In Remembrance of Victims of Gun Violence on the 10th Anniversary of the Sandy Hook Mass Shooting

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In Remembrance of Victims of Gun Violence on the 10th Anniversary of the Sandy Hook Mass Shooting

headshot of Ashley FreemanToday, December 14th, marks the 10-year anniversary of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting. The shooting took place in Newtown, Connecticut, and resulted in the deaths of 6 adults and 20 children between the ages of 6 and 7 years old. It marks the deadliest mass shooting at an elementary school in U.S. history. The deadliest school shooting in history occurred at Virginia Tech University on 4/16/2007 and resulted in 33 dead and 17 injured. Horrifically, mass shootings have continued to increase over the past several years and take place in a variety of locations beyond the school setting. 

More recently was the mass shooting at Club Q in Colorado Springs that has been deemed a hate crime targeting the LGBTQ+ community and resulted in the deaths of five people and dozens injured. A recent Press Release from APA noted, “The mass shooting in Colorado Springs followed the horrific attacks at the University of Virginia, a drumbeat that continues without fail. In November alone, there have been at least 27 reported mass shootings with more than 40 victims dead.”

The Disaster Response Committee is committed to raising awareness of the impact of mass shootings as well as the psychological, social, and policy factors related to these violent acts. To that end, IPA has partnered with other state associations to provide the online training “The Minds, Lives, and Motivations of Mass Attackers” scheduled for 1/27/2023 from 1-4pm CST.

Click here to register for The Minds, Lives, and Motivations of Mass Attackers training

Click here for resources on Mass Shootings

Click here for resources on Gun Violence Prevention

 

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Sandy Hook Elementary Mass Shooting Victims

 

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Club Q Mass Shooting Victims

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Update on RxP in Iowa

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RxP’s Shining Light

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RxP’s Shining Light

On behalf of the psychopharmacology committee, please note recent attention for the RxP movement by Dr. Beth Rom-Rymer (our Illinois neighbor), as highlighted in a recent newsletter from former APA President Pat DeLeon. 

Beth Rom-Rymer, who came in second in this year’s APA Presidential race: “South Africa – Throughout my early training and professional career, I have sought to form international partnerships.  The richness of these cultural, linguistic relationships continually advance my work.  In October of this year, I had the remarkable opportunity to travel to South Africa to speak on a panel, focused on Prescriptive Authority (RxP), with the leaders of the RxP movement in South Africa, Joachim Mureriwa and Thabiso Rapapali.  It was thrilling to speak to an overflow crowd of South African psychologists, all eager to train to become prescribing psychologists.  The need for more accessible and comprehensive mental health treatment is at crisis proportions in South Africa as it is in the US.  A global perspective will serve as a foundation for the future of psychology and APA.  It is critical that we approach our numerous international partnerships with an attitude of collaborative science, flexibility, and honesty, via a commitment to reciprocity and respect and a desire to learn from our global partners, as well as contribute.  My experience in South Africa personified this philosophy.  I was embraced by my colleagues and gained a richness in experience that could only be realized by international collaboration.  I have been transformed by my experience.

“CATO Institute – It is quite exciting when one’s life passion and achievements become recognized by the larger world.  When I received an email from Jeffrey A. Singer, MD, a general surgeon in Arizona in early September, who is also a senior research Fellow at the CATO Institute, asking me to participate in a live-streamed panel on RxP, I jumped on the opportunity.  Over time, we developed a prestigious panel that included Illinois psychiatrist, Thomas Lee, MD, a supporter of psychologist’s prescriptive authority; Claudia Mosier, a highly respected prescribing psychologist in both Louisiana and Illinois; and Rebecca (Becca) Weintraub Brendel, MD, JD, President of the American Psychiatric Association.  Although not billed as a debate, it was a highly ‘animated’ discussion about the viability of RxP.  Becca focused on the timeworn tropes that: prescribing psychologists’ work was not safe; that the numbers of prescribing psychologists would never reach a threshold high enough to provide care to the most underserved populations; and that if psychologists would only submit to the psychiatrists’ ‘leadership’, all of us could work ‘more collaboratively and more effectively’ because medical school was a ‘proven’ training ground for mental health prescribers.

“Our team of pro-prescriptive authority psychologists, with myself in the lead, opened up the conversation with statistics demonstrating the dramatically low numbers of treating psychiatrists, especially for children, adolescents, and older adults; a description of the warm welcome that prescribing psychologists have been given by frontline psychiatrists and other healthcare providers throughout Illinois; and, an enumeration of the numbers of hours of training that prescribing psychologists, especially those in Illinois, receive: up to 20,000 hours as compared with 10,000-16,000 hours of training that psychiatrists receive.  When Becca complained about the low numbers of prescribing psychologists, Claudia made the excellent point: ‘You’re really just giving a circular argument: psychiatrists block prescribing psychologists’ legislative bills at every turn and then you say that we don’t have enough bills that have passed.’  As the coup de grace, Claudia said: ‘You say that there are not enough of us to make a difference, but I am in the field, with a schedule that is filled with patients, and psychiatrists are just not there.’”  Beth’s similarly inspiring presentation before interested members of the New York State legislature can be seen at https://youtu.be/34tac4dQuYI .

You can learn more about RxP in Iowa here. 

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Update on RxP in Iowa

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Transgender Day of Remembrance 2022

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Transgender Day of Remembrance 2022

Nic HolmbergOn behalf of the Diversity and Social Justice Committee, I’d like to share that November 20th is Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR), a day to honor the trans and gender diverse (TGD) people who’ve been lost to violence. The first TDOR was in 1999 by trans advocate, Gwendolyn Ann Smith, as a way to memorialize Rita Hester, a transgender woman who was murdered.

 According to the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), at least 32 trans and gender diverse people have been murdered in 2022. This number is an underestimate, as police and news media often misgender TGD victims. Since the HRC started formally tracking violence against TGD people in 2013: 

  • More than 85% of TGD victims were people of color
  • 69% of TGD deaths involved firearms
  • In 40% of cases no arrests have been made
  • Of the cases with a known perpetrator, 65% of TGD victims were killed by someone they knew

More anti-trans legislation is being introduced and passed than ever before, including in Iowa. The DSJc firmly believes that trans rights are human rights. 

Please join me in saying aloud the names of the 32 known TGD people killed this year and let us hope this list does not grow by the end of the year:

Amariey Lej

Duval Princess

Cypress Ramos

Naomie Skinner

Matthew Angelo Spampinato

Paloma Vazquez

Tatiana Labelle

Kathryn “Katie” Newhouse

Kenyatta “Kesha” Webster

Miia Love Parker

Ariyanna Mitchell 

Fern Feather

Ray Muscat

Nedra Sequence Morris

Chanelika Y’Ella Dior Hemingway

Sasha Mason

Brazil Johnson

Shawmayne Giselle Marie

Kitty Monroe

Martasia Richmond

Keshia Chanel Geter

Cherry Bush

Marisela Castro

Hayden Davis

Kandii Redd

Aaron Lynch

Maddie Hofmann

Dede Ricks

Mya Allen

Acey Morrison

Semaj Billingslea

Tiffany Banks

Respectfully,
The DSJc 

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Letters from the Membership Committee

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Letters from the Membership Committee

The following letter was sent to in-state and out-of-state licensees who have been licensed since September 1, 2021. We’re publishing here to remind everyone of the great benefits included in your membership. Also, you can share this blog post with anyone you know who you think should consider membership in IPA! A huge thank you to the Membership Committee (co-chaired by Dr. Nicole Keedy and Dr. Alissa Doobay) with a special thank you to Dr. Jody Jones for constructing and updating our recruitment letters to keep IPA thriving. 

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Congratulations on obtaining licensure in Iowa! We are glad you are serving Iowans, and we would like to invite you to join the Iowa Psychological Association (IPA). 

Your membership in IPA will benefit you in many ways, including: 

Continuing education at discounted rates 

  • Spring and Fall Conferences: IPA sponsors top-quality spring and fall conferences each year in the state of Iowa, including a day with Dr. Russell Kolts on Friday, October 7 in West Des Moines. Members will pay a reduced rate to attend and learn about compassion-focused therapy from one of the nation’s experts on the topic. You may find information about this and other upcoming events at https://iowapsychology.org/upcoming-events.
  • Virtual CEs and recorded events: 
    • IPA members receive four (4) free CEsannually for recorded events available on our website
    • We also offer multiple virtual CE events at discounted member rates. Upcoming topics include:
      • Ethics, diversity, and the role of psychology in working with people who have disabilities
      • Iowa’s legislative process
  • Ethics CEs: Every other June, IPA offers 6 hours of continuing education in ethics. This is important for you because 6 hours of ethics training are required for each licensure renewal cycle. We’ve got you covered!
  • CE tracker: Avoid the last-minute scramble to find certificates of your CE credits at license renewal time! Our convenient CE tracker will keep them organized for you.

Advocacy and Representation

The IPA Advocacy Team monitors and addresses state and federal issues affecting the profession of psychology. That team includes our State Advocacy Coordinator, Federal Advocacy Coordinator, Director of Professional Affairs, Training Director, Lobbyist, and others interested advocating for psychologists. The IPA Advocacy Team provides:

  • Legislative influence to protect and enhance the profession
  • A voice in Congress when IPA leadership meets with members of Iowa’s Senate and the House of Representatives
  • Participation in our annual Legislative Day
  • Representation in APA (American Psychological Association) governance

Recent Advocacy Team successes include:

  • the creation and passing of a bill that allows predoctoral interns to become provisionally licensed and able to bill through their supervisors;
  • successful opposition of a bill, HF 2386, that would have allowed attorneys in civil cases full access to all psychological testing materials and data;
  • the creation and funding of a new loan repayment program for non-prescribing mental health professionals, including psychologists, to address IPA’s calls for improved recruitment and retention of psychologists in Iowa; and
  • organized Hill visits in July for IPA/APA members by our Federal Advocacy Coordinator (FAC) to attend during the APA Federal Summit on Addressing the Impact of Climate Change and Health Equity.

IPA is pleased to keep you informed about these statewide issues; in addition, IPA’s Federal Advocacy Coordinator provides regular communication regarding federal action alerts that could impact your work.

Connections, Networking, and a Professional Home 

Through IPA, you will make connections with professionals in the field across the state. In addition to the in-person relationship building you will gain through participation in conferences and other CE events, IPA provides:

  • Job postings: You can post job openings on the website for free as an IPA member.
  • IPA E-list: The E-list is a forum that allows members to share and discuss ideas, request informal consultation, and make referrals with colleagues across the state. 
  • Facebook: IPA members who are Facebook users can join our closed Facebook group where we have more social interaction.
  • The IPA Blog provides opportunities for members to learn more about IPA, psychology in Iowa, and their colleagues with regular blog posts on a variety of engaging topics! Check it out: https://iowapsychology.org/blog
  • Legislative actions and updates: You can receive first-hand information regarding legislative issues and action alerts, and you have access to the legislative advocacy team and lobbyists.

Professional Growth

Members have numerous opportunities for leadership positions within IPA, in addition to gaining access to communication tools and the wisdom of the professional community.  Increasing collaboration in the psychology community has been made available with opportunities for student mentoring.

Affordable Rates

IPA’s membership dues are low compared to the rates of other professional organizations, and with membership you gain the discounts for continuing education mentioned above. 

  • Full membership dues are currently $350—but we offer a discounted rate for new members of $200 the first year. 
  • If you received your degree in the last 3 years, you qualify for our Early Career Psychologist discounted rate – $0 the first year, $150 the second year, and $250 the third year.  
  • Psychologists in academic, non-clinical positions qualify for a discounted rate of $150.

In addition, if you join before December 31, 2022 your membership extends through all of 2023, meaning you will not renew your dues until February 2024!

Go to www.iowapsychology.org and click on “Join IPA Today.”

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Update on RxP in Iowa

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From Cows to Values Integrity: Takeaways from the IPA Spring Conference Day 2

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Presidential Update Fall 2022

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Presidential Update Fall 2022

, ,

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As the leaves begin create their stunning autumn landscape and pumpkin flavor takes its turn on the chalkboard menus of local coffee shops, this update occurs at a fitting time for an annual reflection on gratitude. I am filled with an immense gratitude for IPA members and what we have been able to accomplish and expect to achieve in the upcoming year due to our collective efforts as an association. In the summer update, I provided a snapshot of the efforts of our leaders and committees this year. We have a number of upcoming training events, a virtual book club hosted by the Diversity and Social Justice Committee, in-person social opportunities, and continually expanding troves of informational resources on our website, our blog, and our E-list. I am routinely impressed by the talents and devoted efforts of IPA members. As I consider the whirlwind of the past three years, this association’s level of ambition and achievement is amplified.

The past few years created an increase in awareness of the importance of access to mental healthcare, which is wonderful in terms of a significant shift away from stigmatization. Unfortunately, this time period did not also create a commensurate increase in providers to deliver this care. This is a challenging time to serve as a psychologist in a state already suffering psychologist shortages prior to the pandemic. Similar challenges extend to other spheres in which psychologists serve as well (e.g., educational settings). My conversations with psychologists over the past several months have consistently included a sense of the pressure we feel of wanting to help as many people as we can while also wanting to ensure we are setting the limits we need to take care of our own mental health needs and to maintain activities and relationships we find nourishing. The pressure, however, does not disappear. It is the norm, rather than the exception, to receive direct and specific requests to reconsider each type of limit we may have established. We are also exposed to messages that indicate the mental healthcare system is “broken,” access is difficult, and somehow there is more that must be done. Naturally, many if not all of us may treat our limits as flexible and try to tread carefully on the fine line between nourishment and depletion in our professional lives.

In January of this year, our amazing and incredibly compassionate President Elect, Dr. Nicole Holmberg, voiced the initial formulations of an idea to plan a retreat for psychologists and other mental health providers that would provide continuing education regarding topics associated with optimizing psychological well-being while also allowing respite, time to unwind, and experiential components interwoven into the educational activities. This general idea sparked initial outreach that led to our similarly wonderful and reflective Past President, Dr. Valerie Keffala, inviting Dr. Russell Kolts to speak about Compassion-Focused Therapy at the upcoming Fall Conference. This workshop fits with the desire to provide professional nourishment within a professional development activity.

The two-day Spring 2023 Conference will serve as a way for IPA to provide a retreat for IPA members with renowned speakers, Dr. Fadel Zeidan and Dr. Jenna LeJeune, who have agreed to offer experiential components within their presentations, as well as opportunities for guided self-care activities (e.g., yoga) interspersed through the weekend and a serene outdoor setting at Honey Creek Resort. It is hoped that IPA members and others who may attend the retreat will benefit from an opportunity for self-care within a professional learning activity after a particularly taxing three years. We hope to see IPA members take advantage of this unique continuing education opportunity. I would be remiss in not again highlighting the enthusiasm and energy of Dr. Holmberg and Dr. Keffala in leading the Program Planning Committee and securing an exciting array of speakers for these unique events. I am merely fortunate in having this opportunity to provide a window into the impetus for the self-care theme reflected in these conferences.

While gratitude is occasionally voiced and highly rewarding in our professional lives, it may at times feel minor in comparison to the requests to offer more than we have to give. As one person, I would like to say, thank you for staying the course and continuing to provide this care to Iowans. Our connection and support is a major factor that helps us serve Iowans better than we could without the camaraderie, shared knowledge, and collective efforts that are possible through this exceptional association. With you all, I share a world of gratitude.

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Membership Update July 2023

Update on RxP in Iowa

Did You Know? Q&A with IPA’s DPA

From Cows to Values Integrity: Takeaways from the IPA Spring Conference Day 2

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National Preparedness Month

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National Preparedness Month

Ashley FreemanDid you know that September is National Preparedness Month? In 2004, September was declared National Preparedness Month to encourage Americans to prepare for emergencies in their homes, businesses, schools, and communities. September was chosen because September is the peak of the Atlantic hurricane season and is historically linked to the September 11th attacks in 2001. 

About the Disaster Response Committee: The IPA Disaster Response Committee was created in January 2022 to increase involvement by Iowa psychologists in disaster-related mental health issues. Initial committee efforts included establishing the committee, identifying goals and scope, and establishing partnerships with local disaster-response organizations as well as relevant IPA committees. Specifically, providing Iowa psychologists with training and education in disaster mental health is a key initiative of the committee. Over the past nine months, we have provided resources to members following the Winterset tornado, the Ames Cornerstone Church shooting, and the Uvalde shooting. To be more prepared for future events, the DRC compiled and published a comprehensive resource list covering several types of disasters. 

Are you prepared for when the next disaster strikes? Psychologists can better support clients affected by disaster by obtaining training in Psychological First Aid (PFA). PFA is an initial disaster response intervention with the goal of promoting safety, stabilizing survivors of disasters, and connecting individuals to resources. PFA is delivered to affected individuals by mental health professionals and other first responders. The purpose of PFA is to assess the immediate concerns and needs of an individual in the aftermath of a disaster but does not include providing on-site therapy. Click here to learn more about Psychological First Aid from APA’s website. 

Several free trainings on Psychological First Aid are available:

  1. Free, one-hour webinar on Psychological First Aid (PFA) facilitated by Dr. Jerry Walker of the Nebraska Psychological Association. Click here to view.

  2. Free, five-hour Psychological First Aid Training offered by the National Child Traumatic Stress Network. Psychological First Aid (PFA) Online is 5-hour interactive online course that helps participants learn the core actions of PFA and describes ways to apply them in different post-disaster scenarios and with different survivor needs. 

  3. Psychological First Aid for Schools (PFA-S). This webinar offers information on how PFA-S helps to reduce the distress that school communities can experience after a disaster or violent event. 

  4. Click here to access more disaster resources for providers.

Are you interested in getting more involved in disaster mental health? There is currently a great need for disaster mental health volunteers in Iowa. Specifically, the Iowa/Nebraska Red Cross Disaster Mental Health Team has only 10 licensed mental health volunteers. We have included two ways you can get involved with response below:

  • American Red Cross

    • Click here to take the free, introductory, 30-minute course on Disaster Mental Health.

    • Click here for more information from the Red Cross on disaster mental health.

    • Feel free to reach out to Dr. Ashley Freeman (ashley@drashleyfreeman.com) with any questions regarding volunteering for the American Red Cross.

  • Region 7 Disaster Health Response Ecosystem (R7DHRE)

    • Disaster Behavioral Health (DBH) responders support crisis response or recovery operations in Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, and/or Missouri.

    • DBH responders are free to decline a support request at any time.

    • Costs of DBH deployment are fully reimbursed through EMAC in declared local, state, and federal emergencies.

    • Please direct any questions to Dr. Jerry Walker at jerwalker@nebraskamed.com.

    • Click here to sign up to be a regional DBH responder here.

Please contact Ashley Freeman, chair of the Disaster Response Committee, at ashley@ashleyfreemanphd.com with any questions or to get involved with disaster response.

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Presidential Update Summer 2023

An Abolitionist Approach to Safety Planning in Psychotherapy

Membership Update July 2023

Update on RxP in Iowa

Did You Know? Q&A with IPA’s DPA

From Cows to Values Integrity: Takeaways from the IPA Spring Conference Day 2

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Diversity Spotlight – Bisexuality Awareness Week

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Diversity Spotlight – Bisexuality Awareness Week

headshot of Nicole HolmbergBisexuality Awareness Week is occurring this year September 17-24. This is the 24th year of Bi Visibility Day which has been celebrated on the 23rd of September since its inception in 1999. Bisexuality refers to sexual attraction to those who are of the same/similar gender and to those who are of a different gender. The bisexual community faces an ongoing invisibility issue even within the LGBTQAI+ community. This invisibility is referred to as bisexual erasure and reflects the dismissal, minimization, omission, overlooking of bisexual experiences. Bisexual people face greater health disparities in some areas compared to their lesbian and gay counterparts. There are several reasons for this. One is that bisexual folks may not feel they belong in LGBTQ spaces (because they aren’t “gay enough”) and don’t feel they fit in heterosexual spaces (because they are “straight enough”), which negatively impacts mental health. Another reason relates to healthcare providers forgoing important health screenings and tests based on the gender of their bisexual patients’ partners. For example, a physician may not think it is important to screen a bisexual woman for sexually transmitted infections if they know the patient is partnered with a woman. 
 
Helpful tip: When someone shares their sexuality with you, believe them. https://youtu.be/p19CZXHdwWE
More information and videos! https://www.glaad.org/biweek2021

Get involved: https://stillbi.org/

Twitters: @BiVisibilityDay @StillBisexual

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Presidential Update Summer 2023

An Abolitionist Approach to Safety Planning in Psychotherapy

Membership Update July 2023

Update on RxP in Iowa

Did You Know? Q&A with IPA’s DPA

From Cows to Values Integrity: Takeaways from the IPA Spring Conference Day 2

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Membership Update 2022

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Membership Update 2022

headshot of Nicole Keedyheadshot of Alissa DoobayAs Co-Chairs of the Membership Committee, we were recently forwarded correspondence by Dr. Bethe Lonning, IPA’s Director of Professional Affairs, that she received from Dr. Lawrence Perlman, Member at Large for APA’s Division 31 (Division for State, Provincial, and Territorial Psychological Association Affairs). Dr. Perlman requested updated information regarding IPA’s membership numbers. In the message, Dr. Perlman stated that his research of state associations found Iowa to have notably high success for recruiting and retaining members with a budget of our size, which he labeled a “remarkable achievement.” He intended to highlight IPA’s accomplishments in a Division 31 presentation at APA’s annual convention.  Dr. Doobay provided the following totals for each membership type to Dr. Perlman, as of August 1, 2022: 

Full Member: 147
Academic:     9
Advocacy-Exempt:     9
Early Career Psychologist:   18
Student Member:   39
Lifetime/retired:   44
Out-of-State:   10
Associate:     6
Total IPA Members: 282

Number of IPA Members who are Licensed Psychologists in Iowa: 176
Number of Licensed Psychologists in Iowa (and living in Iowa): 489
Percent of Iowa Licensed Psychologists in Iowa who are members of IPA: 36% 

We have known for several years that IPA has celebrated one of the highest percentages of licensed psychologists who reside in the state and who are members of their state association. Receiving recognition from APA’s Division 31 confirmed and reinforced the collective efforts of various IPA committees and leaders in the association who have assisted in both recruitment and retention of our devoted and active members. 

graph of IPA Member Trends from 2000-2022

With this blog post, we hope to share our joy upon receiving this uplifting recognition with all IPA members. Iowa’s psychologists are a uniquely involved and connected group and we continue to grow.  As shown in the graph, our membership numbers have risen over the past two years, creating an incredible sense of pride for IPA leadership. We have many people to thank for their tireless work that maintains the strength, productivity, and many benefits of this outstanding association. 

As always, our connection serves as a driving force for our success as an association. Thank each of you for your contributions to the organization and your efforts to maintain meaningful connection with other members. Please continue to share your experiences with prospect members who could also benefit from joining what many members consider to be their professional home. As we grow in numbers, we expand our diverse experiences, we broaden geographical representation in Iowa, and we strengthen our ability to advance the mission of the association. Many thanks to each of you for your part in this growth.

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Recent Posts

Presidential Update Summer 2023

An Abolitionist Approach to Safety Planning in Psychotherapy

Membership Update July 2023

Update on RxP in Iowa

Did You Know? Q&A with IPA’s DPA

From Cows to Values Integrity: Takeaways from the IPA Spring Conference Day 2

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Nonbinary Awareness Week

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Nonbinary Awareness Week

July 11-17 is Nonbinary Awareness Week, celebrating and awareness building surrounding nonbinary and gender nonconforming people. This week focuses on the nonbinary community as well as the vast gender spectrum. 

Nonbinary gender is “a term used to refer to genders that are viewed as somewhere between or beyond the gender “binary” of man and woman, as well as genders that incorporate elements of both man and woman.” (Hegarty et al., 2018)

It’s a great day to review the APA Guidelines for Psychological Practice with Transgender and Gender Nonconforming (TGNC) People.

As you read through the list of Guidelines below and find an area you’d like to learn more about, please dig deeper and seek education on the topic by accessing the full Guidelines. Consider ways to apply these guidelines within your work to reduce institutional barriers and discrimination for nonbinary people, and improve quality of care. A book chapter on nonbinary genders is listed below as an additional resource. 

graphic for nonbinary awareness

Guideline 1. Psychologists understand that gender is a nonbinary construct that allows for a range of gender identities and that a person’s gender identity may not align with sex assigned at birth.

Guideline 2. Psychologists understand that gender identity and sexual orientation are distinct but interrelated constructs. 

Guideline 3. Psychologists seek to understand how gender identity intersects with the other cultural identities of TGNC people. 

Guideline 4. Psychologists are aware of how their attitudes about and knowledge of gender identity and gender expression may affect the quality of care they provide to TGNC people and their families. 

Guideline 5. Psychologists recognize how stigma, prejudice, discrimination, and violence affect the health and well-being of TGNC people. 

Guideline 6. Psychologists strive to recognize the influence of institutional barriers on the lives of TGNC people and to assist in developing TGNC-affirmative environments. 

Guideline 7. Psychologists understand the need to promote social change that reduces the negative effects of stigma on the health and well-being of TGNC people. 

Guideline 8. Psychologists working with gender-questioning and TGNC youth understand the different developmental needs of children and adolescents, and that not all youth will persist in a TGNC identity into adulthood.

Guideline 9. Psychologists strive to understand both the particular challenges that TGNC elders experience and the resilience they can develop.

Guideline 10. Psychologists strive to understand how mental health concerns may or may not be related to a TGNC person’s gender identity and the psychological effects of minority stress.

Guideline 11. Psychologists recognize that TGNC people are more likely to experience positive life outcomes when they receive social support or trans-affirmative care. 

Guideline 12. Psychologists strive to understand the effects that changes in gender identity and gender expression have on the romantic and sexual relationships of TGNC people. 

Guideline 13. Psychologists seek to understand how parenting and family formation among TGNC people take a variety of forms. 

Guideline 14. Psychologists recognize the potential benefits of an interdisciplinary approach when providing care to TGNC people and strive to work collaboratively with other providers.

Guideline 15. Psychologists respect the welfare and rights of TGNC participants in research and strive to represent results accurately and avoid misuse or misrepresentation of findings.

Guideline 16. Psychologists seek to prepare trainees in psychology to work competently with TGNC people. 

Resources:

Hegarty, P., Ansara, Y. G., & Barker, M.-J. (2018). Nonbinary gender identities. In N. K. Dess, J. Marecek, & L. C. Bell (Eds.), Gender, sex, and sexualities: Psychological perspectives (pp. 53–76). Oxford University Press. https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2018-09004-003

APA Guidelines for Psychological Practice with Transgender and Gender Nonconforming People

https://www.apa.org/practice/guidelines/transgender.pdf 

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Presidential Update July 2022

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Presidential Update July 2022

headshot of Nicole Keedy

The Iowa Psychological Association has been working hard to serve its members, the field of psychology, and Iowans who benefit from our services. As we pass the midpoint of another productive year, this update serves to highlight a number of recent efforts that have successfully targeted IPA’s Strategic Plan Themes:

  1. Education and Training
  2. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
  3. Building Connections and Community
  4. Advocacy
  5. Financial Stability

You are encouraged to read the full Strategic Plan, which is available on our website: https://iowapsychology.org/assets/Strategic%20plan%20Final%20edited%2003.27.2022.pdf.

Education and Training

The Public Education Committee, under leadership of co-chairs Dr. Valerie Keffala and Dr. Warren Phillips, recently worked with the IPA Training Director, Dr. Matt Cooper, to compile a list of resources they distributed to IPA members regarding providing psychological services to Ukrainian refugees. Dr. Phillips has also been collaborating with IPA member Dr. Alice Fridman Glass to improve access to psychological resources for Ukrainian refugees and immigrants. The Disaster Response Committee, under leadership of Dr. Ashley Freeman, has provided information regarding disaster response trainings and resources to IPA members via the member Elist.

The Program Planning Committee, under leadership of co-chairs Dr. Valerie Keffala, Dr. Nicole Holmberg, and myself, has been working hard to arrange an exciting array of upcoming training events in collaboration with various committees and IPA members. This committee has compiled a list of suggested training topics provided after training events and a survey administered by Dr. Kevin Krumvieda to ensure upcoming programming will target member interests. The current lineup includes the following events, for which you may register at https://iowapsychology.org/upcoming-events:

  • Reawakening PTSD and the COVID-19 Pandemic: Treatment Perspectives (1.5 Hours) ONLINE VIA Zoom on July 27, 12pm – 1:30pm
  • Don’t Let the “TR” Fool You: The DSM-5-TR is Far More Than a Text Revision (2 Hours) ONLINE VIA Zoom on Friday, August 26, 1 – 3pm
  • What Psychologists Should Know about Disability as Diversity (3 Hours) ONLINE VIA Zoom on September 9, 9am – 12pm
  • Iowa’s Legislative Process (1.5 Hours and free for all IPA members!) ONLINE VIA Zoom on Tuesday, September 13, 2022 12:00 pm – 1:30 pm
  • Ethical Considerations for Psychologists Working with People with Disabilities (3 ETHICS CE Hours), ONLINE VIA Zoom on September 16, 2022, 1 – 4pm
  • IPA Fall Conference: CFT in Practice: An Introduction to Compassion-Focused Therapy (6 Hours) in West Des Moines on October 7, 2022, 8:15am – 4:30pm

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

The Diversity and Social Justice Committee, chaired by Dr. Nicole Holmberg, has collaborated with multiple committees, including the Strategic Planning Committee, to ensure consistent attention to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) across all activities and Strategic Plan Themes of the association. These efforts are reflected in the content provided under each of the themes. The committee now has a liaison, student member Angelica Castro Bueno, who participates actively in Membership Committee activities and they are considering additional committees on which DSJ liaisons may serve.

Building Connections and Community

The Program Planning Committee and Membership Committee are collaborating to prepare a social event with an integrated student poster session for the 2023 Spring Conference. The Disaster Response Committee has been working to build connections with the Red Cross, other state psychological associations, and disaster response organizations in Iowa to assist in offering ways for IPA members to become involved in disaster response efforts.

The Diversity and Social Justice Committee has continued to foster an inclusive and welcoming environment in IPA with discussions to promote reflection related to equity, diversity, and inclusion; Diversity Spotlights regarding various cultural, national, and religious holidays and observances; and solicitation of member Diversity Profiles. They recently guided discussions regarding the film “13th” and the book Minor Feelings: An Asian American Reckoning by Cathy Park.

Under leadership of Dr. Maggie Doyle, the Early Career Psychologist (ECP) Committee hosted a panel for students to learn about the internship and postdoc process, which the committee hopes to offer annually. They also hosted an ECP social in Ankeny. The Membership Committee, under leadership of co-chairs Dr. Alissa Doobay and myself, hosted an all-member social at the Spring Conference in which they welcomed members to bring nonmembers who may be interested in joining IPA. This event was well attended and highly enjoyable, with images (kindly provided by IPA member Sam Battaglieri) available for view on the IPA closed Facebook group.

The Psychopharmacology Committee, chaired by Dr. Bethe Lonning, announced and congratulated Iowa’s fourth conditional prescribing psychologist and IPA member, Dr. Scott Young. This committee continues to support IPA members in their pursuit of prescription privileges through advocacy, education, and support.

The Website, E-communications, and Blog (WEB) Committee, co-chaired by Executive Director Suzanne Hull and Dr. Katie Kopp, maintains optimal functioning of the IPA website. They have made efforts to improve website accessibility to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Additionally, they recently made the IPA Blog publicly available to increase ease of access and to allow nonmembers to learn about benefits and activities of the association.

Advocacy

As the IPA Representative to APA’s Council of Representatives, Dr. Sally Oakes Edman prepared comments that were approved by EC vote to be submitted on behalf of IPA to the APA Committee on Accreditation (CoA). The comments requested that the CoA utilize titles that clearly distinguish doctoral and master’s level health service providers. Additionally, IPA requested that accreditation site visitors continue to be trained at the doctoral level.

Our Director of Professional Affairs, Dr. Bethe Lonning, has consistently responded to requests from IPA members regarding practice, insurance, and credentialing concerns. Examples of recent DPA efforts include helping an IPA member resume participation on an insurance panel following an unexpected change in their provider panel, helping prescribing psychologists receive credentialing and reimbursement from an insurance company, and helping an IPA member resolve an attempted recoupment of payments from over two years ago. Notably, a law was subsequently passed that prohibits recoupment from Medicaid for payments for claims from over two years prior.

The Diversity and Social Justice Committee provided information to IPA members regarding the effects of legislative/legal decisions on psychological well-being, specifically regarding Iowa HF 2416, the ban on transgender girls and women playing in sports, and the recent Supreme Court of the United States decision to overturn Roe v Wade.

Our State Advocacy Coordinator, Dr. Paul Ascheman, collaborated with the Advocacy Team and provided testimony to Iowa House and Senate subcommittees regarding SF2015, which addressed appropriate cognitive screenings for occupational therapists to utilize, as well as HF2042 and SSB3054 regarding psychological test disclosures. Dr. Ascheman also strategized with other IPA Advocacy Team members to present testimony before subcommittees regarding HSB517 addressing the inclusion of neuropsychologists as concussion professionals; HF2017 addressing provisional psychologist licensing; and HF2137 and SSB3003 addressing inclusion of psychologists in prescribing mental health provider loan repayment.

Our Federal Advocacy Coordinator, Dr. JoAnna Romero Cartaya, sent a message to the Elist requesting members to attend the APA Federal Quarterly Summit on Sunday July 24th and Monday July 25th) with the topic: Addressing the Impact of Climate Change and Health Equity. She routinely sends APA advocacy communications and action alerts to the Elist.

Financial Stability

The association has developed a strong financial foundation under the guidance of our Treasurers and the Finance Committee over the past several years. Due to this stability, the Finance Committee, under leadership of the IPA Treasurer Dr. Sarah Fetter, was able to consider requests for additional budget items for IPA committees. They created a proposal that Executive Council approved in June, which will provide signage and supplies to the State Advocacy Coordinator for advocacy events, support costs of becoming prescribing psychologists for up to three IPA members, continue sponsoring the first year of membership for students, and repay the IPA investment account.

The Membership Committee has continued to exceed budget expectations for membership income with recruitment meetings, letters, and emails; renewal outreach; enhancement of member benefits; and strong student sponsorship and mentorship programs. Membership numbers continue to grow and maintain IPA as a high performer in percentage of state-residing psychologists who are members of their state association.

The above efforts truly represent only a snapshot of the activities of IPA. This association relies on each member’s contributions of time, energy, engagement, and financial resources. A great thank you to our association’s leaders as well as each individual member as we work to fulfill the themes of the IPA Strategic Plan. We function astoundingly well as an aggregate of 279 amazing psychologists, students, and psychology associates and I am looking forward to our continued efforts, growth, and collective accomplishments.

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Recent Posts

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Membership Update July 2023

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