1. Please describe your contributions to the independent practice of psychology, including any positions held and past or current committee work in Division 42.
My involvement in Division 42 includes many years as a member and Fellow of the division. I served on the Diversity Committee in 2008, when Dr. Jana Martin was President. I represented Division 42 in their collaboration with the YMCA, serving on the Expert Panel with, “Activate America: African American and Hispanic/Latino Health and Well-Being Collaborative”.
Contributions to the independent practice of psychology include service as the Federal Advocacy Coordinator of Georgia for 20 years, advocating for issues that impact on practitioners, including Mental Health Parity and the Medicare Mental Health Access Act. I currently serve as Co-Chair of the Advocacy Coordinating Committee. I served as chair of the Board of Professional Affairs and member of CAPP. I have served as Associate Editor of Professional Psychology: Research and Practice. I am Board Certified in Clinical Health Psychology, maintaining an independent practice since 1994, primarily consisting of psychological evaluations and psychotherapy.
2. The recent reorganization of the Association into APA (c3) and APASI (c6) is a critical issue affecting the ability to advance, defend, and protect the practice of psychology. What concrete measure(s) would you implement to address this issue on behalf of practice constituents?
Now is the critically important time to not only protect but advance practice advocacy priorities. CAPP was the practice arm of the APA governance and now those CAPP priorities will be shifted to other entities. I am the co-chair of the Advocacy Coordinating Committee (ACC) which has a decision-making role in these changes, and I understand how to preserve the priority role in APA for practitioners.
These next two years are crucial in cementing the priorities of independent practice into the new structure. As president-elect and president, I would ensure the rightful stance of practice on the ACC and all other APA entities that oversee aspects of practice (e.g. BPA). I would ensure that policies regarding membership on decision-making groups prescribe fair representation of practice. The practice community must have a place at the table when any decisions about practice are made.
3. Please provide your position and how you intend to address each of the following APA governance concerns: a) improved transparency of the APA Board of Directors (BoD) with APA Council; b) the continued effects of the Good Governance Project, particularly the delegation of fiscal and operational responsibilities exclusively to the APA BoD; and c) the effects from the Independent Review and the related, ongoing litigation.
- Members of Council should have an ongoing vehicle through which to discuss decision-making with the BoD directly. As APA President, I would support an executive session at each council meeting to ensure transparency between the BoD and Council and, allow individuals to speak freely in confidence.
- The GGP recommended the BoD have fiscal responsibility, and Council voted for that to occur. The current second three-year trial delegation expires in February 2020. Council can decide not to delegate this responsibility to the Board after that time. I believe the will of the Council should prevail.
- The IR has resulted in a fracturing of our association, particularly at a time when we need to be united in addressing access to care and other priorities. I cannot remark on the ongoing litigation, but I will do everything I can to re-unite our association and continue prioritization of important practice issues.