Alumnus David Gerard, Ph.D., a Candidate for Morgan Hill Unified School District

Wright Institute alumnus Dr. David Gerard is a candidate for the Morgan Hill Unified School District Board of Education (MUSD). Nine candidates are running for the MUSD which will have four open seats to fill in the November 4, 2014 election.

Dr. Gerard is a principal/consultant at Korn/Ferry International, providing executive coaching, as well as leadership and team development. He points out that "We're at a critical turning point in education in California. For the first time in history, because of changes in the state school funding formula, parents and community members can really shape the kinds of schools we have to an extent never before possible through state-mandated Local Control Accountability Plans."

Professor Terry Kupers, M.D. Interviewed for International Anti-Death Penalty Day

Dr. Kupers was recently interviewed at worldcoalition.org for International Anti-Death Penalty Day on October 10, 2014: Solitary confinement on death row is mental torture: psychiatrist

Anatasia Kim to Present on Mental Wellness at Korean Health Conference

Dr. Anatasia Kim will give a presentation on "Mental Wellness for Korean American Families" at the 4th Annual Korean Health Conference in Oakland this Saturday, October 4, 2014. This is the first time they have invited a psychologist and the first time they are addressing a mental health topic.

Two Wright Institute students, Lamson Bui and Christina Louie, will also volunteer at the event, providing health screenings.

The conference will be held from 8:30 am to 2:00 pm. at the Samuel Merritt University Health Education Center, 400 Hawthorne Avenue, Oakland, CA 94609. Registration is free, but space is limited. Please call (510) 206-8529 to pre-register.

Eric Samuels Publishes Article on Psychologists' Disabilities

Eric Samuels, PsyD student, has published an article in the APA Public Interest Directorate Newsletter entitled "Question in a Practicum Interview: How Would You Respond when Clients Ask about Your Tics?"

Eric discusses the challenges of deciding whether to disclose a disability with clients, and when applying for internships and praticums. He writes that although the U.S. Census reports that there are 56.7 million people with disabilities - 18.6 percent of the U.S. population, "people with disabilities are underrepresented in psychology. A 2003 study found that only 2 percent of members of the American Psychological Association identified as people with disabilities."

To read the entire article, go to http://www.apa.org/pi/about/newsletter/2014/09/practicum-interview.aspx

Dr. Bernadette Torrez to Conduct Training on Brief Strategic Family Therapy

Master's full-time faculty member Dr. Bernadette Torrez will conduct a training on Brief Strategic Family Therapy at The Gathering Place in Oakland on October 2.

CAMFT Board Votes to Adopt a Strong Statement Against SOCE

Currently, the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT) allows its members to practice sexual orientation change efforts (SOCE) in attempts to change lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) individuals' sexual orientations and/or gender identifications or expressions. Master's student Beth Greivel has spearheaded a campaign directed at CAMFT, asking them to denounce SOCE tactics like conversion or reparative treatments.

On September 20, 2014, the CAMFT Board voted 10-2 to adopt a strong statement against SOCE. With CAMFT's public denouncement of SOCE, it has now established best practices with LGBTQIQA clients. Beth's proposal to make SOCE specifically unethical in CAMFT's Code of Ethics is still under consideration by CAMFT's Ethics Committee.

The Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkeley presents: Self-Compassion & the Cultivation of Happiness with Dr. Kristin Neff

November 7, 2014

UC Berkeley Campus

6 CE hours available for health professionals

$125-$149

http://greatergood.berkeley.edu

This day-long seminar led by self-compassion pioneer Kristin Neff, will offer strategies for cultivating self-compassion, boosting happiness, and reducing stress in yourself and others.

Drawing on a decade of her trailblazing research, Dr. Neff will provide simple tools for giving ourselves the support we need whenever we suffer, fail, or feel inadequate. She will provide an introductory overview of self-compassion, weaving together lecture, scientific research, video presentations, small group exercises, and discussion.

Her seminar will offer valuable resources for mental health professionals, but her emphasis on personal practice makes this seminar appropriate for the general public as well.

Margery Wang Discusses Long Distance Relationships on "Insights with Dick Goldberg" Radio Show

Margery Wang, Psy.D. candidate, was recently featured on the radio program, "Insights with Dick Goldberg: Interviews with Experts of Self Improvement, Business and Society." She discussed the challenges and advantages of long distance relationships. Margery completed her dissertation entitled "The iHuman Experience: Redefining What it Means to Be Connected at a Distance."

Margery stated that the trend in long distance relationships is growing rapidly; as of April, the total number of couples in long distance relationships is 14 million. She explained that the increase is partly due to many couples who graduate from high school and don't want to end their relationship. They use technology to stay connected via text, Skype, and messaging. She pointed out that online dating also facilitates access to more long distance relationships. Margery said couples assume that "eventually one of us can move closer together."

Dr. Alicia del Prado Co-chairs Asian American Psychological Association Division on Filipino Americans

Full-time Wright Institute faculty member Alicia del Prado, Ph.D., is the current co-chair of the Asian American Psychological Association's (AAPA) Division on Filipino Americans (DoFA). The AAPA is a national organization committed to advocating for all Asian Americans, the advancement of Asian American psychology, and the training and collaboration of Asian American mental health professionals.

Adam Blum Wins 2014 Mitchell Award

We are pleased to announce that Adam Blum, Psy.D. (2012) is the winner of the 2014 Mitchell Award. Dr. Blum's paper, "This Must Be the Place: Thinking Psychical Life with Music" explores the use of music in clinical work with a specific patient, and how music illuminates clinical processes in general. Established by Psychoanalytic Psychology and the APA Board of the Division of Psychoanalysis, the Mitchell Award honors an esteemed colleague as well as a graduate student whose paper is deemed exemplary by a panel of judges. Dr. Blum presented his paper at the Spring Meeting of Division 39 in April 2014, and the paper will be published in Psychoanalytic Psychology.

Dr. Blum completed his pre- and post-doctoral hours at California Pacific Medical Center, where he started working as a staff psychologist in July. He is in private practice in Berkeley and San Francisco.