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Clinical Science Clinical Science APA Society for the Science of Clinical Psychology III Section III of the Division of Clinical Psychology of Division12 the American Psychological Association Ψ Developing clinical psychology as an experimental-behavioral science Newsletter Winter 2018: Volume 21, Issue 1 SSCP Executive Board Table of Contents President: Presidential Column Dean McKay, Ph.D. D. McKay..............................................................................................................2 Fordham University Diversity Corner Past-President: D. Novacek...........................................................................................................4 Scott Lilienfeld, Ph.D. Emory University Awards & Recognition...........................................................................................6 President-Elect: Carolyn Becker, Ph.D. Clinical Science Early Career Path Trinity University J. Lavner...............................................................................................................9 Secretary/Treasurer: Student Perspective Kate McLaughlin, Ph.D. University of Washington K. Knowles..........................................................................................................11 Division 12 Representative: Clinician Perspective Robert Klepac, Ph.D. D. Torpey-Newman.............................................................................................13 University of Texas Health Science Center Updates from Student Representatives Student Representatives: K. Knowles & J. Hampton...................................................................................15 Kelly Knowles, M.A. Vanderbilt University Joya Hamptom, M.A. Emory University At Large Members: Kate Wolitzky-Taylor, Ph.D. University of California, Los Angeles Thomas Olino, Ph.D. Temple University Clinical Science Editor: Articles published in Clinical Science represent the views of the authors and not necessarily those Andrea Niles, Ph.D. of the Society for a Science of Clinical Psychology, the Society of Clinical Psychology, or the San Francisco, VA & University of American Psychological Association. Submissions representing differing views, comments, and California, San Francisco letters to the editor are welcome. Clinical Science Vol. 21 (1): Winter 2018 2 Presidential Column Starting Our Own Resistance (#resistpseudoscience) to Promote Science-based Practice Dean McKay, Ph.D., ABPP, Fordham University I had originally intended to focus my first Presidential column work force. To illustrate, the American Psychology Associa- on factors that contribute to the persistence of pseudoscien- tion commissioned a survey of practitioners and found that tific practices. It seemed natural. The listserv has had numer- 61.9% reported independent practice as their primary work ous postings about dubious clinical interventions in general, setting, and 78% were either in full- or part-time independent and especially regarding continuing education offerings on practice (Nordal, 2009). these approaches in particular. While I identify as primarily an academician, I also co-own a group private practice and I mentioned earlier that I co-own a group practice. One of the engage in direct service delivery two evenings a week. As things we do is hold a weekly case conference to discuss a result, I have certainly had many clients who previously interventions with different cases in order to ensure main- tried and failed when receiving questionable approaches, tenance of evidence-based methods of treatment. It turns including: energy therapy (with my favorite sub-specialty of out there is evidence to support ongoing contact with other the energy therapies, Holographic Repatterning), past life professionals, namely to blunt the risk of therapist drift (Waller, regression, equine therapy (kind of amazing considering 2009). Research suggests that left to practice without com- the incredibly small horse-to-human ratio in New York City), ment or consultation, therapists who ‘operate in a silo’ begin to treatment relying on orgone boxes and variants of Reichian- drift from ‘doing therapies’ to ‘talking therapies’ (Waller, 2009). based interventions, to name just a few. Engaging in this kind of consultation calls for a certain amount of humility, since there is a real risk that, regardless of level But then, before I could complete my column, the govern- of seniority, that errors in conceptualization and execution ment shutdown that started January 20, 2018 happened, and of treatment may take place. Recognizing, even embracing, I decided the change my focus altogether. The implications the real fallibility of our capacity to make evidence-based of a shutdown are significant for scientists, with activities at recommendations can, in the end, be liberating and facilitate funding agencies (such as proposal reviews scheduled dur- far more effectiveness in how we provide services. Doing ing the time of the shutdown) grinding to a halt. To highlight this can also alert us to our own personal limitations, an im- just one funding agency, the National Institute of Mental portant and sometimes underappreciated feature of service Health has funded psychosocial research that has greatly delivery. Indeed, a small study (n=22 therapists) showed that advanced treatment for a wide range of debilitating psychi- clinicians who routinely offered cognitive-behavior therapy atric conditions. Many of these have become mainstays of overestimated their competency (Brosan, Reynolds, & Moore, evidence-based practice such as exposure with response 2008). If we began to actively offer individual consultation to prevention for obsessive-compulsive disorder, habit reversal licensed professionals, we can begin to influence the extent for tic disorders, psychiatric rehabilitation for bipolar, and that evidence-based approaches are adopted. dialectic behavior therapy for borderline personality disorder. Offer Workshops: Our organization is full of exceptional psy- At the same time, many investigators, particularly young chological scientists. And a frequent complaint on the listserv psychologists pursuing research careers, must ‘play the is regarding the litany of egregiously pseudoscientific offer- game’ and seek grant funding by bridging psychosocial ings available in different localities or through professional research with biomedical models. These investigations are organizations. However, if we each offered even just one far more costly than purely psychosocial research, which, workshop each year, it would begin a process of crowding coupled with the increasingly limited funding allocations for out the approaches that lack scientific merit. And while it may federal research support agencies, means ultimately fewer require a fair bit of work for limited compensation, there are grants for investigators. My point now is not to engage in any indirect benefits. You’ll be recognized for your expertise in discussion of the relative merits of multidisciplinary research. your community. It could lead to other professional opportu- However, while junior investigators are forced to seek fund- nities to disseminate science. And it prompts some deeper ing for the sake of their careers, the more senior among us, consideration for the presenter one’s own everyday practices. those with career security through tenure, can contribute Finally, preparation to speak to a group of professionals girds significantly to promoting the science of clinical psychology. us for difficult questions, which can sharpen our skills overall.1 Here are a few ways: Join a Committee Charged with Soliciting Professional Train- Consultation with Other Clinicians: One good place to start is ings: As members of SSCP are well aware, APA sponsors in our very own house. There are plenty of science-minded a lot of professional training sessions. Presently SSCP is practitioners who operate solo private practices. These working hard to address concerns among our members practitioners represent a large proportion of the psychology regarding CE offerings (check the listserv archive, and see Clinical Science Vol. 21 (1): Winter 2018 3 also Hollon, 2016). Professional training is offered by most specialty organizations as well, and those organizations often have committees that review and approve these offerings. Joining those committees can be a significant contribution to the profession. As a recent addition to one such commit- New SSCP Board Members tee for a specialty organization, I can tell you that the time commitment has been quite manageable. Having a voice in what kinds of offerings are provided can significantly shape the nature of workshops. Our new board members were elected in Octo- ber. Welcome, and thank you all for joining us! A Concluding Thought: The proliferation of pseudoscience We are looking forward to another great year for practices has proliferated for a wide variety of reasons (for a SSCP. discussion of just a few, see McKay, in press). Training and education in these approaches are popular, but if a wider range of effective science based approaches were offered, President-Elect it could provide the slow steady increase in endorsement Carolyn Becker, Ph.D. of evidence-based methods. It’s not a quick fix, it’s one that requires long-term commitment, something that I know is in Member-At-Large abundant supply in SSCP. Kate Wolitzky-Taylor, Ph.D. I’m looking forward to a productive year as President, honored that you gave me this opportunity, and eager to hear from you. Student Representative
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