Monthly Updates

1. Noteworthy items

• Dr. Jen Theule was on Global Morning News on Thursday June 1^st at 8:20am for a segment related to MPS’ recent PR concerning talking to kids when they need help (see press release attached). To listen, click here: http://globalnews.ca/video/3498534/how-to-talk-to-your-kids-about-mental-health

• The Canadian Psychological Association has releasedthe Fourth Edition of the Canadian Code of Ethics for Psychologists. You can find more information about the newest revision of the Code and download an electronic version here: Code of Ethics (Fourth Edition)

2. MPS Updates from March 2017

• MPS’ Social Action Committee is in the process of creating their operational guidelines and processes for addressing social issues. 

• Dr. Pamela Holens attended the APA Council of Representatives meeting in February 2017. Highlights of the meeting included the passing of clinical practice guidelines for PTSD, discussion of entrance requirements to graduate programs in clinical psychology, and discussion of an upcoming policy statement from APA regarding registration of MA-level psychologists. Follow the link for meeting minutes: http://www.apa.org/about/governance/council/minutes-winter-2017.pdf

3. Articles of Interest

• Therapist’s Guide for Preparing a Professional Will. The guide is intended to help therapists create an individualized professional will that is not only ethically, legally, and clinically sound but also clear, comprehensive, and practical. http://kspope.com/therapistas/will.php

• Belgian Public Health Minister researching financial coverage of psychological treatment. http://www.brusselstimes.com/belgium/8285/maggie-de-block-wants-to-reimburse-psychological-aid

• Psychodynamic Therapy: As Efficacious as Other Empirically Supported Treatments? A Meta-Analysis Testing Equivalence of Outcomes. http://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/doi/10.1176/appi.ajp.2017.17010057

4. Get to know a Manitoba Psychologist featuring Gillian Alcolado, Ph.D., C.Psych., Anxiety Disorders Program, Clinical Health Psychology, St. Boniface General Hospital 

What is the focus of your research program?

My research interests broadly include the etiology, mechanisms, and treatment of anxiety and related disorders, with a focus on obsessive-compulsive disorder. I am particularly interested in improving clinical outcomes in cognitive-behavioural therapy via better understanding and development of techniques that target underlying maladaptive thoughts and beliefs.

To this end, my research program to-date has specifically focused on testing a piece of the cognitive theory of compulsive checking (i.e., that maladaptive beliefs about memory ability contribute to and maintain the checking cycle). From these positive findings, I have turned to developing and testing a novel cognitive intervention for compulsive checking focused on altering these maladaptive beliefs. The aim is for patients to discover that their memory for checking may be better than they think it is, and that they therefore do not need to check as much.

What are some of the clinical or theoretical applications of your work?

The theoretical applications of my work are to determine whether the cognitive theory of compulsive checking is supported by experimental and clinical research findings.

Even more excitingly, if results continue to prove positive, the clinical application will be a novel and useful cognitive intervention that can be introduced flexibly as needed to enhance cognitive-behavioural therapy outcomes for individuals who suffer from compulsive checking.

1. Noteworthy items

• It’s time to renew your professional liability insurance! BMS Canada Risk Services Ltd. has officially launched its renewal process for members holding professional liability insurance through MPS. Members with policies expiring on June 1, 2017 can expect to receive an email from BMS Group within the next week with a unique link for online renewal. Members with both professional liability and business/clinic insurance policies should receive two emails.

• • Please note that there are some minor changes to the program this year. These include:
    • New Employment Practices Liability Coverage (see here)
    • A small increase in premiums for business coverage.
    • New enhanced Cyber Security and Privacy Liability (see here)
  • Visit psychology.bmsgroup.com for more information about the program.

• April was proclaimed Sexual Assault Awareness Month and announced by Minister Rochelle Squires. Coincidentally, a group of psychologists in Winnipeg had been working on creating a sexual abuse awareness week for May and provided the following information about their efforts to MPS:

• • The focus of the awareness month, according to our province’s press release (http://news.gov.mb.ca/news/index.html?item=41271) is to increase awareness about the frequency of sexual assault of women and girls, the fact that many assaults are not reported, and that, as a result, many are not receiving help following assaults.

• • The community psychologists involved in this effort would like to bring awareness to the sexual abuse of children (girls and boys). They would like the public to be aware that children are more likely than adults to be sexually abused (the prevalence is at least 1 in 6), most victims know their perpetrators, and child sexual abuse can occur to those in any demographic

• • For this year’s work on awareness, Drs. Rehman Abdulrehman and Kirsten Wirth are being hosted by CJOB at 2 pm on Wednesday May 3rd to discuss prevalence, protective factors, advocacy, and obtaining supports.

• • Drs. Abdulrehman and Wirth hope to prepare over the coming year for systems efforts towards awareness at all levels so that survivors may access appropriate supports, and on pursuing a bigger media plan for 2018.

• The APA Monitor on Psychology has provided a link to a program that guides a psychologist through a self-assessment of one’s own professional practice and skills. Please access the program through this link:
  http://www.apamonitor-digital.org/apamonitor/201705?pg=101#pg101.

• After two years of research and input from almost 400 community members with different perspectives on mental health, Sarasvàti Productions is excited to bring important stories to the stage as part of Breaking Through. The play follows the stories of five Winnipeggers living with different mental health issues. This bold new play puts the spotlight on mental health like never before. Writers Hope McIntyre and Cairn Moore honour these stories with nuance, humour and unabashed honesty.

• • Breaking Through runs May 23-27 at 8pm, May 24 at 1pm and May 28 at 2pm at the Asper Centre for Theatre & Film (400 Colony Street, at the U of W). Please visit sarasvati.ca for complete information.


2. MPS Updates from April 2017

• The MPS Annual Spring Workshop, The Pain Paradox: Mindfulness/Compassion-Based Approaches for Complex Trauma, with Dr. John Briere was held on April 21, 2017.The workshop was very well attended by 114 registrants.

• Dr. Moira Somers spoke about financial stress and tax deadlines on the Morning News Show on Global Winnipeg. Please access the interview through this link: http://globalnews.ca/video/3411914/how-to-manage-stress-over-money

3. Articles of Interest

• This month we have included an article titled, “What your therapist doesn’t know” which can be accessed at https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2017/04/what-your-therapist-doesnt-know/517797/

• This month we have also including a pdf copy of a summary of a document titled “The health effects of cannabis and cannabinoids: the current state of evidence and recommendations for research” by The National Academics of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine. The report provides a link to the full document which will provide more information regarding the findings. See here.
  

4. Get to know a Manitoba Psychologist, featuring Dr. Matthew Bailly

In your opinion, what are the most rewarding and challenging parts of being a clinical psychologist?

“For me, the most rewarding part of being a clinical psychologist is having the privilege of using my knowledge and experience to serve others each day.  I consider myself very fortunate to do what I enjoy for a living, but even more lucky to be able to use my skills to lessen the burden of emotional distress, particularly that often accompanying chronic illness.  In terms of challenges (which I may also find rewarding), I enjoy performing assessments and delivering treatments that appear to be the best fit for clients, coordinating services with other providers, and even completing day to day tasks associated with running a busy clinic.”

What do you think are the most exciting changes in the field of clinical psychology?

“I feel that this is a wonderful time to be a clinical psychologist, with some significant trends that I find quite exciting.  For me, these include the increasing use of acceptance-based strategies to treat a number of conditions, particularly chronic pain.  In addition, I’m very optimistic about more recently emerging technology, like telemedicine, to improve access for previously underserved populations or the use of virtual reality in exposure-based treatments.”

1. Noteworthy items

• CPA is requesting psychologists to complete a survey on your views and experience on the recent change to the criminal code that allows for Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID). The goals of this survey are to determine psychologists’ views of current MAID legislation, the degree of their participation in MAID assessments, and their opinions regarding possible extensions of MAID to patient groups not covered under the current legislation. Click here to access the survey: http://web2.cpa.ca/membersurveys/index.php/569993?lang=en

• CPA congratulates MPS on the occasion of our 50^th Anniversary: https://mps.ca/cpa-congratulates-mps-occasion-50th-anniversary/

2. Upcoming Events

• The MPS Annual Spring Workshop, The Pain Paradox: Mindfulness/Compassion-Based Approaches for Complex Trauma, with Dr. John Briere will be held on April 21, 2017. To register: https://mps.ca/spring17

3. MPS Updates from March 2017

• Drs. Teresa Sztaba and Andrea Piotrowski attended the Practice Leadership Conference on March 4-7, 2017 in Washington, D.C., where attended a range of meetings, had opportunities to network with executives from other associations, and to present information about Manitoba and Canadian association activities to representatives of the APA Practice Organization.

• The MPS Annual General Meeting was held on March 20, 2017 at the Inn at the Forks. In addition to the meeting, there was a student poster presentation, and Dr. Nigaan Sinclair spoke about “The Psychology of Reconciliation.”

  Reports from the AGM can be accessed here:
  https://mps.ca/agm-reports-2017/.

  You can also find a photo album here:
  https://mps.ca/agm-2017-photos/