Volume 39, No. 8 September 2008
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Monitor on Psychology Volume 39, No. 8 September 2008 |
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Candidates share their views: Q3: What key initiatives do you think will enhance the practice of psychology as a profession in the 21st century?
One of the cornerstones of my candidacy is advancing psychology as a primary mental health profession. A number of activities will contribute to this agenda: building bridges with primary-care health providers, including physicians; pursuing prescriptive authority; marketing our skills in assessment more effectively; drawing on our training in outcomes assessment and program evaluation; developing more collaborative models of care; and clarifying to others our commitment to evidence-based practices. It is essential for psychology to secure a place for itself as a premier mental health profession in the health-care system that will soon be emerging.
Q4: Some of our members believe that the association should avoid political and moral stands on pressing social issues. What relationship(s) do you see as desirable among psychology, the association and social justice issues?
We must always remember that APA exists above all else for the advancement of the discipline. However, as a discipline that has as its ultimate goal the science-based understanding and improvement of human functioning, we would be at fault if we ignored the impact of social policies on quality of life and human potential. We have an obligation to inform and educate policy-makers on the scientific evidence about social issues. Indeed, I see it as an important goal to enhance psychology's image as a source of objective information about how to address social problems.
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