-------------- NNEETTWWOORRKKEERR ASSOCIATION OF MORMON COUNSELORS AND PSYCHOTHERAPISTS ● Spiritual Focus ● Networking and Outreach ● Research, Theory, and Publication ● Clinical Application ● AMCAP supports the principles and standards of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. However, it is an independent professional organization which is not sponsored by, nor does it speak for, the Church or its leaders. In This Issue President’s Message ……….…….….….….… 1 Feature Article…………….……….….….…..… 2 Turning the Pages of Karen Child Ogden, Marriage and Family Therapist Kimball Eckhardt, B.A., Free-Lance Journalist New Leadership ……………………………… 8 Member Spotlights ..………………………… 10 Spring Convention 2010 Information and Highlights …….……………………………… 11 Call for Proposals …………………………… 13 A Message from the President AMCAP President, Rebecca Jorgensen, Ph.D., 2007-2010 Clinician’s Corner ……………………………. 15 Jim Jacobs, M.S.W., L.C.S.W. Barbara Morrell, Ph.D. As we enter not only a new year, but a new decade, I not seen the website yet, it includes online am increasingly reminiscent. Perhaps it’s not just convention registration and payment, a discussion Student Reflections ……………… .…… .… . 21 entering a new time, but also leaving old times, that forum, a members community, and all our April Murdock, B.S. make me reminiscent. We have new convention co- publications. Just these accomplishments are chairs (welcome Kris and Amy), new board members remarkable feats. Having all past journals available, Mentoring Program …………… ...……… ... 26 (welcome Bill and Mike), and a new Vice President in a searchable format, provides a wealth of and President Elect (congrats Doug and Dean)! information readily available to each of us. What’s Up in Your Area?…………………… 27 In reviewing the last 10 years my first thoughts go to Additionally, the organization has adopted new by- AMCAP Mission Statement ………..…….… 29 the wonderful conventions we’ve had, and the laws, changed our incorporation status so we can Call for Journal Submissions ….……… .… 30 fantastic speakers and dignitaries who’ve joined us. receive charitable donations and collected $5,000 It’s been thrilling to be present to hear President and cash in contributions and countless hours of service. Convention CD Order Form .………..…..… 31 Sister Hinckley, President Monson, Elder Nelson, Since 2004 the asset and cash value of our Wendy Watson Nelson, Sheri Dew, Elder Morrison, organization has increased 90%. We are in a period Membership Application Form …………… 33 Brigham Young University Vice President Rich of growth and financial stability. AMCAP Leadership ……………….………... 34 Williams, Stephen Covey, Chieko Okasaki, and Pastor Davis, just to name a few. What a list! Each It’s a humbling thing to be part of an organization of these leaders thanked us for our work in the field doing so much to help us, as mental health ,and our efforts as an organization. professionals, stay close to the source of goodness and growth. This leads to a reflection on our mission, I cherish these words from President Hinckley, when one thing that hasn’t changed. Our mission is still to he attended our convention in 1998 with Sister provide information and support to L.D.S. mental Hinckley. Here are his words as quoted in the health professionals. Church News: One thing I truly appreciate, especially in these times "I think it's a wonderful thing that you have this where more open persecution against Latter-day association," he told AMCAP members. ". To Saints abounds, is that AMCAP provides a place have you of the Church in this professional field where our faith identity can be safely shared and stand together and work together, and give strength enjoyed, hand in hand, with our career identity. This and support and encouragement, one to another, in safety is because of you, our membership. Without a world where you are constantly under attack, is a you there would be no shared mission, organization, remarkable and wonderful thing. The Lord bless you volunteerism, or potential for growth. in your great organization." Spring 2010 http://www.ldschurchnews.com/articles/31400/Sister Convention Thank you for helping keep AMCAP alive and -Hinckley-cited-for-service-to-humanity.html April 1-2, 2010 * growing. Your presence and participation are helping th Other milestones the organization has crossed in the to nurture and strengthen each another in personal Joseph Smith Memorial Building, 9 Floor last ten years is our 30 year anniversary, the and professional ways. 15 E. South Temple, SLC, Utah beginning development of an advisory council, and *Pre -Convention Workshops, March 31, 2010. Location TBA. the creation of a beautiful new website. If you have Rebecca Jorgensen, Ph.D. AMCAP ● Spring 2010 ● 1 Turning the Pages of Karen Child Ogden, Marriage and Family Therapist Kimball Eckhardt, B.A. Feature Article Growing up in Syracuse, Utah, Karen Child Ogden was the seventh child in a line up of eight. Karen remembers her interest in human – behavior beginning at an early age. Experiences in her life, specifically interactions with her parents, gave Karen her first desire to understand the world of psychology, including asking her mom for a book on human behavior as a nine year old. Although she does not recall the name of the book, she knows the title had the word “Psychology.” She laughs, “I am sure I still have that book somewhere.” Karen’s interest in human behaviors and interactions stemmed from being aware of “family rules” growing up. Spoken and unspoken family rules are hard for any child Feature Article Karen Child Ogden, to understand. With Karen's natural interest in wanting to understand Marriage and Family TheraTherapistpist – human behaviors, curiosity got the best of her, and she started exploring why and how feelings were created. This curiosity ripened over the years, first leading her to the field of communication, then leading her to the field of marriage and family therapy, and eventually leading her to her present endeavors. Education Raised in the outskirts of Salt Lake City, it is no surprise that Karen attended the University of Utah. With a bachelor’s degree in Communication, Karen spent time in advertising. During the time she worked in advertising, her yearning for understanding human behaviors returned. She was very Feature Article - aware that she was more concerned with office dynamics than with producing advertising. A professor and mentor noticed Karen’s drive to understand personality differences and human interactions and encouraged Karen to return to her interest in psychology and relationship development. Karen later returned to school at the University of San Diego. This training resulted in a master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy. The program was a great fit. Karen adds, “It felt right, I have been interested in human behavior since a early age,” This would allow her to continue studying behavioral interactions among families. Karen resides in California and is a therapist in Costa Mesa while a craving for education currently has her working on a Psychology Doctorate degree in Marriage Feature Article and Family Therapy. AMCAP ● Spring 2010 ● 2 Turning the Pages of Karen Child Ogden, Marriage and Family Therapist (Continued) Kimball Eckhardt, B.A. Experience Feature Article Raised in the L.D.S. church, her spiritual values have always been an integral part of her life. Karen – feels her testimony has positively affected her work as a therapist. She inquires about her client’s spirituality and beliefs and aims to use it in treatment. Fortunately for her, 90% of her clients are L.D.S. and many of them want spirituality considered in the therapy process. Karen feels delighted in those instances to share the same belief system, and sees that her clients are working hard to strengthen their faith. Karen comments, “So many clients will share problems, troubles and fears, and they still manage to find hope through their faith.” Karen admits it is hard to talk about therapy and the gospel, both of which she respects as sacred things. Humbly she adds, “My clients have blessed my life and hopefully I have blessed theirs.” Dealing Feature Article with a spectrum of clients, Karen believes that people are guided to her for a reason. She feels the role – of a therapist is to be a safe witness, someone who can hear someone’s story and their complaints, and honor client’s feelings and experiences. “It’s a unique relationship that is fully confidential, which gives them a way to validate their experience. I am a witness,” she describes. Karen usually uses three philosophical underpinnings to conceptualize client struggles Feature Article and feels healing should include blending the past, the present, and the future. She tends – to draw on attachment development theories as she feels attachment issues are an important part of development in early childhood. Karen also integrates cognitive- behavioral theories into her work, helping her assess clients’ situations and the impact they have had on them, and to explore what the connection is between thoughts, feelings, Feature Article and behaviors. Finally, Karen blends strength- AMCAP ● Spring 2010 ● 3 Turning the Pages of Karen Child Ogden, Marriage and Family Therapist (Continued) Kimball Eckhardt, B.A. based approaches to help her clients move forward with hope drawing on their own inner strengths to help carry them through challenges and/or heartaches. Taking a facilitator role, she also includes Feature Article empowering her clients by reflecting back personal strengths she sees, while helping her clients discover – and build on their own strengths. Endeavors Endeavors Karen participated in the LifeSTAR program in Orange County helping those with compulsive addictions. This work led her to a new journey of helping families talk about the most current influential topics, such as Internet pornography and challenges communicating and building relationships via the Internet. Karen desired to continue to help families with these challenges by reaching a broader audience.