Community Matters - November 2015

November 2015 Message from the President In my November Huffington Post blog, I reflected on the rewards that come from having gratitude in our lives and from service to others.

The holidays are a time when we can stop to enjoy the company of friends and family, reflect on the year behind us, and pause to experience gratitude for the good things in our lives. It is also a time, however, to truly pause and consider how thankfulness and the holidays seem to go hand in hand.

In October, The Chicago School of Professional Psychology stopped for a full day to reach out and dedicate their personal time to service within our communities. As part of National Service Month 2015, more than 130 Chicago School staff, faculty, students, and alumni came together to donate 481 service hours to more than 23 organizations near our campuses. I was excited to see that it was our most successful Service Month to date.

Just a few of the activities included volunteers helping low-income seniors prepare their homes for winter with H.O.M.E.; organizing and distributing food pantry items with Restoration Ministries in Chicago; helping to sort and distribute donations at the Downtown Women's Center in Los Angeles; and serving meals to the homeless with Martha's Table in Washington, D.C. The joy we experience from showing our appreciation is not coincidental. There's much research that links gratefulness to positive emotional and physical health outcomes. Several studies show that focusing and acting on feelings of gratitude can increase optimism, happiness, motivation, and an overall sense of well-being.

Expressing gratitude has also been shown to reduce stress, boost immunity, improve sleep, and lower the risk of medical conditions like bulimia and addictions to alcohol, nicotine, and other drugs.

With such positive health benefits, I would recommend we each strive for a way to show gratitude every day; not just as the holidays come and go.

In This Issue West Los Angeles Counseling Center Granted APPIC Membership Institute for Professional & Continuing Studies Receives APA Approval Status, Other Extended Education Opportunities Provost Dr. Joseph Martin Stevenson Presents at White House The Chicago School Welcomes Dr. Melea Fields, Ed.D. Naomi Ruth Cohen Institute Honored by NAACP TCSPP Selected as Top School in Military Guide to Colleges and Universities Washington, D.C. and L.A. Campuses' Distinguished Alumni Alumnus Profile: Gerson Morales, Ph.D. Multi-Campus Integration Committee Conference Appointments and Elections

I would love to hear your ideas about how you have expressed gratitude in your life. Please Tweet us @TCSPPPrez or @gradpsychology, and also include the #GratitudeEveryDay hashtag.

Warm regards,

Michele Nealon-Woods, Psy.D. President

West Los Angeles Counseling Center's Predoctoral Internship Granted APPIC Membership The Association of Psychology Postdoctoral and Internship Centers (APPIC) Board of Directors has approved The Chicago School's West Los Angeles Counseling Center's predoctoral internship program for membership in APPIC. The Center's predoctoral internship is exclusive to students of The Chicago School, and will provide the Clinical Psy.D. and Forensic Psy.D. students at the Chicago, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C. Campuses with two additional APPIC internship opportunities.

Dr. Daun Baker, associate provost, Training and Licensure Affairs, said, "We launched this internship as a pilot program just three years ago to support the Counseling Center's mission to provide high-quality training to our students, and to provide affordable and high-quality mental health services to our communities. APPIC membership for our predoctoral internship is an important milestone in support of this mission."

As a member of the APPIC organization, the West Los Angeles Counseling Center may participate in a host of APPIC activities including projects, governance, biennial conferences, annual membership meetings, and APPIC CE offerings.

APPIC also encourages its members to seek accreditation through the APA Commission on Accreditation, and the West Los Angeles Counseling Center is currently working on a self-study.

Institute for Professional & Continuing Studies Earns APA Approval, Other Extended Learning Opportunities Made to Alumni The Chicago School's Institute of Professional & Continuing Studies (IPCS) has been granted Five Year Approval by the American Psychological Association Continuing Education Committee (APA CEC). ICPS offers Continuing Education (CE) courses for credit to mental health professionals, and first gained approval from APA CEC in fall 2013. The continued ability to offer APA approved CEs is representative of the mission and vision of ICPS to offer quality programming that is in line with the rigorous standards set forth by the APA. "Five Year Approval status is the longest an organization can receive," said Dina Glaser, Psy.D., director, IPCS and the Office of Applied Professional Practice and Training Consortia. "We wouldn't have gotten the approval without the diligent efforts of our CE Coordinator Moira Jackson and collaboration from Dr. Collin Ennis, associate director of Training, Clinical Psychology."

ICPS offers courses for psychologists, counselors/clinical counselors, and social workers, and faculty, staff, and alumni are offered as much as a 50 percent discount on the courses. As with ICPS courses, TCSPP alumni interested in extending their education can also take advantage of a special alumni tuition rate.

International Education Week Dr. Barbre and Dr. Machizawa Recognized for their Work Spotlight on Faculty Scholarship Impact Story: Illinois Connections for Families of the Fallen and The Chicago School National Service Month Southern California and Washington, D.C. Commencements Assessing and Managing Suicide Risk Workshop Faculty in the Media

Upcoming Events A Women's Collaborative Conference: Closing the Gap Through Mentoring, Education and Service January 11, 2016

TCSPP Students and Alumni in the Media Kimberly Krawczyk, M.S., M.A. Chicago Now November 5 Lisa Grajewski, Psy.D. JLife October 31 Rebecca Skorek, M.A. CBS 2 Chicago October 26 Jon Cardenas, M.A. Huffington Post October 8

Offered for all masters and doctoral degree programs, the special tuition rate is available on all on-ground campuses and online.

Read more about the Five Year Approval.

Insight Magazine Explores Life After Trauma

Provost Joseph Martin Stevenson Presented at White House Dr. Joseph Martin Stevenson was recently invited to Washington, D.C. to present to President Obama's Board of Advisors about The Chicago School's role in addressing diverse leadership, and the partnership between HBCUs and TCSPP through the OURS Program.

As part of his presentation, Dr. Stevenson said, "The role of HBCUs in the U.S. provides opportunities to partner with other institutions of higher learning in an effort to advance a national agenda for embracing cultural diversity, promoting economic development, understanding the human dynamic, and advancing Joseph Martin Stevenson, Ph.D. leadership for organizations and institutions throughout the country.

The development of a bold and groundbreaking doctoral program will be needed to advance this national agenda in the new globally diverse economy." Read more from Dr. Stevenson's presentation. a

The Chicago School Welcomes Melea Fields, Ed.D. Dr. Melea Fields has joined the TCSPP community as Associate Provost for Accreditation Affairs and Accreditation Liaison Officer. With a diverse two decade-long career that has encompassed all aspects of higher education in California, and most recently serving as Chief Academic Officer and Dean of Academic Affairs at the University of Antelope Valley, Lancaster, CA, Dr. Fields brings a wealth of experience to The Chicago School. Her areas of expertise include but are not limited to strategic planning, accreditation, assessment, and institutional effectiveness. Dr. Fields also holds a master's degree in education from Azusa Pacific University, and her undergraduate degree is in English literature and creative writing from California State University, Long Beach.

Melea Fields, Ed.D.

Naomi Ruth Cohen Institute at The Chicago School Honored with NAACP Community Service Award

Stay Connected

Larry and Marilyn Cohen, founders of the Naomi Ruth Cohen Institute for Mental Health Education (NRCI) at The Chicago School pose for the camera at the Evanston, IL/North Shore branch's NAACP Freedom Fund banquet on November 21. The NAACP awarded NRCI with its 2015 Community Service Award in recognition of the agency's service to the community.

The Chicago School Selected as a Top School for Military Students The Chicago School has been nationally recognized for the second consecutive year for providing a supportive educational environment for active military and veteran students by the "2016 Military Advanced Education and Transition Guide to Colleges and Universities"(available 2016).

The guide is a searchable database that provides information from which prospective students can evaluate institutions on their best practices in military and veteran education. MAE&T is a journal of higher learning for the service men and women of today, covering issues and trends in distance learning, education, and opportunities specific to military life.

Click here to become familiar with the military educational benefits and support The Chicago School is proud to provide.

Distinguished Alumni Celebrated in Washington, D.C. and Los Angeles Amidst the flurry of excitement for the commencement ceremonies that took place in October in Washington, D.C. and Southern California, Alumni Relations hosted two receptions on each campus to celebrate the Distinguished Alumni of the Year who would be honored at the graduation ceremonies. With addresses given by Dr. Nealon-Woods and other speakers, both events created an engaging opportunity for alumni to reconnect with the TCSPP community.

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(L-R) at the D.C. reception: Shirin Zarqa-Lederma ('10), Gary Goines ('14), Alumni Council Chair, and Dr. Nealon-Woods.

Shirin Zarqa-Lederman, M.A. ('10, Online) was honored at the October 9 Washington, D.C. commencement. She is a licensed professional counselor and a licensed clinical alcohol and drug counselor in the state of New Jersey. She is also a Board Certified Professional Counselor by the American Psychotherapy Association.

The author of a children's book series, "The Trotters of Tweeville," she's a selfprofessed psychology nerd, and a mother of five with a "sixth sense" when it comes to children and adolescents.

Peter Shore, Psy.D. ('09, Chicago) was recognized on October 29 at the Southern California commencement ceremony. He is a clinical psychologist and assistant professor of psychiatry in the Department of Psychiatry at Oregon Health and Science University. Dr. Shore also currently serves as the Director of Telehealth for Northwest Veterans (L-R) at the Los Angeles reception: Keith Anderson ('11), Integrated Service Network Peter Shore ('09), Dr. Nealon-Woods, and (VISN 20) in the Department Christo Franklin ('03). of Veterans Affairs, and Director for Mobile Clinical Video in the Office of Connected Care, VA Central Office. a

Both honorees addressed the graduating class at their respective commencement events, offering words of wisdom and touching on their own experiences in their chosen career paths. Selected through a rigorous nomination process, the recipients were chosen by members of the Alumni Council. Learn more about TCSPP's Distinguished Alumni of the Year, including the criteria and a full list of recipients.

Meet Alumnus Gerson Morales, Ph.D., Washington, D.C. Campus.

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Gerson Morales, Ph.D.

The Chicago School is committed to being the school of choice by building an environment of mutual respect and inclusion, where all individuals will be valued for who they are and what they can contribute. In turn, they are expected to be participatory members of an active learning community that promotes cultural awareness, competence, and understanding of diversity. Dr. Gerson Morales embodies these values through his work philosophy, and position as a survey statistician with the U.S. Census Bureau.

Dr. Morales was successful in obtaining his current position just a few months after completing his Ph.D. in International Psychology with a concentration in Organizations and Systems from the Washington, D.C. Campus. The nature of his work is research-oriented: he ensures surveys are understandable throughout various languages using focus groups and cognitive interviews. He also investigates public opinion regarding federal statistics to ensure accuracy and trust are attainable.

"What I enjoy most about the work I do is the possibility of learning from different cultures as well as determining appropriate survey languages that will be implemented throughout the U.S. across different racial and ethnic backgrounds," said Dr. Morales.

He believes his education and training allowed him to develop necessary research skills to be successful at his current job, and the cultural awareness and international perspectives have enabled him to communicate in an effective manner with people from various cultural backgrounds. Dr. Morales also obtained his Master of Arts in Industrial and Organizational Psychology from TCSPP in 2011.

2015 Multi-Campus Integration Committee Conference Focuses on Diversity The fourth annual MultiCampus Integration Committee (MCIC) conference took place on November 13, kicking off a day filled with workshops developed to explore the diversity of humans. Twenty faculty and staff from across all campuses presented at the conference, themed "Diversity in Action: How TCSPP Walks the Walk in Ameena Matthews, addressing conference the Practice and Teaching of participants.

Diversity and Multiculturalism." Presented in collaboration with the Multicultural and Diversity Affairs Committee, the conference featured keynote speaker Ameena Matthews, senior violence interrupter, Ceasefire Illinois and was comprised of 20 sessions.

More than 150 participants, attending both online and in person, had the opportunity to learn about such topics as diversity and disabilities in the military, the ABC's of LGBT, developing an ethnic identity, and using action research to support active learning and social justice. Resources available at National Center of Teaching and Learning.

Appointments and Elections Heather Sheets, Psy.D., Campus Dean, Washington, D.C. Campus - Appointed secretary of the District of Columbia Psychological Association.

Mary Anderson, Ph.D., Chair, Applied Behavior Analysis Department, Washington, D.C. Campus - Appointed to the Virginia Association of Behavior Analysis Marketing and Clinic Workgroup.

Jennifer DeFeo, Ph.D., Interim Associate Chair, Marriage and Family Therapy Department, Irvine Branch Campus - Elected to the board of the Orange County Chapter of the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists.

International Education Week Events Offer Glimpse into the Complexities of a Global Society In 2000, the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Education jointly decided to initiate International Education Week (IEW) as part of an overall strategy to "promote programs that prepare Americans for a global environment, and attract future leaders from abroad to study, learn, and exchange experiences in the United States."

The Chicago School began participating in 2011, offering programs and workshops across all campuses. Nineteen events were implemented this year, featuring such important topics as global poverty, global health and wellness, and the differences and similarities between multicultural and international psychology. IEW is organized by International Programs & Services, and the planning process begins at least three months in advance. The events were available both virtually through GoToWebinar and live on three campuses, attracting nearly 300 participants.

"The Chicago School has set its mission to prepare faculty, staff, and students to serve the community. The community is growing more diverse and our students are going to share this internationally connected community in their future professions," explained Cindie Zhou, coordinator, International Programs & Services. "The celebration is not only a one-week event; it continues in our daily lives."

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The celebration continued at all campuses with a President's luncheon with international students in Los Angeles, top left; a presentation from Nitzi Gilad, wife of the Israeli Consul General at the Chicago Campus, bottom left; and an international reception at the D.C. Campus on the bottom right.

International Award and $21,000 Grant Provided to Chicago Faculty and Staff for Their Work

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Claude Barbre, Ph.D., L.P.

Claude Barbre, Ph.D., L.P., full professor in the Clinical Psychology Program on the Chicago Campus, was recently awarded a prestigious 2015 Gradiva Award by the National Association for the Advancement of Psychoanalysis (NAAP).

This is Dr. Barbre's fifth Gradiva Award in four separate awards categories. NAAP established the awards in 1995 to honor "our valuable allies" in the humanities, "including poets, artists, producers, directors, publishers, etc., who have created works that advance psychoanalysis."

Chosen from hundreds of submissions, Dr. Barbre won in the Articles Category for his book chapter, "Django Unchanged: Identifications with the Oppressor and Intergenerational Cycles of Traumatic Hauntings and Reenactment," published in the anthology Fragments of Trauma and the Social Production of Suffering: Trauma, History, and Memory (Charles, M, and O'Loughlin,M., eds). Read More.

When Community Partnerships Associate Director Sayaka Machizawa, Psy.D.,

had an idea to bring psychology students and faculty from Japan and the U.S. together to explore cross-cultural issues in mental health, she developed a proposal and submitted a grant application to the Japan-United States Friendship Commission, a federal grant-making agency. The agency, established to strengthen the U.S.-Japan relationship, awarded Dr. Machizawa a $21,586 grant for her project, "Internationalization of Psychology Education through a Study Abroad Trip and Cross-Cultural Symposiums."

With the award, Dr. Machizawa hopes to promote Sayaka Machizawa, Psy.D. internationalization of psychology education and foster a sense of global citizenship in 10 students and two faculty members, who will travel to Japan this month to participate in symposiums at Ochanomizu University and Kohnodai Hospital National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry with students and staff from the university, and staff from the hospital. a

Spotlight on Faculty Scholarship: Gregory Canillas, Psy.D. and Mekel Harris, Psy.D. With a strong commitment to the field of psychology, Dr. Gregory Canillas and Dr. Mekel Harris from the Los Angeles Campus' Clinical Psychology Program traveled internationally in November to present separately at the 8th International Congress of Clinical Psychology in Granada, Spain. Dr. Canillas presented two papers, "The Invisible Wound: Treating Verbal Abuse in Children" and "Assessment and Treatment of Intimate Partner Violence with Gay Male Survivors," while Dr. Harris presented "Coping with Death: Grief Therapy for Children & Families."

In August of 2016 they will take to the skies again when they give a study abroad course in Johannesburg, South Africa. The 10-day course will explore the role of domestic violence and related trauma, as well as grief and loss among South African children and families.

Dr. Canillas explains, "As the world becomes 'smaller' through technological advances, it is thrilling to be able to present to colleagues from other countries and to get their thoughts and feedback on these issues."

"I'm especially thankful for the opportunity to present on my topic {at the International Congress of Clinical Psychology}, as November is National Children's Grief Awareness month," says Dr. Harris. "It's always an honor to be selected among your peers to present."

Making an Impact: Illinois Connections for Families of the Fallen and The Chicago School An Inspiring Collaboration Helen Keller once said, "Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much."

This statement was admirably borne out one sunlit August Sunday by students and staff from The Chicago School when they worked together with other organizations to make successful an event to connect families of fallen service members with resources, services, and equally important for many attendees, each other. The event, Connections at the Zoo: Bringing Families of the Fallen Together, was held at Brookfield Zoo and was the second one of the year organized by Illinois Connections for Families of the Fallen (ICFF).

Running parallel to the controlled chaos that can usually be found at any wellorganized event is the sense of family as people who might only see each other twice a year at ICFF events greet each other with hugs, kisses, and laughter. The

bonds forged by families are strengthened at every gathering and easily stretched to encompass each new family that comes along.

The collaborative nature of the event has turned some who started out as guests into some of ICFF's biggest boosters; oftentimes volunteering themselves. In the case of the Grieco family, Linda and Ralph Grieco first attended an ICFF event to help their grandchildren after the loss of their son, Staff Sergeant Kevin Douglas Grieco. After attending all but one event, they now find themselves serving in the roles of what they refer to as "peer facilitators" to newcomers. Read more.

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(L-R) at ICFF event: Linda Grieco, TCSPP student Melissa Marsh, Angeli Grieco, Joshua Grieco, TCSPP student Brittney Briggs, and Ralph Grieco.

Faculty, Staff, Students, and Alumni, Break Record During October's National Service Month National Service Month 2015 was once again a great success, with a participation rate that surpassed last year's record-breaking number. This past October, more than 130 TCSPP staff, faculty, students, and alumni came together to provide approximately 481 service hours at 23 different sites. To see some of the exciting work that was done, please click here to view the great video highlighting the events and experiences of the volunteers. Thank you all for your contributions.

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Volunteers from The Chicago School supported the National Alliance on Mental Health Walk in Orange County, California.

Washington, D.C. and Southern California Campuses Graduate Students at October Commencements

The Washington, D.C. Campus commencement was held on October 9 at the George Lisner Auditorium, and for the first time in the Campus' six-year history, doctoral candidates were included in the graduating class. American Association for Access, Equity and Diversity Distinguished Scholar, Bill Harvey, Ed.D., presented the keynote address. Also speaking to the Graduates at the Washington, D.C. commencement. graduates was Distinguished Alumna Shirin Zarqa-Lederman ('10), and class representative Erica Vien, a graduating doctoral student in the Clinical Psychology Program. Read more. a

On October 29, The Chicago School's Southern California Campuses and Online Campus graduated 265 doctoral and master's degree candidates at the ceremony held at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium.

Delivering the keynote address was Honorary Degree Recipient, Aquil Basheer, described as "one of the nation's most premier violence Dr. Debra Warner and Aquil Basheer at the Southern intermediation professionals California commencement. and elite public safety experts and hard core gang intervention specialists" in society today. Read more. Also addressing the graduates was Distinguished Alumnus of the Year Award recipient Peter Shore, Psy.D., ('09) and class representative Vernita Perkins, a Ph.D. in Organizational Leadership candidate.

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Critical Suicide Risk Training Workshop Offered The Forensic Training Institute at the Los Angeles Campus hosted a two-day training, "Assessing and Managing Suicide Risk," in November. The training was facilitated by TCSPP Clinical Supervisor and Therapist, and certified trainer at the Suicide Prevention Resource Center, Michael Pines, Ph.D., and his wife, Dr. Pines.

The Chicago School is the first graduate school in California to offer suicide management training, and requires its Los Angeles Clinical Psy.D. students to attend as part of their clinical practicum training course.

(L-R): Dr. Pines, Michael Pines, Ph.D. and Director of the Forensic Training Institute, Loren Hill, Ph.D.

According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness each year suicide claims approximately 30,000 lives in America, which makes it responsible for slightly more than one percent of deaths in the U.S.

Missed Media Stories with TCSPP Faculty Experts and Alumni? Check Out Top Stories Below and Congratulate Your Colleagues The Chicago School's faculty are oftentimes sought out as experts by members of the media. Below is a sampling of some of our recent media coverage about trending news stories.

The Emotional Starting Point: Access to Health Care In a post on the Mayo Clinic blog, Mayo Clinic Center for Innovation, Dr. Hector Adames and Dr. Nayeli Chavez both faculty in the Counseling Psychology Program on the Chicago Campus, were quoted from their article, "Building Trust with Communities of Color."

Amid Oregon Shooting, Israeli Research May Identify Potential School Shooters Dr. Nancy Zarse, full professor in the Forensic Psychology Program was interviewed by the Jewish News Service regarding her opinion of the viability of a new personality profiling technique that "automates the identification of potential school shooters by analyzing personality traits that appear in their writings."

Stress Management for Foster Parents Dr. Gregory Canillas, assistant professor in the L.A. Campus' Clinical Psychology Program offers strategies to help foster parents manage stress and prevent burnout in this article (available only in print) he wrote for "Fostering Families Today."

Self Help Personally and Professionally Dr. Mekel Harris, associate professor in the L.A. Campus' Clinical Psychology Program, was interviewed on the "Life's Issues with Host Lauren Jawno Show" to discuss professional development and personal self-help.

How to be an Inspirational Leader Dr. Jennifer Thompson, department faculty in the Business Psychology, I/O Program was interviewed by the "Chicago Tribune" regarding what makes an inspirational leader.

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