Advocacy
Learn about the role of advocacy in promoting mental health and well-being. This section offers resources and strategies for psychotherapists to effectively advocate for their clients, the profession, and broader social change.
69 articles found
Out of Balance: National Institute of Mental Health Spending in 2012 and 2020
NIMH Study of Physiology, Treatment, and Psychotherapy In 2012, the NIMH spent 72% of its budget on studying physiology, i.e. the brain and genetics. In 2020, that percentage increased to 75%. Examples of studies include a 2012 study on neuronal signaling pathways during learning and their effects on memory and a 2020 study looking at […]
Al Galves, Ph.D.
September 30, 2024
A Most Queer Language: The Case Against an All-Inclusive Buffet in Therapy
The vantage point of a queer-identifying therapist is uniquely translucent; I see some things in sharp resolution, while there are other things that remain opaque. How does a queer therapist affirm a queerness that endangers them as well? How does a queer therapist affirm a queerness that bemuses them? Sitting across from a patient tussling […]
Damini Yadav, MS
September 22, 2024
“WHEN THE NIGHT HAS COME. AND THE LAND IS DARK”
Enhancing Psychology’s Public Policy/ Political Presence Reflecting upon the APA/APA Services’ Grassroots Fly-In, Katherine McGuire, APA’s Chief Advocacy Officer, noted: “We were thrilled to host 70 psychologists representing over 40 states during our June Fly-In, Advancing Health Equity Across the Lifespan in Washington, D.C. Participants included Federal Advocacy Coordinators (FACs) and Directors of Professional Affairs (DPAs) from […]
Pat DeLeon, Ph.D.
July 8, 2024
Addressing Religion and Spirituality in Psychotherapy: Why it Should be in Graduate Training Programs
There has been a recent question in American Psychological Association’s (APA) Monitor on Psychology asking, “Can religion and spirituality have a place in therapy?” (Abrams, 2023). APA’s 2023 President Thema Bryant, PhD, and other mental health professionals believe religion and spirituality have a place in psychotherapy and also agree that clinicians should receive training in […]
Juliane Nguyen, M.Psy.
June 25, 2024
Refugees and Asylum Seekers: Building a Relationship of Trust and Stability
It was in 2017 when I started to teach English to a group of refugees in the UK and became aware of the immense difficulties they faced in their lives. Many of them openly discussed the dangerous journeys they undertook to arrive in the UK. Several of these individuals had experienced or witnessed their boats […]
Eva Gharibi, MSc
May 19, 2024
Moving Towards Understanding and Undoing the Stigma of Borderline Personality Disorder
Harm of Stigma with Borderline Personality Disorder “Manipulative,” “attention seekers,” and “drama queens” are a few damaging ways clients with borderline personality disorder (BPD) are often described; these individuals are among the most stigmatized within a clinical population (Allan, 2018; Deans & Meocevic, 2006; Hancock, 2017). BPD is a disorder centered around pervasive patterns of […]
Carla Capone, MS + 1 more
February 24, 2024
I was reminiscing just the other day. While having coffee all alone.
At the end of 2023, Alex Siegel, Director of Professional Affairs, Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards, reported that there were 40 jurisdictions (39 effective), out of a total of 55 states and territories, which had adopted and were part of the PSYPACT Commission. The Psychological Interjurisdictional Compact (PSYPACT) allows for increased access of […]
Pat DeLeon, Ph.D.
January 16, 2024
2024 Editor’s Column 59(1)
When I committed to a three-year term as Website Editor in January 2023, I had no idea how much we would grow in the first twelve months. From this, I have been reflecting on my time in the Society for the Advancement of Psychotherapy. I have had the pleasure of being a part of Division […]
Zoe Ross-Nash, PsyD
January 15, 2024
A Message from the Society’s Publications & Communications Board Chair
Discovering My Professional Home When guiding graduate students through their academic journeys, I consistently emphasize the importance of finding a “professional home” – an organization that not only advocates for their desires and requirements but also offers a supportive community and a wealth of information. Any one of my past students will attest to the […]
Amy E. Ellis, Ph.D.
November 22, 2023
Call for Systemic Changes to Alleviate International Students’ Practicum Barriers in APA Accredited Psychology Programs
In counseling psychology programs, students face unique challenges related to the scientist-practitioner model of training.1 Unlike many people in graduate school who only have research responsibilities, counseling psychology students are expected to have dual duties: engaging in research and practicing mental health. Practicum experiences shape students’ future careers as mental health professionals. During their doctoral […]
JiSoo Park, MA + 1 more
October 27, 2023
“I’ve seen it rainin’ in the sky”
Advocating for Youth Mental Health Research and Stronger Protections for Children on Social Media Alix Ginsberg, Senior Director of APA Congressional & Federal Relations – “On June 15th nearly 60 APA member psychologists participated in 150 meetings with their Members of Congress on Capitol Hill to advocate for youth mental health research and stronger protections […]
Pat DeLeon, Ph.D.
October 27, 2023
与儿童青少年工作时，怎么做知情同意？
知情同意为治疗关系和心理治疗奠定了基础它体现了治疗师尊重当事人的合法权利，并为当事人提供机会就所参与的治疗做出知情决定。Barnett, Wise, Johnson-Greene和Bucky(2007)强调了适当实施知情同意程序的潜在好处： 这是一个协作过程，为心理治疗关系定下基调，促进治疗同盟。 它促进了治疗关系中的共同决策权。 它促进了当事人的自主性，并授权当事人在治疗中发挥积极作用。 通过这种信息共享和协作决策过程，它最大程度降低了对当事人的剥削和伤害的风险。 伦理守则和每一个心理健康专业在许可的法律法规中，也要求知情同意的程序是必须的，且许可的法律法规也明确了知情同意的法律要求和义务。其中一项要求是该司法管辖区的法定年龄，以及未成年人在何种情况下享有与成年人相同的权利来表示自己的同意。在每个司法管辖区的许可法律和法规中，对法定成年人同意治疗的要求有多种例外情况，在开始与未成年人进行临床工作之前，必须了解并理解其中的每一项。 Snyder和Barnett(2006)表示，要使知情同意有效，必须满足四个标准： 必须自愿给予同意。 当事人必须有能力(在法律上以及认知/情感上)给予同意。 我们必须积极地确保当事人理解她/他同意的内容。 共享的信息和所有同意的内容必须记录在案。 在未成年人的治疗中想要获得他们的知情同意时，这些标准中的前三项具有特殊意义。 当事人是谁？ 儿童和青少年可能会在多种情况下接受治疗。他们可能会被父母带去治疗，他们可能会被监护人(个人或儿童保护服务或社会服务部等机构)带去治疗，或者他们可能会自行寻求治疗。重要的第一步是确定心理治疗师对每一方应承担的义务(Fisher, 2009)。我们通常认为当事人是接受心理治疗的人。但是，情况并非总是如此。《心理学家的伦理守则和行为准则》(APA伦理守则; APA, 2010)在标准3.07条《第三方服务要求》中解决了这一问题。正如本标准所述，“心理学家应试图在服务开始时澄清与所有相关个人或组织的关系性质”(第六页)。 在这些情况下，“当事人”实际上可能是接受心理治疗的儿童或青少年以外的组织或个人。因此，知情同意过程对于澄清角色、责任和期望非常重要，并且在提供治疗前一开始就达成了协议。 这些协议包括关于保密性及其限制的决定、第三方在儿童或青少年治疗中可能扮演的角色(如有)、谁将参与制定治疗目标以及谁将同意治疗计划。 知情同意 除非在符合某一管辖范围内的法律允许的某些例外情况下(例如，未成年人结婚或参军，已获得自由的未成年人)，未成年人通常不得自主决定接受治疗。但是，这并不意味着他们不应该在知情同意过程中发挥任何作用。根据未成年人的年龄和发展水平，未成年人在知情同意过程中的参与程度可能各不相同。 即使在父母或监护人法律上是“当事人”的情况下，出于临床和伦理原因，将未成年人(我们服务的直接接受者)纳入信息共享和决策过程也很重要。对于非常年幼的孩子来说，获得他们对治疗的同意是很重要的。 同意与知情同意的不同之处在于，同意涉及与孩子共享信息，以便她/他了解要提供的服务、过程的性质、心理治疗师的角色和孩子的角色以及其他相关信息。目标是在孩子可能理解的水平上与孩子分享基本信息。这样做可能有助于鼓励未成年人参与治疗的建议过程，并促进更加合作和有效的治疗关系。 随着未成年人的年龄和发展水平的提高，他们理解心理治疗过程的性质和变迁、各方的角色、责任和义务的能力通常也会增强，因此，正如McCabe(2006)所表明的那样，将同意和知情同意视为一个连续统一体是有帮助的。随着未成年人参与信息共享和决策过程的能力提高，在父母同意的情况下，他们应该在这个过程中发挥更大的作用。 将未成年人纳入知情同意程序 即使他们还没有合法权利同意接受治疗，研究表明，许多未成年人具有认知和情感能力来理解他们决定(包括医疗保健决定)的后果。事实上，年仅12岁的未成年人经常具备这种能力(Redding, 1993)。虽然他们可能没有合法权利对自己的治疗提供知情同意，但许多未成年人可能能够在决策过程中成为积极的合作伙伴。而且，他们的发展水平随着时间的推移而提高，应重新审视信息共享和决策过程，以便为未成年当事人提供机会尽可能充分参与这一过程。 此外，将发展程度更高的未成年人纳入这一过程有许多临床原因： 表现出对未成年人及其自主权的尊重。 有助于促进治疗同盟和治疗关系 有助于为未成年人赋能，并且 它传达的信息是，未成年人将会积极参与她/他自己的治疗(Lind, Anderson, Oberle, 2003) 在此过程中协商父母的权利 父母或监护人有合法权利同意其未成年子女或青少年的治疗，决定治疗过程的相关事项，并有可能完全获得心理治疗过程中的所有信息；但是，我们必须在实践层面上考虑这样做是否合适。 心理治疗师应该考虑，在临床上这是否是进行心理治疗的可行方法。 心理治疗师应根据目前的临床情况仔细考虑未成年人的意愿和偏好。此外，我们应该考虑什么最合适实现心理治疗的目标。例如，如果一个15岁的孩子知道在治疗中分享和讨论的所有内容，每周都会向她/他的父母详细披露，那么，心理治疗的效果会如何？这种安排对分享的程度以及未成年人对心理治疗师的信任程度会产生什么影响？ 因此，虽然父母和监护人对其未成年子女确实拥有某些法律权利，但这些权利可以在知情同意过程中协商。可以告知父母，为了使治疗有效，必须为未成年人提供一定程度的保密性。正如Koocher解释的那样：“我们通常可以说服父母同意尊重治疗关系的隐私，尤其是如果他们觉得心理治疗师和他们一样关心并重视孩子的安全。”(Barnett, Behnke, Rosenthal, & Koocher, 2007, p.12) 治疗师可以向各方解释，某些主题和问题将在心理治疗关系的范围内得到解决，并且只有在超过某些阈值时，才会与父母或监护人共享这些机密信息。治疗师可以向父母或监护人分享这些情况的例子，以说明何时会发生这种情况，例如对未成年人或其他人的安全造成重大风险时。 实践建议 了解您所在司法管辖区，有关同意在什么年龄以及未成年人何时有权同意接受自己治疗的法律。 从一开始就明确法律义务，确定谁有权同意治疗。 确定各方参与知情同意过程的意愿和能力。 当未成年当事人未获得法律授权提供她/他自己的知情同意时，请寻求他们的同意，并以符合其智力和发展水平的方式向他们解释与治疗相关的信息。 […]
Caroline Coffman + 3 more
September 12, 2023