May 1st, 2015
By Catherine Robertson Souter
David Matteodo is executive director of the Massachusetts Association of Behavioral Health Systems (MABHS). A non-profit trade organization that represents the interests of 44 inpatient hospitals and units that provide psychiatric or substance abuse services in the Commonwealth, the MABHS was created in 1989 to advocate for and protect the interests of its members. The group works with state legislators on bills ranging from those that affect reimbursement rates to placement issues with state-run services. New England Psychologist’s Catherine Robertson Souter spoke with Matteodo about his role with the organization and the group’s goals and successes and the status of [More]
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May 1st, 2014
By Howard Newman
When tragedy struck Ken and Danielle Lambert six years ago, they grieved for a short while and then took action. They never wanted anyone to experience the type of heartbreak and suffering they had faced. Their two children, Kaleigh, 5, and Shane, 4, and Danielle’s sister, Marci Thibault, died as the result of a horrifying psychotic incident. With the children in her car, Thibault pulled over to the side of Route 495 in Lowell, Mass., and then intentionally walked everyone into oncoming traffic. In April of 2008, Ken and Danielle formed a non-profit organization called Kaleigh, Shane and Marci for [More]
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December 1st, 2017
By James K Luiselli EdD ABPP BCBA-D
Transforming Long-Term Care: Expanded Roles for Mental Health Professionals By Kelly O’Shea Carney and Margaret P. Norris American Psychological Association Washington, D.C., 2017 Book explores long-term care’s challenges, opportunities Reviewed by James K. Luiselli, Ed.D., ABPP, BCBA-D Historically, mental health professionals, including psychologists, have had limited roles in long-term care settings for older adults. However, geropsychology has become an active discipline and represents solid ground for innovative practice and research inquiry. Written by two psychologists, this book encourages mental health professionals to expand service options within nursing homes, assisted living facilities and other long-term care settings. It provides a [More]
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October 1st, 2015
By James K Luiselli EdD ABPP BCBA-D
“Transforming Troubled Children, Teens and Their Families: An Internal Family Systems Model for Healing” By Arthur G. Mones Routledge, 2014 New York, N.Y Book on IFS model is disappointing Reviewed by James Luiselli The foundation of this book is something called the Internal Family Systems (IFS) model. I did not know much about IFS so looked forward to reading the book in order to gain a better understanding. As presented by psychologist Arthur G. Mones, IFS has deep roots within psychoanalysis and psychodynamic psychotherapy, with all of the attendant intra-psychic forces, classifying symptoms “as adaptive and survival-based when viewed in [More]
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May 10th, 2018
By Eileen Weber
For a number of years, New Hampshire Hospital, the only psychiatric hospital in the state, has been massively overcrowded with too many patients and not enough beds. Patients had little choice but to leave the hospital only to find themselves living on the streets or seeking treatment in already crowded emergency rooms. “There needs to be an array of treatment that used to exist,” said Ken Norton, M.D., executive director of the New Hampshire chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness. “Right now, when patients are discharged, there’s very little step-down.” That’s starting to change. Legislation was recently passed [More]
Tags: patients, mental illness, New Hampshire, Transitional housing, emergency rooms, psychiatric hospital, treatments, legislations, Harbor Homes
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February 11th, 2018
By John Grohol, Psy.D.
Life is all about transitions. It’s what keeps things interesting and challenges our complacency. I’m honored to take over the reins of New England Psychologist, an independent voice that began life as Massachusetts Psychologist in 1993 by Denise Yocum, Psy.D., expanding to all of New England in 2002. Dr. Yocum approached me at the beginning of October to discuss the possibility of purchasing the publication after deciding the time was ripe for retirement. Following a few discussions, it became clear we were aligned in both interests and beliefs. I want to take a moment to thank Dr. Yocum for her [More]
Tags: life transitions, Psych Central, mental health education, psychology education website, New England Psychologist, mental health professionals, psychologists, Dr. Yocum, Dr. Grohol
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January 1st, 2016
By Phyllis Hanlon
According to the 2012 Yoga in America study, approximately 20.4 million Americans practice yoga for a variety of reasons including increased flexibility, general conditioning, physical fitness, overall health benefits and stress relief. Recent research has demonstrated yoga can be an effective complementary therapy to psychological intervention. Thirteen years ago, David Emerson, E-RYT, director of Yoga Services at The Trauma Center at the Justice Resource Institute (JRI), created trauma sensitive yoga (TSY) as an adjunctive treatment for those who have suffered chronic childhood physical and/or sexual abuse and neglect. He explained that parts of the brain that connect awareness to the [More]
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February 7th, 2018
By Catherine Robertson Souter
When a television producer first asked Jessica Griffin, PsyD, if she would consider taking an on-air consultant role on an upcoming reality show, she scoffed at the idea. An associate professor of Psychiatry and Pediatrics at UMass Medical School and executive director of UMASS Medical School’s Child Trauma Training Center with a private clinical practice in the Worcester area, Griffin did not see herself as the reality-show type. Still, with some prodding from Hollywood and much discussion with colleagues, friends and family, Griffin decided to jump in. She first served as a consulting psychologist on the show, “Seven Year Switch,” [More]
Tags: Jessica Griffin PsyD, Linked Kids, Married at First Sight, Lifetime, Catherine Robertson Souter, trauma, traumatization, resilience, psychological training, communication skills
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August 18th, 2017
By Kerry Morrison, Psy.D
“Trauma-Informed Treatment & Prevention of Intimate Partner Violence.” By Casey T. Taft, Christopher M. Murphy, and Suzannah K. Creech American Psychological Association Washington, D.C., 2016 Book examines the impact of trauma Reviewed by Kerry Morrison, Psy.D. Trauma, especially childhood trauma, is life altering. It has pervasive effects on all spheres of functioning and relationship development. Trauma also can hinder therapeutic relationships that attempt to treat interpersonal violence. Models of treatment for intimate partner violence must be trauma-informed and recognize the multitude of ways trauma impacts behavioral change. Trauma-informed care has recently been recognized as essential for treatment of survivors of [More]
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February 1st, 2012
By Alan Bodnar Ph.D.
Words written in the first week of January meant to be read a month later stand on the threshold of the unknown, always a mystery, but more consciously so at the beginning of a new year. As the last scraps of confetti from last night’s New Year’s Eve celebrations are swept up and carted away to wherever such things are taken, the sun is already shining in a cold blue sky on the sharp outlines of a snowless winter landscape. We are but a grand parade and a few more bowl games away from the official end of the holiday [More]
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