November Community Newsletter

The Chicago School of Professional Psychology

November 2012, E-newsletter

In This Issue Commencement Mental Health Parity Dr. Santiago-Rivera Community Partnerships Student Solutions Hispanic Heritage Month Chicago Forensic Dept.

Anniversary LA Forensic Training Institute Eisenhower Fellowship Preparing Future Faculty Study Abroad REP Conference Dr. Birch Presentation

Congratulations to Dr. Jay Finkelman, Chief Academic Officer, on his acceptance to present at the 2013 California Psychological Association Convention in Newport Beach, C.A. April 11-14, 2013. His presentation is titled "Executive psychologists and the psychology of executives: Success Models for the Psychologist Manager."

Message from the National President In October, I had the privilege of participating in commencement at the Washington, D.C. and Southern California Campuses. As an alum, I take great pride in knowing we have launched the next group of mental health practitioners going into the community. For those starting their careers, TCSPP wishes you great success; know that you can always count on us for career advice.

For those continuing their education with us, welcome back!

No matter where you are in your career, please remember our veterans on Veterans Day. Our school has been diligent at providing veteran support in a variety of ways. This year, we were honored to be among the top 15 percent of schools nationwide designated as a military-friendly school. We are actively involved in several initiatives, including developing the National Center for Veteran and Military Psychology and a Certificate of Military Psychology across all campuses.

If you know a veteran who needs support, please reach out.

Feel free to read my recent Huffington Post blog on issues facing our veterans and military personnel.

Michele Nealon-Woods, Psy.D. National President

Dr. Melody Bacon debuts new book, The Grace Filled Divorce.

Washington D.C. and Southern California Students Celebrate Commencement

Dr. Megan O’Banion was elected to the California Psychology Internship Council's Board of Directors as a Southern California Doctoral Program Representative.

Southern California students raised nearly $1,700 for the National Alliance on Mental Illness at two walks. Thank you to everyone who participated!

Check out the photos.

Students, faculty and staff are invited to volunteer at the VA in West LA on Veterans Day, Nov 12. Sign up here.

International Education Week will take place Nov. 1216 with several events.

The Washington D.C. Campus held its first commencement ceremony on October 12 with keynote speaker The Honorable James Kimonyo, ambassador of Rwanda to the U.S., who received an honorary doctorate degree in Humane Letters. Graham Canada, a candidate for the master’s degree in counseling psychology, spoke about his positive experience at TCSPP. Speaker, Claudia Esteve, a candidate for the master’s in counseling psychology, also gave an eloquent speech about her journey to TCSPP from Mexico where she earned her bachelor’s. The graduates were comprised of nearly all women and at least half were minority.

Additionally, the Southern California Campuses held commencement on October 20 with keynote speaker Stephen Peck, M.S.W., president & CEO of U.S. Vets, a veterans support services organization. Peck received an honorary doctorate degree in Humane Letters. Student speaker Dylan Keenberg, a candidate for the master’s in clinical psychology, gave a heartfelt speech about his time at TCSPP. Students received master’s and doctorates in applied behavioral analysis, business, clinical, industrial & organizational, marriage/family and somatic psychology. See photos on Facebook.

Mental Health Parity Hearing Draws Crowd Dr. Richard Sinacola presented at the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists Fall Symposium on Nov. 2-4. His presentation was titled "The Art of Conducting Effective Mental Status and Risk Assessments."

On September 13, TCSPP hosted the only west coast congressional field hearing for the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Law. The event was a tremendous success with 180 attendees at the downtown Los Angeles campus and online.

Former Congressman Patrick Kennedy and Dr. Michelle Nealon-Woods, among others from the medical, legal and military industries, discussed the importance of providing equality in

In The News Dr. Nealon-Woods KFWB Radio, LA Dr. Nealon-Woods The Huffington Post L.A. Students Patch.com Dr. Daniela Schreier Various News Outlets Dr. John Shustitzky WYCC, PBS Chicago

Apply for Spring 2013 We are now accepting applications for 2013 admissions consideration. Email to learn about online-blended and oncampus spring and fall 2013 options, as well as furthering your education at TCSPP. Start the application process by accessing the online application here.

mental health benefits.

Read more from on the issue in the president's Huffington Post blog, and listen to her interview on KFWB radio.

Dr. Santiago-Rivera Appointed Director of New Latino Center Dr. Azara Santiago-Rivera in Washington, D.C. is director of the new National Center for Research and Practice, Latino Mental Health. She will provide national strategic leadership for the development and implementation of research, service and dissemination of research findings, translation of research, training and policy.

Community Partnerships Make a Difference During 2011-2012, more than 800 Chicago Campus students provided more than 55,500 hours of service in the community through the Community Partnerships Department, which creates a bridge between TCSPP and local and global communities. The department also coordinated 60 service-learning courses that combined classwork with real-world experiences. Participating students all agreed they were far more prepared and gained professional confidence thanks to the experience.

Student Solutions Offers Support Annual Giving Campaign Coming Soon

The 2012-2013 Annual Giving Campaign “The Promise of Opportunity” will launch in midNov. The focus is to raise money for need-based scholarships to support our most precious resource--our students. Additional information

We’re excited to share the debut of Student Solutions, a new around-the-clock support service that replaced the Student Therapy Referral Network. Student Solutions provides free personal counseling, financial advice, and legal counsel to TCSPP students.

Students struggling with stress or other personal issues can speak to a counselor. The school will pay for the first three counseling sessions with a sliding-scale rate available for more sessions. Licensed attorneys and financial experts are also “on call” to help with legal and financial needs.

All calls are confidential and toll-free at (855) 460-6668 or visit online (ID is “TCSPP”). Contact the Office of Student Affairs for questions.

about the campaign, including how to contribute, will be announced shortly by email.

Hispanic Heritage Month Recognized with Lecture Event

(L-R) Drs. Taylor, Santiago-Rivera and Arredondo at conference.

In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, the Washington, D.C. Campus, in partnership with the American Psychology Association, hosted a discussion on Latino immigrant families and the challenges they face in America. Speakers included TCSPP’s Dr. Azara Santiago-Rivera and Dr. Patricia Arredondo from the University of WisconsinMilwaukee, who specializes in multicultural counseling competencies.

To further our commitment to diversity, D.C. Campus President Orlando Taylor and Associate Vice President of International Services Emily Karem, presented at the Hispanic Association of Colleges & Universities Annual Conference on October 20-22. Their presentation was titled "Comprehensive Internationalization: TCSPP's Five Pillar Model," and it was well received.

Chicago Forensic Department Celebrates 10 Years On September 7, the Department of Forensic Psychology at the Chicago Campus celebrated its 10-year anniversary with students, faculty, staff and alumni who gathered to share stories about the program.

In addition, for the sixth consecutive year, the department, in partnership with the Response Center, a resource center serving adolescents and their families, participated in a traveling installation of The Clothesline Project, a campaign to raise awareness for victims of sexual abuse and assault.

The project allows survivors to express feelings through art and words on shirts displayed to symbolize shared experiences and unity.

Forensic Training Institute Enjoys Great Year The Forensic Training Institute at the Los Angeles Campus, led by Drs. Loren M. Hill, Debra Warner and Dean Rishel, has had a busy

year. The Institute focuses on training, research and program development to serve the broader forensic community, while helping current students apply their forensic psychology skills.

“We interact with the nonprofit and other organizations to expand their thinking about the field of psychology, and how it can help them advance their work. For example, one of our faculty members, Dr. Shaw has been an expert witness in high-profile criminal cases and on gang activities,” explained Dr. Hill.

Recent project collaborations included the Los Angeles Coroner's Office, the Hostage Negotiation & crisis Intervention Unit of the San Jose Police Department, and Community Transition, Vital Intervention Directional Alternatives (VIDA), and CounterIntelligence Collaborative work with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. The team regularly presents at many national and international conferences to highlight their work.

Alumnus Receives Eisenhower Fellowship Alumnus and TCSPP's International Liaison Director in Peru, Dr. Stefan Reich, was awarded the Eisenhower Fellowship for his contribution to international psychology and for continuing to create bridges with international organizations. This prestigious award will allow Dr. Reich to travel to the U.S. and meet many of the most important leaders and researchers in leadership development and education.

Preparing Future Faculty Program Launches In response to the national need to increase diversity among faculty members in psychology and the behavioral sciences, TCSPP launched its Preparing Future Psychology Faculty Program on October 26 with an all-campus seminar on the “History and Development of Higher Education and Faculty Roles in the United States.”

Learn more

Considering Study Abroad?

As you prepare your plans for the next year, consider TCSPP's Study Abroad Program. Students can take courses on-campus or online, and then broaden their learning experience with international travel - great for professional development, research and career growth!

Here's more information.

TCSPP Co-Sponsors Race, Ethnicity, & Place Conference Thirteen TCSPP faculty, students and administrators were among the presenters at the 6th Annual Biennial Conference on Race, Ethnicity and Place Conference, which took place on October 25 in San Juan,

Puerto Rico. Faculty members and presenters representing all campuses included Drs. Leslee Brown, Nathan N. Howell, Kristin Velazquez Kenefick, Robert Lusson, and Orlando Taylor.

Dr. Birch and Student Present at SASH In September, Dr. Paul Birch recently presented at the Society for the Advancement of Sexual Health 2012 National Conference held in San Antonio.

The theme was “Creating a Culture of Healthy Sexuality: Shaping the Future.” His presentation with TCSPP student Ingrid Johnson was titled “Clinician-driven Model for Developing Evidencebased Treatment of Internet Sexual Addictions.”

Mission Statement Integrating theory, professional practice, and innovation, The Chicago School of Professional Psychology provides an excellent education for careers in psychology and related behavioral and health sciences. The school is committed to service and embraces the diverse communities of our society.

Our logo symbolizes: • Education • Innovation • Service • Community