APA and the American Diabetes Association (ADA) are teaming up to make sure that psychologists have the knowledge they need to work effectively with people with diabetes. "Our goal is to help licensed psychologists learn more about people who live with diabetes, their particular concerns and how psychological factors interact with this medical condition," says Suzanne Bennett Johnson, PhD, who helped spearhead the initiative while president of APA. She is now part of a group of psychologists who are steering the national initiative, a group that includes David Marrero, PhD; Marisa Hilliard, PhD; Diana Naranjo, PhD; and Alica McAuliffe-Fogarty, PhD.
The new continuing-education program, which will debut at the ADA's Annual Scientific Sessions on June 8 in San Diego and at APA's Annual Convention on Aug. 6–9 in Washington, D.C., will consist of two parts. A seven-hour core course will provide an overview of diabetes, the psychological and behavioral issues associated with it, and the research on prevention and treatment. After passing an online exam on the first course's content, individuals will be eligible to take a second, five-hour course, which will be offered online. That course will focus on specific populations, such as children, adolescents and adults.
A grant from Stanford University supported curriculum development for the program.
Psychologists who successfully complete both courses will be included in a directory of mental health professionals with an expertise in diabetes. The ADA plans an extensive marketing effort to help disseminate the resource to physicians and other health-care providers. There will also be a system to grandfather in psychologists already working in the field. "This will be a great source for referrals for health-care providers," says McAuliffe-Fogarty, vice president of the lifestyle management team at the ADA.
The training isn't just for specialists, she adds. "Even a person who just does general psychology is, more often than not, going to have a person with diabetes walk through the door."
To register for the program at ADA's meeting, visit www.professional.diabetes.org/meeting/other/mental-health-provider-diabetes-education-programopens in new window. To register for the program at APA's convention, visit www.apa.org/convention. Learn more at www.apa.org/health/emphasis/diabetes —Rebecca A. Clay
