What is a Psychologist?
Psychologists are doctoral-level mental health professionals (Ph.D., Psy.D., or Ed.D.) who spend an average of seven years in education and training after receiving their undergraduate degree. They obtain one of the following:
Message from the President
In 2023, we celebrated our 75th anniversary as an organization! Our first 75 years were spent legitimizing and advocating for our identity through establishing Psychology as a recognized and independent profession. We must never forget that we were recognized as a specialty and granted licensure in 1964 and only in the 1980s did we earn the privilege of independent practice without supervision from physicians. These are humbling dates and should serve as a strong reminder to all psychologists that our profession, while scientifically established since the 19th century, has been in existence as an independently licensed field for less time than I, an elder millennial, have been alive!
Trust in Human Relationships
Let’s pause and think about the word “trust.” It is such a powerful word. It is likely flattering when someone says they trust you. And it is likely worrisome when someone says they do not trust you. Yet, whether it is an absence of trust or simply a tarnished trust, we must understand the human dynamics before we can ameliorate human relationships hampered by trust issues. The following will explore the meaning of the word trust as it applies to a person’s trust of another person.
Let Freedom Ring
How do we fight an invisible enemy that requires us to go against our basic values, to change our behaviors, our way of life.
We Americans are having a tough time making this transition. In order to succeed against this invisible enemy, we must change our perceptions and behaviors. We must re-structure our concept of freedom and we must change our behaviors.
Caring for the Self in 2021
When we are under high stress, it can be tempting to put off self-care. This can be especially true when our pre-covid routines have been so disrupted. But I hope that many of us have self-care activities that we have been able to keep, and perhaps have been able to find new ones. One of my favorites for myself and my clients is mindfulness, which is perhaps best practiced in isolation, and can be practiced almost anywhere and anytime we can find a few moments.
Pandemic Theme Hints: Who else forgot that Groundhog Day has a happy ending?
Since the pandemic started earlier this year, I’ve found myself in the interesting position of not only using theme hints to establish common language between myself and my individual clients, but in using the SAME themes across different clients in order to navigate what seem to be very common concerns among the majority, if not the entirety, of my caseload: coping with an increased sense of isolation, anxiety related to the uncertainty of the future, an increasing sense of powerlessness regarding one’s circumstances, and the mind-numbing sameness of the day-to-day in this “new normal.”
Should I Coordinate with a Sex Therapist? The Answer is YES!
When I introduce myself as a sex therapist to other mental health providers and professionals in the medical field, I get a mixed bag of reactions. Some respond with enthusiastic curiosity about the strangest cases I’ve worked with in the past. More often; however, I encounter providers who give me a sideways glance and mutter an uneasy, “Oh, that’s interesting.”
President’s Update on Hurricane Laura
Louisiana is a resilient community, but we work best when we work together. Southwest Louisiana is a community that prior to this storm was underserved in mental and behavioral health. I know that our public affairs committee will be meeting so that we can organize resources as we become aware of needs. From past experiences, we know that each disaster is unique and that it is often best to listen to impacted communities, allow them to express their needs first, then organize response with what is needed rather than making assumptions.
