Progress Notes: Keeping Tabs on the Practice of Psychology

Self-care is on more people’s minds as they seek ways to lower their stress levels and improve mental health.  In this episode, a psychologist and self-care expert shares why practitioners need to make it a priority as well.

A reproductive psychologist discusses her experience practicing at the intersection of health, technology and culture.

Two media-savvy psychologists explain how you can make an impact beyond your office.

In this episode of Progress Notes, psychologists share their tips on how to close your solo or group practice the right way.

Dr. Athena Robinson, chief clinical officer at Woebot Labs, talks about the value that practicing psychologists add to the tech industry.

In this episode of Progress Notes, a psychologist discusses her unique role in training veterans to work as peer support specialists at Veterans Affairs.

PSYPACT will reduce barriers to practice, expand access to care, and advance telepsychology—but more states need to join the compact.

Raquel Halfond, PhD, is the Director of Clinical Practice Guidelines for the American Psychological Association, overseeing all the day-to-day activities of the initiative. She is also a clinical psychologist. Dr. Halfond received her doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Virginia Commonwealth University. She completed her APA approved clinical internship at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles and was a postdoctoral fellow at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center. Hollie Raynor, PhD, RD, LDN, is a Professor in the Department of Nutrition and the Interim Assistant Dean of Research in the College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences at the University of Tennessee. She holds a MS in Public Health Nutrition and a PhD in Clinical Psychology, and is a registered dietitian and a licensed psychologist. She conducts research in lifestyle interventions for pediatric and adult weight management and has published over 125 peer-reviewed articles. Patty Nece, JD, advocates for the eradication of weight bias, sound obesity treatments, and insurance coverage for those treatments. She encourages change by sharing her personal experiences with life-long severe obesity.  She serves on the Obesity Action Coalition's Board of Directors and is a Commissioner on The Lancet Commission on Obesity.

Bruce Bobbitt, PhD, has been licensed for independent practice in the state of Minnesota for the past 33 years and has practiced in community mental health, pediatric health psychology at the University of Minnesota and in private practice. For the past 23 years he worked at Optum/UnitedHealth Group in various roles all related to clinical program development and quality management and improvement, leaving that organization in 2016. For the final 10 years there he was vice president, then senior vice president for behavioral quality management and improvement. During this same period Bobbitt was active in professional psychology. He was a member of the Governing Council of the Minnesota Psychological Association (MPA) for 16 years and is currently the president-elect of MPA. He was on APA Council of Representatives from 1990 through 1995 and is currently on the on the APAPO-sponsored Oversight Committee for the development of a Qualified Clinical Data Registry being led by Carol Goodheart. Bobbitt was a Heiser Award recipient in 1994 was elected Fellow of Div. 29 (Society for the Advancement of Psychotherapy) this year. Bobbitt is a graduate of Cornell and received his PhD in child psychology from the Institute of Child Development at the University of Minnesota. Carol Goodheart, PhD, is an independently practicing psychologist in Princeton, N.J., and a former APA president. During her term as APA president in 2010, one of her presidential initiatives was the development of PracticeOUTCOMES: Measures for Psychologists (a relational measurement database). In 2015, Goodheart served as an expert panel member invited to explore and advise the Practice Directorate/Practice Organization on the establishment of a QCDR. Her leadership involvement in APA/APAPO efforts on behalf of psychology includes many areas relevant to the evolving nature of healthcare practice over time, e.g. author of the 2014 A Primer for ICD-10-CM Users: Psychological and Behavioral Conditions, chair of the association's 2005 Presidential Task Force on Evidence-Based Practice, co-chair of the 2009 APA Presidential Task Force and Summit on the Future of Psychology Practice. In 2012, she received the American Psychological Foundation Gold Medal Award for Life Achievement in the Practice of Psychology. Nina Shiffrin, PhD, is a licensed psychologist. Dr. Shiffrin earned her doctorate in clinical psychology from Yale University. At Yale she received her certification in Kazdin Parent Management Training (KPMT), an evidence-based treatment for children with behavior problems, under the supervision of Dr. Alan Kazdin. Dr. Shiffrin completed her predoctoral internship at Temple University under the supervision of Dr. Philip Kendall, where she gained experience providing the Coping Cat treatment, a cognitive-behavioral therapy program for children and adolescents with anxiety disorders. Dr. Shiffrin has experience treating children, adolescents, and adults with a range of clinical presentations including behavioral difficulties, mood and anxiety disorders, and difficulties regulating emotions.

Karen Kietzman, PsyD, is a licensed clinical psychologist in Billings, Montana.  She earned her masters and her doctorate in clinical psychology from Biola University at Rosemead School of Psychology in Southern California. She began her solo private practice in Southern California.  Dr. Kietzman grew up in Montana. She and her family moved back to Montana in 1994 and continued her solo private practice in Billings. Dr. Kietzman believes in treating the whole person. She incorporates mental, physical, and spiritual health in her evaluation and treatment.    Stacey Larson, PhD, works for the Edith Norse Rodgers Veteran’s Hospital in Bedford, MA.  Prior to working for the VA, Stacey worked for the American Psychological Association’s Practice Directorate on issues pertaining to HIPAA privacy and security, health information technology, as well as various other legal, regulatory and ethical issues. Alan Nessman, JD, is the Senior Special Counsel in the Office of Legal & Regulatory Affairs (LRA) for the APA Practice Organization. He is LRA’s lead attorney on HIPAA & patient privacy, and parity & insurance issues. Alan worked on the Practice Organization’s original 2003 and 2005 HIPAA compliance products, and worked with LRA’s team that developed the content for the new comprehensive compliance product: HIPAASmart.  Alan joined APA in 2000 after 15 years as a law firm litigator. He received his JD with honors from George Washington University in 1984, and his BA with honors from the University of Chicago in 1981.