janna Levin, is about Kurt Godel and Alan Turing. Godel was a
mathematician / philosopher who gloried in the café culture of 1930’s Vienna. Turing was a mathematician / logician /
computer scientist who is best known for mechanical decision theory and the Turing Test, which is still the standard by
which the quality of artificial intelligence is gauged. The book is an intriguing foray into the lives of two brilliant but
troubled men whose lives had striking similarities and common influences, although they never actually met. The author’s
deft use of alternating chapters about each of her subjects makes for some very engrossing reading.
End Game: Bobby Fischer’s Remarkable Rise and Fall from America’s Brightest Prodigy to the Edge Of Madness, by
Frank Brady, chronicles the troubled life of chess champion Bobby Fisher, another genius with qualities characteristic of
Asperger’s syndrome. Fischer’s IQ was measured at 181 and his odd, demanding and difficult nature was legendary. He
died in 2008, consumed by feelings of bitterness and alienation.
In my opinion, the most heart-rending biography of genius is A Beautiful Mind by Sylvia Nasar about the eccentric Nobelprize winning Princeton economist John Nash. While the eponymous movie is fascinating, the book is even better. It
explores the details of Nash’s descent into paranoia and psychosis with a gentleness and wisdom that provides thoughtful
insight into the inner experience of schizophrenia. This remarkable book is a particularly engaging read for mental health
professionals wishing to develop a deeper understanding of this terrible illness.
The poignant struggle that comes with compelling genius seems to separate a person from the rest of his world. Ultimately,
what we call genius appears to be the natural ability to comprehend universal truths and see things in a way that no one
else generally does. This can make for a very turbulent and lonely existence. The isolation, frustration and compulsive
drive that characterize the subjects of these biographies shows how giftedness can be a double-edged sword. Sadly, their
greatest challenge may be growing old without becoming paranoid, alienated, delusional or embittered. It’s always
illuminating to really know the actual person behind a legend. These biographies bring these legendary scientists and
inventers alive in a way that will forever change how you perceive the costs and benefits of genius. Hopefully, reading
about their lives will make you further appreciate the price they paid to make the unique contributions that have so
enriched our lives. The insights gleaned can also compassionately inform our work with individuals on the gifted spectrum.
Until next time, happy reading!
~
5
~
When All You Have is an Hour
Monte Bobele, Ph.D., ABPP & Arnie Slive, Ph.D.
Our Lady of the Lake University
Walk-in therapy and single-session therapy are two related forms of brief therapy. Recently these approaches have
challenged the idea that enduring change must come through long and laborious mental health interventions. There is
consistent evidence of the efficacy of these briefer interventions in the literature. These models have been influenced by
schools of thought ranging from psychodynamic to systemic to behavior therapy (Hoyt, 2009). All are based on the idea
that meaningful change can occur in relatively few sessions.
Walk-in/single session therapies treat each session as a complete therapy, in and of itself. Both aim for clients to leave
with a sense of hopefulness, knowing that they have been heard, and having gained an increased awareness of their
strengths and resources. In some circumstances, clients may have also begun to develop a plan on how to address their
issues. The most obvious difference between the two is that walk-in therapy requires no appointment—clients just walk
in.
The first walk-in counseling service in the US that we know of was started in Minneapolis in 1969 (Schoener, 2011). It
was unique for its time in that it did not require an appointment for services and was entirely staffed by volunteers. In
1990, Slive and his colleagues described the development of a walk-in counseling service in Calgary, Canada (Slive,
MacLaurin, Oakander, & Amundson, 1995). A recent international conference in Toronto was built around the
applications of walk-in therapy in Canada and the US. In our recent book, When one hour is all you have: Effective
therapy for walk-in clients, we described walk-in services in a variety of settings (Slive & Bobele, 2011). Such walk-in
services provide the opportunity to have a session of counseling without the hassle of intake processes and waits. Walkin services reduce or eliminate the traditional administrative hurdles potential clients face. The only steps required are
showing up, filling out a brief form, and waiting for the session to start. Walk-in clients tend to be highly motivated
because they are likely to come at a time when they are ready to change.
Walk-in therapy fills an important need in the delivery of mental health services. It is not simply a modality for lowincome or minority clients. There are a number of services that are de facto walk-in services such as Employee
Assistance Programs and telephone-counseling services. Moreover, walk-in services may offer unique opportunities for
agencies operating with reduced resources. A walk-in service is cost-efficient because more clients can be served in fewer
sessions. Walking in can eliminate the need for a traditional intake service reducing the length of wait time for other
agency counseling services. The bottleneck at the point of entry will have eased or been erased. There are no “no shows.”
The idle hours represented by clients who do not show up for an appointment, or cancel at the last minute, are filled with
walk-in clients. In OLLU’s Community Counseling Service, where most of our work is done, the hours set aside for walkin services are usually busier than the hours reserved for scheduled appointments.
A walk-in service can be an important component of a larger network of mental health and social service resources
(Clements, McElheran, Hackney & Park, 2011). Many who access a walk-in service have not had counseling before, and
are searching for a resource that will address their needs. Their walk-in session may become a starting point for further
services. Hospital emergency services may send clients to walk-in services after their risk level has been assessed.
Conversely, therapists at a walk-in clinic may send high-risk clients to an emergency room for possible hospitalization or
put clients in touch with child protection services.
In summary, walk-in services enhance accessibility of mental health counseling, take advantage of immediate client
motivation, and are exceptionally cost-efficient. More training of mental health professionals in these briefest of
therapies is needed so that clients will have access to help when it will be the most beneficial to them. An expansion of
single session and walk-in services is one way to reduce the barriers many people experience when trying to access
mental health services.
Suggestions for Further Reading:
Hoyt, M. (1994). Single-session solutions. In M.F. Hoyt (Ed.), Constructive therapies 1 (pp. 140-159). New York:
Guilford.
Slive, A. (2008). (Ed.) Special Section: Walk-in single session therapy. Journal of systemic therapies, 27, 1-89.
Slive, A., & Bobele, M. (Eds.). (2011). When one hour is all you have: Effective therapy for walk-in clients. Phoenix:
Zeig, Tucker & Theisen.
~
6
~
On The Lighter Side
Jill Squyres, Ph.D.
Two Wolves
One evening an old Sioux told his grandson
about a battle that goes on inside people.
He said,
"My son, the battle is between two wolves inside us all.
"One is Evil – It is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow,
regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment,
inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego."
"The other is Good – It is joy, peace, love,
hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence,
empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith."
The grandson thought about it for a minute and
then asked his grandfather: "Which wolf wins?"
The old Sioux simply replied, "The one you feed."
New BCPA Members
A Spirit of Giving
We would like to give a shout out to the following
new BCPA members – please do your best to
welcome them to our professional fold:
BCPA actively pursues the support of charitable
organizations through sponsorship and donations from
its members.
Student Members
Needhi Bhaga
Philip Parker Haley
Lauren Koep
Bernard Alan Ramsey
Eliza Torres
Elizabeth Wymer
In November, we coordinated support for the:
Affiliate Members
Jannie Sue Tadlock
Full Members
Kenneth Adams
Christopher Bacorn
Ellen Bajorek
Monty Baker
Stacia Daniel
Rosa Espinosa
Anne Esquivel
Rowland Folensbee
Kasi Howard
Maureen King
Cindy Ann McGeary
Kira Mello Rogers
Kimberly Trayhan
Nabeel Yehyawi
Haven for Hope
a private non-profit aimed at transforming the lives of
homeless men, women and children in the San
Antonio/Bexar County area
through the kind donations from our membership at the
Fall Workshop.
In addition, we supported the Pride Center San
Antonio to provide outreach efforts to the Bexar
County LGBT community.
We look forward to supporting the Battered Women
& Children’s Shelter at our Spring Workshop!
Please join us in our efforts to give back to our
community through these efforts. Also, remember that
we would love suggestions on organizations that are
dear to your heart.
~
7
~
Telepsychology & Virtual Office Systems
Matt Oefinger, Ph.D.
TherapyFountain e-Therapy & Virtual Office Systems
What do radiologists and therapists have in common? More than you might think. With the evolution of digital imaging
and Internet-enabled systems permitting radiologists a work-from-home lifestyle, radiology has become one of the most
competitive fields in medicine. Now as we enter the age of ever-present Wi-Fi and pervasive Internet video chat, can you
foresee a new generation of private practice therapists enabled by Internet communication tools? Until that day comes,
new systems for practice management already promise immediate benefits while preparing for the eventuality.
As a starting point we should distinguish between a “virtual office” and “e-therapy”. E-therapy is a means of conducting
sessions through electronic media: phone, video chat, email, text message, etc. A virtual office is a collection of tools
facilitating better practice management. A virtual office system may be described as front-office, back-office or both. A
front-office system caters to therapist/client interaction (i.e. administration of online forms, online scheduling, pre-cert,
online payment etc), whereas a back-office system caters to the management of a practice (i.e. financial analysis, treatment
plans, session notes etc).
Long-running debates about ethics and efficacy of e-therapy have brought confusion and concern about its viability, but as
a matter of practicality, e-therapy is here to stay. The reasons? One is demand-pull economics. People spend, on average,
over 30 hours online weekly. Your paying clients are online, and they will gravitate toward practices that are available in
their online world as well. Even as payers struggle to decide whether they will reimburse e-therapy, a large and growing
base of fee-for-service clientele makes e-therapy an increasingly attractive practice offering in non-hospital settings.
Beyond pure economics, e-therapy bolsters otherwise missed opportunities for sessions; transportation issues and social
anxiety are no longer obstacles to a session, and clients do not risk the awkward waiting-room encounter of a friend or
acquaintance.
Not prepared to embrace e-therapy? You may reason as follows: The need for face-to-face sessions will forever exist. Many
clients may not be comfortable with a video session, and even among those who are comfortable a fair number will be
turned off by the fact that their insurance will not pay for it. Your logic is sound, and punting on the adoption of an etherapy offering is absolutely a reasonable decision. You should not conclude, however, that you do not need any online
presence whatsoever. Your clients are still increasingly conducting their daily lives online, so access to scheduling and
forms, and some minimum form of online communication (even if not live video chat) is fast becoming a necessity. In
short, e-therapy is a nice-to-have; a virtual office is a must-have.
What should you expect from a virtual office system? You – and your clients – should expect a system that is easy-to-use
and intuitive. More germane to a workshop on the ethics of technology, however, you should expect a system caters to your
sense of good judgment. The primary ethical concern of a virtual office may be summarily described as the fear that clients
could surmise from the virtual office that traditional access is unavailable. Therefore a virtual office, in its role as online
“storefront,” should emphasize that online services (whether e-therapy or front-office components of a virtual office
system) are offered in addition to – not in place of – standard, in-office services. The site should, at bare minimum, notify
clients in crisis to contact emergency personnel. Having thus fully informed clients, let us assume some now willfully and
knowingly opt to use your virtual office or e-therapy system. HIPAA guidelines define, in painstaking bureaucratic detail,
exactly how a system should safely handle information. In common sense terms, we might simply want to know that the
information in an online system handles information with the same precautions as an online banking site or application.
Encrypted data transfer and encrypted databases are the electronic lock and key protecting sensitive information from
prying eyes. The system should be password-protected and compartmentalize information on a need-to-know basis. For
example, a system for a multi-therapist agency should permit a director to assign direct relationships between a client and
a therapist. A given therapist should only be able to access information pertaining to his/her clients, not all clients in the
agency. Passwords on the system should be self-selectable and the system should provide an easy means for each user to
change his/her own password as often as desired. While the system may use email and/or text messaging for
communication of general information, it should never send automated emails or texts with sensitive information, as email
and text messages are typically unencrypted. Finally, the system should provide redundancy; it should perform automated
nightly backups to an offsite server so that you do not need to perform manual backups. Backup is mundane and
painstaking, yet critical. Unfortunately you don’t know how critical it is until you need it most.
Our industry is not the first to grapple with questions of how to utilize digital systems in a way that can improve treatment,
organize a practice or improve profitability. Any discussion of automation or online access certainly warrants questions of
ethics, as a poorly-designed digital system can certainly expose client data or otherwise diminish your practice’s data
integrity.
Continued on page 8
~
8
~
Membership
Drive
Telepsychology—Continued from page 7
BCPA can only thrive with
the support of its
membership and by
maintaining and growing
the ranks of its
membership. If you have
not yet submitted your
member dues, please
contact us so that you may
continue receiving the full
benefit of membership. If
you have been satisfied
with what BCPA has given
to you, share the wealth
and invite your
professional friends in
psychology or mental
health services to join.
Please consider active
involvement in the
organization -- we always
need help to ensure the
quality of our services!
However, a properly-designed system will improve client privacy, through stringent access
controls and password protection, and ensure record integrity, through automated offsite
backups. The question of ethics, therefore, is not simply one of addressing a negative – we
aren’t just working toward a defense of digital systems as capable of abiding by the status
quo in client privacy or record integrity. A well-built system will, in fact, out-perform the
status quo by enforcing privacy and security rules that we humans are often too lax, or too
busy, to enforce ourselves. Moreover, an added e-therapy capability may arguably improve
access by removing transportation and social anxiety barriers.
Continuing
Education
Update
Presented by:
Kim Munsinger, J.D. & Harry Munsinger, J.D., Ph.D.
The BCPA professional
education series continues
to be a great success. A
large
part
of
our
organization’s service to
our membership is in the
provision of opportunities
for continuing education
in the San Antonio area.
Please volunteer to be a
workshop presenter!
If you have any comments
or special requests for
upcoming seminars, or if
you are able to volunteer
to give a presentation,
please
e-mail
us:
[email protected]. We
look forward to hearing
from you!
About the author: Dr. Oefinger is a systems engineer whose design portfolio ranges from
systems for automated hedge fund analysis to cardiovascular diagnostics systems for the
recognition of heart disease. He holds Master’s and PhD degrees from the MIT’s
Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. In 2010 Dr. Oefinger
founded iTherapeia, Inc., whose TherapyFountain e-therapy and virtual office system has
been in development for the past 18 months and will hit markets in January of 2012. For
more information contact Dr. Oefinger at [email protected].
Spring 2012 Workshop — Collaborative Law:
A Positive Alternative to Divorce Litigation
April 13, 2012
9am-4pm (6 CEUs)
Christopher Hall, St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church
1602 Thousand Oaks Drive, San Antonio, TX 78232
Your 2011-2012 BCPA Executive Committee
President: Dr. Allyson Baker
President-elect: Dr. Ezequiel Peña
Past-President: Dr. Javier Villanueva
Treasurer: Dr. Karin McCoy
Secretary: Dr. Jill Thurber
Members at Large: Drs. Deborah Gilbertson
& Mary Torres
Trainee Representatives: Dr. Meghan von Linden
& Reed Reichwald, M.A.
Happy New Year on Behalf of the Executive Committee!
~
9
~
Fall Social 2011
Top left: Drs. Lisa Kearney (2011 Fellow), Dianne
Dunn, Crystal Pearson, Allyson Baker (BCPA
President), Emma Mata-Galan, Emily Bower, Paul
Ingmundson, and Nabeel Yehyawi
Below: Drs. Cynthia Diaz de Leon and Susan
Wynne (BCPS President)
Below: Drs. Jill Thurber (BCPA Secretary), Stacia Daniels, Deborah
Gilbertson (Member-at-Large), and Mary Torres (Member-at-Large)
Above: Dr. Javier Villanueva (BCPA Past President), Gloria Botello,
and Jesse Botello who provided background music for the event
Above: Trainees Lauren Koep and Dr. Meghan von
Linden (BCPA Trainee Representative)
~
10
~
2011 Fall Member Spotlight
Gary Neal, Ph.D.
Dr. Gary Neal was born in Beaumont, Texas. The son of a blue collar family, his father, a World War II
veteran with the Navy, worked in the oil industry, and the family moved around throughout Texas until he
was four when his father took a job with a pipeline company in Venezuela. He lived there for four years,
having an early international experience, subsequently moving back to Beaumont where he remained
through the completion of high school. He, his sister and his cousins were the first generation in the family
to have attended college. He completed three semesters at Lamar University, Beaumont Texas from 19721973. Dr. Neal started college pursuing psychology, loved it and subsequently transferred to Southern
Methodist University, completing his B.S. in psychology in 1975 as a Phi Beta Kappa honors graduate. While
there, he met John Sell, a mentor of sorts in college counseling, who gave him recommendations to pursue
graduate school in Missouri. He obtained a Master of Arts in counseling in 1981, and his doctoral degree in
counseling psychology from the University of Missouri-Columbia in 1983.
Dr. Neal joined Counseling Services at Trinity University in 1983, also briefly serving as adjunct professor in
psychology, became director of Trinity's Counseling Services in 1987, and was named director of Counseling
and Health Services in 1994. In addition to providing basic psychological services for a wide range of
student concerns including depression, anxiety, relationship issues, and academic performance, he offers
expertise in couples counseling and grief counseling. Dr. Neal is a health services administrative supervisor
at Trinity University, and helps to oversee medical services to students on the Trinity campus. He received
the Rhea Fern Malsbury Memorial Award at Trinity University in 2008. Dr. Neal remains fully satisfied
with a career at Trinity, having a love for private education and the residential model, particularly enjoying
the vibrancy of campus life.
Dr. Neal’s first role with BCPA was as a newsletter editor in 1985, during which time Don McCree was
president and Pam Clements was the president-elect. He served as president of BCPA from 1989-1990, and
was named a Fellow of the BCPA in 1998. He has been hosting the fall social at Trinity University for BCPA
for approximately 20 years.
Married to Brigette for five years, each of them has two children from previous marriages. Brigette has a
daughter who lives in Dallas and another who lives in Seattle, and they have brought the Neals three
granddaughters. Dr. Neal has a daughter, Andrea, who is currently a senior at Southwestern University in
Georgetown as a theater major who plans to teach. His son, Garrison, is a junior in high school at Johnson
high school and an Eagle Scout who has been active in Boy Scouts since he was a Tiger Cub. Garrison
currently plays percussion for the high school band in "the pit," with the primary instrument being the
vibraphone. Dr. Neal's children and grandchildren keep him busy, and the Neals love spending time with
their grandchildren. He also remains busy during the band/football season as a roadie, transporting band
equipment to and from events. He remains active with Garrison’s Scout activities, and described for me an
interesting outing in 2010 when he and Garrison spent a week sail boating, kayaking and snorkeling with
other scouts.
We are blessed to have Dr. Neal as an active and supportive member of BCPA, and we thank him for all of
his years of service to BCPA.
~
11
~
Fall Workshop 2011
Jeffrey N. Younggren, Ph.D., ABPP
Adventures on the Electronic Frontier: Ethics and
Risk Management in the Digital Era
On November 11, 2011 at Christopher Hall at St. Mark’s Church:
Dr. Allyson Baker presents
Dr. Nancy Logan, Past
Member-at-Large, with a
service award on behalf of
BCPA
~
12
~
Local Help Lines, Support Groups
and Crisis Services
Crisis Lines
•
•
•
•
•
Rape Crisis Hotline of San Antonio 349-7273 (www.rapecrisis.com)
Violent Crime Hotline 1-800-848-4284
Child Abuse Hotline 1-800-647-7418
Battered Women & Children’s Shelter 733-8810 (http://www.fvps.org/ )
Crisis Stabilization Unit 5-5481
Help Lines, Support Groups, and/or Therapy Services
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Planned Parenthood 590-0202 (www.plannedparenthood.org)
Family Violence Prevention Center 930-3669
Alcoholics Anonymous 828-6235 (24hr)
(www.aainsa.org ) – can obtain a listing of all meetings in San Antonio at the website
Al-Anon Family Groups 342-3063 (bookstore) (24 hr) or 829-1392
(http://www.san-antonio-alanon.org/ )
Narcotics Anonymous 434-0665 (24hr)
(http://www.eanaonline.org/)
Harris Counseling Center (Rational Recovery, SMART Recovery) 637-5994
(http://www.harris-eap-adhd.com/ )
Center for Health Care Services 731-1300 (http://www.chcsbc.org/ )
Pride Center San Antonio 313-8238 (www.pridecentersa.com)
Family Service Association of SA 299-2400 (www.familyservice.org )
Texas Department of Human Services 1-877-541-7905 (www.hhsc.state.tx.us )
United Way Information and Referral Resource 227-4357 (www.unitedway.com )
Adult Protective Services 1-800-252-5400
(http://www.dfps.state.tx.us/Adult_Protection/How_to_Report_Abuse/default.asp )
National Alliance of the Mentally Ill 1-800-950-NAMI (6264) (www.nami.org )
Family Life Center at St. Mary’s University 436-3133 or 438-6411
Community Counseling Service at Our Lady of the Lake University 431-1054
Alamo Children’s Advocacy Center (treatment for sexually abused children) 675-9000
(http://www.childsafe-sa.org/ )
Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders 1-800-242-3399
Child Protective Services 1-800-252-5400
(http://www.dfps.state.tx.us/child_protection/about_child_protective_services/ )
Jewish Family and Children’s Services 302-6920
Vet Center 231 W. Cypress St. (http://www.veteranprograms.com/id491.html )
Center for Legal and Social Justice at St. Mary’s University 431-2596
R.A.I.C.E.S. 226-7722 (http://www.raicestexas.org/ )
Suicide Hotline
•
•
United Way 227-HELP (4357) (24hr)
Laurel Ridge Treatment Center 491-9400
~
13
~
CLASSIFIED AD
Your ad here
reaches our
entire
membership
If you would like to post a
classified ad in the BCPA
newsletter, contact us at 210930-3731.
News FLASH: Living Green
We hope you have
enjoyed your BCPA Fall
Newsletter.
We will
continue to bring you
new material in each
upcoming volume. Let
us know if you have
any material or articles
you would like to
include.
Remember
that as of 2008, we are
living green with an
online
newsletter
edition, rather than a
hard-copy
mail-out.
For members not online, we will continue to
offer a hard copy. Let
us know if you need one.
Since we are increasing
the amount of BCPA
correspondence handled
online, please make sure
we have a current email
address on file by
sending your preferred
address
to:
[email protected].
BCPA is YOUR organization!
To keep up with
the latest
association news
and events, type:
Bexar County
Psychological
Association in
your search box
and click “Like”
As we enter the
holiday season, we
wanted to take a
moment to thank
each of you in our
membership for all
that you do to make
our organization so
wonderful. We are
always looking for
new ways to meet the
needs
of
the
membership and to
promote the practice
of psychology in our
community.
Bexar County Psychological Association
P.O. Box 700144
San Antonio, TX 78270-0144
*Contact BCPA*
Bexar County
Psychological
Association
P.O. Box 700144
San Antonio, TX
78270-0144
Phone
(210) 930-3731
Website
www.bexarpsyc.org
E-mail
[email protected]
MEMBER NAME
STREET ADDRESS
ADDRESS 2
CITY, ST ZIP CODE
Remember to shoot
an e-mail to us with
any suggestions you
might have on how
we might be able to
serve you better in the
future.
We would
love to hear from you!