Download January 2009 - Morris County Psychological Association

Morris County Psychological Association
914 Mt Kemble Ave, Suite 305
Morristown, New Jersey 07960
www.mcpanj.com
President
Rhonda Allen, Ph.D
Program Chairperson
Francine Rosenberg, Psy.D.
President-elect
Francine Rosenberg, Psy.D.
Treasurer
Richard Brewster, Psy.D.
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Secretary
Morgan Murray, Ph.D.
Past President
Roman Lemega, Ph.D.
Webmaster
Michael Zito, Ph.D.
Membership
Stacie Perdue, Ph.D.
NJPA Representative
Aaron Welt, Ph.D.
January 2009 Newsletter
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NEXT MEETING:
February 11, 2009
9:00 a.m.-10:30 a.m.
"What’s Happening at NJPA in 2009?”
Presented by:
President Phyllis Lakin, Ph.D.
and
Lorryn Wahler, Executive Director of NJPA
Don’t miss this opportunity to voice your opinion, learn about the latest at NJPA, and get
to know our association president and executive director better. Phyllis is a longtime member of
MCPA, and now as president of NJPA, she is a statewide leader for our profession. Phyllis and
Lorryn will present up-to-date information about the internal happenings at NJPA. Specific
practice related issues, such as insurance and parity, will be discussed. Additional focus will be
given to the relationship between NJPA and MCPA. Come with questions about any of the
NJPA initiatives, e.g.,: the state benefits plan, licensing board relations, the role of the Director
of Professional Relations (Barry Helfmann), the NJPA referral list, sustaining membership
advantages, technology initiatives in the central office and for the members.
Location:
Hamilton Park Conference Center
Florham Park, NJ
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Save the date:
Friday March 13, 2009 8:30-10:45am:
Joint program with Essex-Union County Association of Psychologists. A
panel of experts will be discussing different approaches to treating
eating disorders.
January 14, 2009 – MCPA monthly breakfast meeting:
Those in attendance were: Rhonda Allen, Fran Rosenberg, Aaron Welt, Richard Brewster, Dan Watter,
Morgan Murray, Mike Zito, Tamsen Thorpe, Susan Neigher, Joshua Zavin, Milton Spett, Richard Dauber,
Barbara Bush, Paul Yampolsky, Nanette Sudler, Debi Roelke, Lauren Becker, Donalee Brown, Scott Johansen,
Brenda Stepak, Sheila Danez, Brendan McLoughlin, John McGovern, Marc A. Gironda, Kevin Miller, Stacie
Perdue, Sharon Ryan-Montgomery, Ma’ayan Greenbaum, Nancy Sidhu, Carly Orenstein
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Rhonda Allen made some announcements at the beginning of the meeting. She reminded
associate members who joined MCPA last year, and paid for one year that dues for this year were due
now. She noted some proposed website changes that should eventually allow for on-line registrations
and payments. Finally, she encouraged members to sign-up to be judges in the annual high school
scholarship competition.
Aaron Welt gave a heart felt and amusing introduction for our morning speaker Milton Spett,
Ph.D., complete with musical accompaniment.
The title for Dr. Spett talk was “Recent Advances in Cognitive Behavior Therapy.” He began
by laying out some basic tenets of traditional cognitive behavior therapy. Psychological problems are
caused by maladaptive cognitions. Therapeutic interventions must change the maladaptive cognitions.
The general approach to changing faulty cognitions is to either use logic to challenge them (cognitive
intervention), or to encourage new behaviors in order that disprove maladaptive cognitions (behavioral
intervention).
One advance in CBT is an increased focus on patients’ experiencing their emotions. Dr. Spett
noted that “cognitions and emotions are reciprocal causes of each other.” So in other words, if one
feels worthless, they believe they are worthless, and if one believes they are worthless, they will feel
worthless. This new CBT process then encourages the patient to experience their negative emotions in
the session, because “…it is much easier to change negative emotions and the associated cognitions
when the patient is experiencing them.”
An interesting exchange followed when audience members questioned whether this change in
CBT actually represented a move toward a more psychodynamic orientation. Dr. Spett acknowledged
some similarity but pointed out that the difference was that in CBT there was no interest in analyzing
the feelings.
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The second advance in CBT that was discussed was “abandoning cognitive interventions.”
Socratic questioning was discussed as a technique of asking questions so as to gently lead patients to
change dysfunctional cognitions. Zindel Segal’s “Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy” was
discussed in which patients are encouraged to notice dysfunctional cognitions without evaluating,
analyzing or acting on them. Steven Hayes’ “Acceptance and Commitment Therapy,” was another
approach that was discussed in which one is encouraged to pursue life goals in spite of dysfunctional
cognitions and emotions.
Dr. Spett provided a very enjoyable presentation, with rich clinical examples for the various
techniques and concepts. He recommended that one chooses the technique that works best with each
patient and with each dysfunctional cognition.
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The monthly newsletter is being sent from [email protected], so please allow your spamblockers to permit mail from this address.
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To make a reservation for our February 11, 2009 meeting contact Rhonda Allen, Ph.D. at 973 4258911, or by e-mail at [email protected]. Reservations should be made noon on
Monday, February 9, 2009. When calling Rhonda, please spell your name and indicate the name of
the person(s) for whom you are making the reservation.
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Morgan Murray, Ph.D.
Secretary
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