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

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This is the second of two blog posts detailing the Iowa Psychological Association’s two-day Spring Conference, which occurred April 28-29, 2023.

The Iowa Psychological Association Spring 2023 conference was unlike any other professional meeting I had ever attended! I knew it would be a unique day as I drove to the event from my home in Des Moines. Navigating across parts of Iowa I had never visited with vast farmland and small-towns drifting by, I was deep in thought about the future of our state. Not far from the venue, I turned too early and encountered a herd of cows in a field, with beautiful rolling hills and tiny gravel roads in the distance. I definitely wasn’t in Colorado anymore!

My partner, two young children, and I moved back to Iowa last summer after having lived out of the state for more than half my life. I joined IPA as I started my private practice this past winter and was welcomed with open arms. I am so glad I decided to attend the spring conference to deepen my connection with IPA.

I could only attend the Saturday portion of the conference, so upon arriving early that morning, I walked into a room of unfamiliar faces. I chose the first table with an open seat and immediately felt a warm welcome from my tablemates. I was fortunate enough to have landed with Sarah Fetter, Katie Kopp, and Ashley Freeman. We immediately connected and shared stories, and by the end of the day, I had found a new group of friends. I am still in awe at the way that Iowans can seek to connect with others. “Iowa Nice” can indeed mean that people want to get to know you and truly value you for what you are bringing to the table. We formed deep and authentic connections that day, and I am truly grateful.

A mid-career transition, major cross-country move, and job shifts were all front of mind when I saw that the conference theme was “Values, Burnout, and Finding Work-Life Integrity.” I was excited and decided to attend. Dr. Jenna Lejeune asked us to think about why we were attending the conference and what values we wanted to embrace. She evoked thoughtful introspection in the first few minutes, and I was all in!

Here are a few of my favorite takeaways from the experience:

Dr. Lejeune led us through a burnout scale and spoke about how most interventions only target the exhaustion element of burnout, while ignoring the disconnection and reduced personal achievement elements. Typical self-care ideas like going on vacation increase our disconnection from others and can end up exacerbating burnout.
Instead, “Caring well for ourselves is how we can care better for others.”
Throughout the day, she helped us distill our chosen values to establish meaning in the present. The idea that “Having unclear values allows us to lose contact with what is important to us,” was powerful and transformative for me.
She shared, “Meaning is constructed in moments where we are connected with what matters, in contact with a life we would define as a life worth living.”
These ideas deepened my understanding of living in accordance with my values and moved me away from just thinking about the valued domains of my life (e.g., family and health). I do more thinking now about how to BE present in those domains instead of just realizing that they are important to me. “Valued domains are the arenas where our actions play out.”
Dr. Lejeune shared that values are always immediately available to us. We can always take a step toward our values. The directionality is important, not the end point.
Embracing spaciousness allows us to move toward values.
Experiential avoidance predicts more mental health struggles.
Certain relationships bring out our values. Partnerships don’t have to be perfect but can be like salt to chocolate, just a little sprinkle of salt to enhance the flavor of chocolate…find someone who is the salt to your chocolate.
At the end of each day, when did you feel most alive? What do you like being? What days do you like who you are? Start with the value, then craft a life where that is supported. Values can guide you to a more meaningful and sustainable life.
Move towards values integrity. “Balancing acts are always precarious and the person on the losing end is you.” Values create a bridge across all areas of our lives.

For more on any of this, I recommend Dr. Jenna Lejeune’s book (with co-author and partner Dr. Jason Luoma), Values in Therapy: Helping Clients Explore Values, Increase Psychological Flexibility, and Live a More Meaningful Life.

What was truly the most unique part of the day for me was when Dr. Lejeune asked for a volunteer to role play with her. I slowly held up my hand, excited to have the chance to learn more from her and gain some insight. As I sat in front of the room, I was able to be vulnerable and present with Dr. Lejeune and nothing about her approach felt like a technique or exercise while I was in the moment.

I shared an experience of hiking with my family and enjoying being fully present with my children. After that role play, we worked with some values card sorts. Through both of those activities, Dr. Lejeune helped me distill my core values, and she developed the phrase “gentle badass” to summarize what was important to me. I can be compassionate, gentle, kind, and loving while still challenging the status quo and embracing social justice.

Over the past month, I have thought about my experiences at the conference so many more times than any other professional conference I have attended. Though the day started with a wrong turn into a farm, I left with a sense of groundedness and direction in my career and values that will guide me for years to come. Thank you to the organizers of the conference, especially Dr. Nic Holmberg, for putting together such a lovely and connecting experience.

-Your resident gentle badass, Nicole Taylor-Irwin, PhD

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Spring Conference Day 1

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This is the first of two blog posts detailing the Iowa Psychological Association’s two-day Spring Conference, which occurred April 28-29, 2023.

The morning of IPA’s Spring conference likely had two “kick offs.” One was occurring being the scenes, where the conference planning committee headshot for Dr. Barazanjiwas creatively pivoting to respond to unforeseen challenges related to the resort’s amenities. My hat goes off to all those incredible individuals as they managed that kickoff with grace and innovation in order to deliver what was promised to attendees.

The second kickoff occurred when Dr. Nic Holmberg gave an opening statement, acknowledging this unexpected turn of events while also encouraging attendees to open their hearts with grace and patience. It was as if these external circumstances provided us all with an opportunity to immediately put the philosophy of the presentation into application, calling on us to practice loving kindness, acceptance, and detachment
from our rigid expectations.

Dr. Fadel Zeidan immediately followed Dr. Holmberg with statements of sincere gratitude and excitement to be together for the day. We started our conference with an introductory breathing practice which would put us in the right headspace for multiple mindfulness opportunities throughout the day.

Friday’s presentation was entitled, “The Neuroscience of Mindfulness-Based Meditation: An Integration of Science and Practice.” As a psychologist myself I ironically find my greatest challenge is to clearly define terms I use almost everyday (e.g., What is trauma?; What is mindfulness?; What is pain?). Dr. Zeidan was so effective at simplifying these concepts in a way anyone could understand while also intertwining those definitions with sophisticated scientific research. Dr. Zeidan was a very compelling presenter. He had endless information and knowledge to share and could seamlessly pivot and transition to respond to a variety of questions from the room. His lab’s research spans multiple topics, and this left me wishing we could have three more days to learn about all he had to offer.

Dr. Zeidan taught us about state versus trait mindfulness. He provided exciting research-based conclusions that one can teach trait, dispositional mindfulness through cultivating small contemplative practices in one’s day. Attendees learned about the Default Mode Network in the brain and how mindfulness can alter this and other networks in ways that reduce stress, depression, immune functioning, etc. A large portion of his research centered on the utilization of mindfulness as a treatment for pain, which has major ramifications for our society as it grapples with the opioid crisis.

There is a certain kind of magic that occurs when you attend a conference where the presenter is both a prolific scientist as well as genuinely interpersonal. This, paired with the content of the presentation, the “set and setting,” and the cooperative weather all intersected to create a memorable day of connection amongst colleagues. The intention behind IPA’s Spring Conference was to provide practitioners with an opportunity to engage and connect through self-care while learning evidence-based practices. Simply put, the intention was beautifully executed.

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2023 Spring Conference Awards Ceremony

2023 Spring Conference Awards Ceremony

Conference, DSJ, Student Members

Several awards were presented on April 29, 2023 during lunch at the Spring Conference. Read on to learn more about the well-deserved recipients.

Phil Laughlin Meritorious Achievement Award

You know that a candidate is deserving of an award when two fellow psychologists both decide to nominate her at the same time. That was the case this year when both Dr. Bethe Lonning and Dr. Warren Phillips submitted nominations for Dr. Sally Oakes Edman. Their nomination letter:

We would like to nominate Dr. Sally Oakes Edman for IPA’s Phil Laughlin Meritorious Achievement Award. This award is given to an IPA member for outstanding service to the association. While all lPA members are eligible for this award, the member must not be currently serving on the IPA EC. As you will soon learn, this means there have only been windows of opportunity prior to now for her to be nominated.

Dr. Oakes Edman is an Iowa native having graduated Magna Cum Laude in Psychology from Luther College in Decorah. She then went on to the University of Notre Dame receiving her Master’s degree in Psychology and her PhD in Counseling Psychology with a specialty in Marriage and Family Counseling. After completing her clinical internship in Connecticut, she returned to Indiana where she worked as a staff psychologist for a couple of years before returning to Iowa.

Once back in Iowa, she engaged in private practice work and became the Director of Counseling for Waldorf College in Forest City, IA. In 1995, after 6 years in Forest City, Dr, Oakes Edman relocated to Decorah Iowa where she became a clinical psychologist for the Mayo Clinic, Decorah Clinic. In 2003, she became a clinical psychologist for the Student Counseling Service at Northwestern College in Orange City Iowa and in 2004 she became the Director of that clinic. She was also the Wellness Center Director at Northwestern College from 2007-2010.

While doing her clinical work, she was also an adjunct faculty member at Northwestern College and an Assistant Professor at both Luther College and Waldorf college. Dr. Oakes Edman taught a variety of courses in these roles including supervising student research and independent studies.

Dr. Oakes Edman has numerous presentations, workshops and educational programs to her name as well as several publications to her credit.

So, you’re reading this now and thinking, what’s the big deal? Here’s the big deal and why Dr. Oakes Edman is deserving of this award. She returned to Iowa in the summer of 1989 and by 1994, she was already serving IPA in the role of Secretary of Division 1 (the Clinical Practice Division) of IPA. Also, while serving in this role, she was the Council Representative to IPA Executive Council from 1994-99 which was her first role on the EC for IPA. Right after that, from 2000-2002, she served in the Presidential cycle as President Elect, President and Past President. She served on the IPA Ethics Committee from 2008-2022 serving as the Chair from 2009-2011 and most recently has been IPA’s Representative to APA’s Council of Representatives from 2017-2022. During her time as our CoR representative, she was Elections Chair and New Member Mentor for the Caucus of State, Provincial and Territorial Association Representatives as well as Elections Coordinator and Secretary for the Rural Health Caucus.

She served the American Psychological Association in the role of Business of Practice Network Representative to APA from IPA in 2003, was a member of the Continuing Education Committee of the APA from 2006-2008, 2009 serving as its Vice Chair in 2007 and its Chair in 2008. She then served as Chair of the Appeals Committee for the Continuing Education Committee of the APA.

Here are a couple of other things not on her resume that support her being the recipient of this award. Dr. Oakes-Edman has served as a crucial mentor both formally and in ways she may not even realize during her time at IPA. In 1996, during the first year of Dr. Phillips’ membership in IPA, Dr. Oakes Edman was the first IPA Psychologist he met while attending an IPA Spring Conference. He was a Psychology Resident at the time and was fairly confident that he had no idea what he was doing on a day-to-day basis. Over lunch, Dr. Oakes Edman acknowledged and validated his worries, sharing stories of her own anxiety when first starting out as a Psychologist and let him know that he could always reach out to her with questions, triumphs, or worries and she would gladly be “present” with him, writing her phone number down for him on a paper napkin that day. Dr. Phillips kept that napkin for nearly 20 years. Then in 2002 when Dr. Phillips first joined the Executive Council and Dr. Oakes-Edman was serving as Past-President of IPA she, again, acted as a mentor when he was now “positive” that he did not have the skill or experience to be on the council by sharing with him that as long as he was “honest, respectful, and followed the science” he was doing his job on the council. She shared another important lesson that day, telling him that as long as she was in IPA she would tell him when she thought he was doing things well and when she thought he should re-think his position but that either way he always had her respect and support. Over the years Dr. Oakes-Edman has demonstrated this “way of being” in Executive Council meetings, when giving reports on sometimes controversial topics as the APA Representative, and during informal conversations about advances and struggles in the field. She has mentored, supported, and taught so many professionals in Iowa and in the Iowa Psychological Association and is a symbol of the science, mentoring, and interpersonal support that IPA strives for, in so many ways.

Similarly, in 2008, when IPA was experiencing the first financial concern we can recall during our tenure with IPA, Dr. Oakes Edman was there offering support, encouragement, and ideas to the leadership of IPA for how to weather this storm. She wasn’t on Council during that time, however, was in leadership for IPA as well as APA and simply cared about the well being of the association. Then 8 years later in 2016-2017 when IPA was again experiencing financial and other distress, there was Dr. Oakes Edman again, providing support with her calm, graceful demeaner and ideas for solutions from her wise experience. She has been with IPA through the good times and the not so good times without waiver. She has been a mentor formally and more importantly informally with her commitment, dedication, and steady presence in this organization.

We have both been fortunate to come behind Dr. Oakes Edman on her IPA path and have had the unmitigated pleasure and honor to learn from her, to consult with her, to confide in her and to serve beside her. She has demonstrated outstanding service to the Iowa Psychological Association and deserves this award.

Dr. Oakes Edman shared the following remarks in her acceptance:

The summer after my junior year in college, I decided I should use my psychology major to become a clinical psychologist. I was 20 years old, and had never met a clinical psychologist.

Despite having a thoroughly inadequate view of what I was signing up for, I was admitted to the University of Notre Dame’s doctoral program, and the six of us newbies started a crash course in all things psychological.

I was in a hurry to finish, so I graduated as quickly as I could, and found myself in an office with a big chair and a doctorate at the age of 26. I had to stay a far distance from the “secretary’s” desk, or I would certainly be asked to help someone pay their bill or schedule their appointment. Big hair, high heels and shoulder pads can only do so much…

When I started my training, Kubler Ross’s stage theory of grief work was a big hit, and it was clearly unethical for psychologists to solicit clients through anything as crass as advertising. Managing Care was what one expected their provider to do for them; session limits & external reviews were non-existent. We were in charge of our own records and our own practices. For clinicians, private or a small group practice was the norm.

When I began to practice, Florida was known for being a bit out there – because it was the only state in the Union to allow Social Workers to practice independently, rather than under the supervision of a psychologist. Projective testing techniques were popular, although the MMPI was also, of course, going strong. The Psy.D. degree was 16 years old, but few people had one, and it would be decades before anyone thought that “Counseling” should be its own distinct profession. Psychologists mostly used psychodynamic, behavioral, or eclectic theoretical orientations.

At the time I started to practice, psychology looked (from my vantage point) like a profession filled with middle aged men. Clinical psychology at that time was 77% male and 89% white. As a young female, I felt like I really stuck out. No one talked about ECPs. I had the impression that being an Early Career Psychologist was an affliction I should try to get over as quickly as possible. I worked with all male colleagues for my first years, then, because I REALLY love my husband, I began working in rural parts of Iowa, where I was sometimes the only psychologist in the county.

Two years after I got my doctorate, I moved back to Iowa with my husband and two little boys, and joined IPA. In those days there were two divisions in IPA – the clinical division and the academic one. After a few years, I volunteered to serve as the secretary for the Clinical Division, which was really great, because I’m bad at learning names, and that was a job where twice a year I had an enforced review of everyone’s names, as I tried to document our discussions.

Here’s how long I’ve been a part of IPA: I am within the first 500 licensed psychologists in the state, and within the first 200 HSPs. You all have walked beside me through using the: DSM 5 TR, DSM 5, DSM IV- TR, DSM IV, DSM III R, all the way back to the DSM III. And while I wasn’t around for it, in 1995 I moved into a faculty office with a few books, including this treasure:
The DSM II. It was apparently the first formally published version of the DSM, copyright 1968, sold for $3.50. This isn’t the desk reference – the whole thing is on 120 small pages.

A year or two after I joined IPA, I attended a conference, since I really needed the continuing education, and as this was around the time we got our first EVER computers in our offices and were being trained on how to use a new thing called “email”, there was no remote CE option. Attending was tricky, though, because I was nursing my baby daughter, and couldn’t be away from her overnight. So I recruited my husband to come along and wrangle three little kids in a hotel room in Des Moines, and deliver my baby to me at the right times so I could nurse her. My plan was to do this while looking not like a young nursing mama, but like a mature, knowledgeable professional in this room full of older men. This was in the days of a very popular TV commercial – everyone watched the same four channels in those days – involving a sexy woman wearing a business suit and high heels singing to striptease-type music “I can bring home the bacon, fry it up in a pan, and never let him forget that he’s a man.” What a message – I can earn the money, do the housework, and still be the sexy little woman upholding my man’s masculine ego. Women were working like crazy to show that we could do it all. Ourselves. Without help.

So, that’s what I was trying to do – look like I could handle everything without missing a beat. Socialize with these other psychologists I was getting to know while enthusiastic preschoolers circled my ankles and my hungry baby screamed. It was a little slice of chaotic for just 2 minutes, and as I got free of my boys and the conversation I was in and turned around to find a place to feed the baby, I was aware of how badly I was failing to bring home that bacon and fry it up in a pan while looking cool and competent. I would have done much better to embrace the fact that I was a young, inexperienced psychologist, and also busy being a Mama. I wish now that I had let those older-than-me men see that I could use some assistance and reassurance. I have every reason to think they would have been helpful and affirming, but that just wasn’t the cultural moment I was living in.

Nonetheless, I have always enjoyed this group. I immediately felt like I had found a professional home here, with other people who were trained like me and did the same type of work as I. So, clearly, I stuck around. I have been an IPA member since 1988. Through those years, I have had the great privilege of getting to know a large proportion of Iowa’s psychologists, so you can trust me when I tell you, those sitting around you are lovely people, who have so been worth getting to know! I knew and was in this organization alongside Phil Laughlin for years, so it is especially meaningful for me to receive an award named in honor of his many, many years of service to IPA.

I am retiring in two weeks from Northwestern College, where I have worked for the past 20 years. I will find ways to continue to work, but in a more flexible fashion. I have been tied to the academic year schedule since the fall I turned 5, and I am ready to do something radical, like take a trip – in October!

The work we do is important. Doing it as well as we possibly can is important, and I have been able to do it well, in part, because of what you have taught me, the ways this group has challenged me, and the support and friendship you have given me. I have been privileged to serve IPA, and am confident that my service to IPA pales in comparison to what IPA has given me.

Thank you very much – this award means a lot to me!
–Sally Oakes Edman, Ph.D.

Diversity Leadership Award

Dr. Joy Goins-Fernandez was presented with the Diversity Leadership Award. Dr. Nicole Holmberg shared the nomination letter submitted by Drs. Holmberg, Keedy, Poeppe, Fetter, and Keffala:

It is our great pleasure to submit this letter nominating Dr. Joy Goins-Fernandez for IPA’s Diversity Leadership Award. Dr. Goins-Fernandez has been a member of IPA since 2016, and she has been steadfast in her dedication to promoting equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) in our organization and beyond. We know her well, having worked closely with her in IPA leadership for many years.

Upon joining IPA, Dr. Goins-Fernandez quickly got involved in leadership. She was instrumental in the development of our Diversity and Social Justice Committee (DJSC) in 2016. She chaired or co-chaired the committee until April of 2022. Under her leadership, the DJSC’s membership increased by more than 100%, and she welcomed many student IPA members to the committee. Dr. Goins-Fernandez’s leadership style is collaborative and empowering. In her role as DSJC chair, she regularly invited and encouraged contributions from committee members. By sharing her vision and setting clear expectations, she empowered others to do their part to promote EDI efforts within IPA. She successfully argued for a clause in all speaker contracts requiring presenters to discuss EDI aspects of their topics; this initiative was approved by our Executive Council. Dr. Goins-Fernandez was a key voice in creating and updating our Social Justice Policy that delineates procedures for how IPA addresses social justice issues and in adding a statement to our website that communicates the association’s commitment to EDI. Other than our Membership Committee, no other committee engages our members more frequently. The DSJC provides members with educational content, including formal continuing education training events and informal postings to our E-list. Dr. Goins-Fernandez has organized multiple presentations by experts in the field including Dr. Melba Vasquez (cultural competence and ethics), Dr. Sherry Wang (combating anti-Asian hate), Dr. Erin Alexander (racial reconciliation), and Dr. Erin Andrews (disability awareness and ethics). She and the DSJC created a Graduate Student Diversity and Social Justice Award to recognize IPA student members for community-based social justice projects. She also started the DSJ Book and Film Club, in which IPA members read books or watch films on EDI topics. Some of the books discussed have included “How to be an Anti-Racist” by Dr. Ibram X. Kendi, “Minor Feelings: An Asian American Reckoning” by Cathy Park Hong, and “Sissy: A Coming of Gender Story” by Jacob Tobia; film titles include “13th” and “Katrina Babies.”

Dr. Goins-Fernandez also advocated for IPA to add a Diversity Liaison to our Executive Council (EC) and was the first person elected to that position. She presented the idea to our membership in a townhall and answered questions about the utility of creating this position. After this townhall, IPA members voted to approve the adoption of this new EC role. As Diversity Liaison, she advises our EC and Program Planning Committee on ensuring that our association’s policies and programming promote EDI. She has served as a Diversity Delegate to APA’s Practice Leadership Conference (PLC) from 2019-2022. Her PLC experiences have enhanced her work as Diversity Liaison. For instance, she has arranged for colleagues she met at PLC to present on EDI topics for IPA members, including Dr. Talee Vang’s talk on implicit bias and Dr. Lauren Chapple-Love’s talk on competencies for working with LGBTQ-identified clients.

Dr. Goins-Fernandez is an active participant in our EC meetings. As one of two people of color on our EC, she has demonstrated grace and generosity in helping her white colleagues recognize our racial bias. She is well aware of the need for increased diverse representation in our organization and in our leadership, and her efforts with the DSJC have assisted in broadening and diversifying recruitment and retention efforts for IPA. She has stated on multiple occasions that, despite the challenges she has faced, she will persist in her EDI efforts for our organization. She carries a heavy and crucial burden, and her constant dedication to EDI work is both admirable and central to the leadership and growth of our association.

While generously giving her time and energy to IPA, Dr. Goins-Fernandez has concurrently demonstrated unbelievable ambition in promoting EDI in the largest medical center in Iowa, the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics (UIHC). There she currently serves as Clinical Assistant Professor and Vice Chair of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for the Stead Family Department of Pediatrics. Her Department’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Book Drive raised over $7000 to purchase books for the UIHC libraries that combat racism through family education. She also created the Black Faculty Council within the Carver College of Medicine at the University of Iowa, to promote access to equitable healthcare. This Council advocates for policy changes and provides community outreach to reduce disparities in healthcare for Iowans. Further, Dr. Goins-Fernandez dedicated her time to speaking in an educational video for UIHC for the purpose of reducing vaccine hesitancy among Black Americans. Dr. Goins-Fernandez’s efforts to promote EDI extend beyond IPA and Iowa. She was invited by the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards to serve on the EPPP item review board to promote equitable testing for future psychologists. Her service in this role has served as a point of education to our membership regarding the importance of anti-racism in standardized testing.

Dr. Goins-Fernandez has made a significant impact on IPA, and our organization is better and stronger for it. There is no doubt that she has helped Iowa psychologists provide more effective and safer care to Iowans who have experiences and identities that differ from their own by spearheading programming to expand their multicultural awareness, knowledge, and skills. It is for these reasons and more that I believe she is deserving of IPA’s Diversity Leadership award.

Dr. Goins-Fernandez shared her remarks extemporaneously at the conference.

DSJ Diversity Graduate Student Award

Angelica Castro Bueno was the recipient of the DSJ Diversity Graduate Student Award. She was nominated by Dr. Joy Goins-Fernandez with the following:

It is my honor to award Angelica Castro Bueno with the first ever Diversity and Social Justice Committee Diversity Graduate Student Award.

Angelica is a fourth-year counseling psychology graduate student at Iowa State University. In her four years at Iowa State, she has contributed outstanding diversity efforts.

Angelica’s academic research centers on undocumented Latinx communities in the United States. Her thesis investigated the lived stigma experiences of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) recipients. Her dissertation involves interviewing mental health practitioners who have worked with DACA recipients to gain insights into how to provide effective culturally tailored therapy.

Angelica has also engaged in advocacy through organizational involvement. She is an executive board member and current co-president of the Graduate Students in Counseling Psychology (GSCP) group. She is also involved with Student Accessibility Services (SAS) and Student Counseling Services (SCS). At SAS, she helps students access accommodations, develop self-advocacy skills, and better understand their rights and responsibilities as students with disabilities. She also provides one-on-one Executive Function Coaching for neurodivergent students.

Angelica is also a student member on the Diversity and Social Justice Committee of IPA. She has been a member of this committee since December 2020 and recently became the liaison between the DSJ and IPA’s Membership Committee. She has helped create a more inclusive environment for Iowa psychologists by planning DEI trainings, increasing awareness for cultural and religious traditions, and fostering a culture of support within the organization. Recently, she contributed to a “Disability as Diversity 101” training the DSJ committee provided to educate members about considerations for disabled clients in our therapeutic work.

In her nomination letter, Angelica mentioned that as a person of color, these past four years have been incredibly challenging and rewarding. Before she could advocate for others, she had to learn how to advocate for herself. As a DACA recipient, staying silent was always the safest option, but through this work, she learned that she could make a difference, She indicated, and I quote, “my voice has value, and that I am responsible for creating the change I want to see.”

Angelica was unable to receive her award in person, but shared these remarks with us:

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IPA Awards Ceremony 2022

IPA Awards Ceremony 2022

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The annual awards ceremony occurred on April 5, 2022, in conjunction with the IPA Spring Conference in Des Moines.

Phil Laughlin Meritorious Achievement Award

The IPA Phil Laughlin Meritorious Achievement Award is intended to honor an IPA member for outstanding service to the association. All IPA members are eligible to be considered for this award except those currently serving on the IPA Executive Council. The 2022 award was presented to Dr. Kevin Krumvieda, who was nominated by Dr. Karen Nelson:

I am writing to nominate Dr. Kevin Krumvieda for the 2022 Phil Laughlin Meritorious Service Award. I met Kevin at an IPA conference shortly after I joined IPA in 1995. He welcomed me and took time to get to know me as a psychologist and a person. I now have the good fortune to work with him as a fellow member of the Iowa Psychological Foundation.

Kevin served capably as IPA’s president and coordinated one of our organization’s most enriching, memorable Spring conferences in the past 30 years. He also served as a representative to the Executive Council and is a current member of IPA’s conference planning committee. His leadership helped IPA navigate a rocky passage. After leading during the thankless, tumultuous time, other leaders would have walked away from IPA. Kevin’s investment in relationships and belief in the importance of a strong presence for Iowa psychology caused him to regroup and remain active. He has dedicated countless hours and considerable acumen and expertise to IPA.

If you’ve ever been in a meeting or conversation with Kevin, you are familiar with his kind sense of humor and genuine interest in others. As a leader and committee member, Kevin is encouraging and brings out the best in others. He is organized and has an infectious ability to remain optimistic, focused, and passionate about projects.

Kevin is a lifelong learner. As a seasoned clinician, Kevin could still become excited and enthusiastic about new ideas. His avid interest in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) created a buzz that encouraged his peers and newer clinicians to learn about ACT.

His dedicated service to IPA, countless clients and colleagues makes him richly deserving of receiving our organization’s most prestigious recognition. I hope your committee will agree and honor Dr. Krumvieda with the Phil Laughlin Meritorious Service Award.

IPA Service Award

The IPA Service Award recognizes individuals who are not IPA members, or eligible for IPA membership, and who have rendered outstanding service to IPA or to the citizens of Iowa in a manner consistent with the goals of the association. The 2022 IPA Service Award was presented to Dr. Darbie Little-Cooper, a psychiatrist in private practice. She was nominated by Dr. Bethe Lonning. Dr. Matthew Cooper, and Dr. Katie Kopp:

The movement for prescriptive authority for psychologists in Iowa is still in its infancy. The support from psychiatrists and other physicians is vital as psychologists who are certified to prescribe is necessary. As such, a psychologist pursuing a conditional prescribing certificate not only has to complete academic coursework which takes on average two to three years, but they have to complete a multidisciplinary practicum with at minimum work with a primary care provider and a psychiatrist. A total of 400 practicum hours and at least 600 patient encounters are required, along with the completion of a masters in clinical psychopharmacology and the passing of a licensure exam, the PEP. The number of hours dedicated by not only the psychologist in training but also a supervisor is extensive. Therefore, Dr. Cooper, Dr. Kopp, and Dr. Lonning would like to nominate Dr. Darbie Little-Cooper for the IPA Service Award.

Dr. Little-Cooper is a psychiatrist in private practice who has demonstrated great commitment to advancing the prescriptive authority for psychologists in Iowa. She provided supervision for Dr. Matthew Cooper, allowing him to complete a significant step in his licensure for his conditional prescribing psychologist certificate and will continue to provide supervision required during his conditional prescribing period. In addition, Dr. Little-Cooper has begun to provide supervision to Dr. Katie Kopp.

Dr. Little-Cooper has been generous with her time and knowledge. She has done so purely for the sake of advancing prescribing for psychologists and improving access to care across the state of Iowa. Dr. Little-Cooper is an advocate for psychologists and other mental health professionals. She believes in the integration of mental health services and that a multidisciplinary approach is key to help patient outcomes. She is patient, caring, knowledgeable, and has a large passion in what she does. Dr. Little-Cooper sees a variety of patients in her private practice Iowa City and in a group practice in Davenport.

In gratitude for her selfless service to the psychologists of IPA, we nominate her for the IPA Service Award.

More information about the history of IPA awards can be found here.