Professor Terry Kupers, M.D. in Time.com

Dr. Kupers recently appeared in Time.com: What 28-Years of Solitary Confinement Does to the Mind

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Workshop to be Offered by Faculty Member Matthew McKay, PhD, and Alumna, Patricia E. Zurita Ona, PsyD

Wright Institute faculty member Matthew McKay, PhD, and alumna Patricia E. Zurita Ona, PsyD, will offer a two-day professional workshop on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) in Los Angeles on October 11 and 12, 2014. The hands-on workshop will present a comprehensive overview of ACT, and provides 13 continuing education credit hours.

ACT is a form of clinical behavior analysis used in psychotherapy. It is an empirically-based psychological intervention that uses acceptance and mindfulness strategies combined with commitment and behavior-change strategies to increase psychological flexibility.

The ACT workshop will be held at BLANKSPACES, 5404 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles. Early bird cost: $295 - until September 9.

For more information and student discounts, click here or paste the link below in your browser: https://www.praxiscet.com

Four Wright Institute Students Elected to California Psychological Association of Graduate Students Executive Council

The following four Wright Institute students have been elected to serve on the 2014/2015 California Psychological Association of Graduate Students (CPAGS) Executive Council:

• Munn Saechao (3rd year) Convention Chair
• Sarah Schubmehl (2nd year) Secretary
• Jennifer Fowler (2nd year) Division III Representative
• Lyndsay Dell (2nd year) Division V Representative

As Convention Chair, Munn will coordinate CPAGS's programming at the 2015 CPA Convention in San Diego. As Secretary, Sarah takes minutes at, and coordinates all meetings of the Executive Council. Division Representatives Jennifer and Lyndsay serve as CPAGS's representative to CPA Division III (Industrial/Organizational Psychology) and CPA Division V (Psychopharmacology).

Wright Institute Student Gigi Pagani Appointed Student Board Representative for Marin County Psychological Association

Gigi Pagani, third-year student in the Wright Institute PsyD program, has been appointed Student Board Representative for the Marin County Psychological Association (MCPA), effective July 1, 2014. MCPA aims to promote human welfare through the diffusion and utilization of psychological knowledge. Its intentions are also to increase public understanding of psychology as a science and a profession, to promote and maintain high standards of professional ethics, conduct, education and training of psychologists, and to promote fellowship among psychologists in Marin County

Gigi says she is "looking forward to contributing, in my small way, to my local psychological association, to the broader Bay Area student community, and to the populations we serve."

Daniela Kantorova to Present at 2014 APA Convention in August

Wright Institute student Daniela Kantorova will present at two roundtables at the hospitality suite of the Division 48 (Society for the Study of Peace, Conflict, and Violence) at the American Psychological 2014 Convention in Washington, D.C., August 22-26. This program is co-sponsored by Psychologists for Social Responsibility (PsySR) where Daniela is a steering committee member.

The two presentations are: Neuroethics, Drones, and Killer Robots in which Daniela will discuss the PsySR Neuroethics project, and the second presentation focuses on The Process of Racial Justice Work related to PsySR's emerging racial justice project.

Wright Institute Alumna Dr. Joty Sikand Selected as Behavioral Healthcare Champion

Wright Institute alumna Joty Sikand, PsyD, has been selected by Behavioral Healthcare Magazine as a national "Behavioral Health Champion." The award honors leaders of behavioral health organizations who display dedication, courage, inspiration, and excellence in making a difference in the development, delivery, and effectiveness of mental healthcare services. Dr. Sikand is one of five awardees.

Since 2004, Dr. Sikand has served as president of The Hume Center, an East Bay community mental health organization providing comprehensive multicultural and multilingual behavioral health care services. The Hume Center trains more than 40 doctoral trainees and directly serves over 1,500 people each year.

Beth Greivel Spearheads Effort to Have CAMFT Denounce SOCE (Sexual Orientation Change Efforts)

From Gaylesta.org by Jay Philip Paul:

Beth Greivel, a graduate student at The Wright Institute in Berkeley and a new Gaylesta member, submitted a petition to the CAMFT Board of Directors on July 9th, requesting that CAMFT make changes to their Code of Ethics that would denounce sexual orientation change efforts (SOCE). Marriage and family therapists (MFTs) are the largest group of licensed mental health professionals in the State of California, and CAMFT (The California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists) should represent their interests. Our hope is that CAMFT will formally acknowledge that SOCE therapists mislead clients about what they provide, fail to provide appropriate services, and instead cause serious harm to clients by reinforcing negative societal messages about LGBTQIQA (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, questioning, asexual) individuals. We hope that CAMFT will make its members understand that those who offer such unethical and harmful therapies are not welcome in the organization.

Two Students to Represent Wright Institute at APA Convention in August 2014

Wright Institute students Eric Samuels and Sherri Taylor will participate in the American Psychological Association (APA) Convention to be held in Washington D.C. from August 7-10, 2014.

Eric is a member of the APA Graduate Students Committee on LGBT Concerns, and will chair a symposium entitled "Controversial LGBTQ Issues in Graduate Training." The symposium will explore how graduate programs are dealing with issues such as conscience clause legislation, footnote four, and sexual orientation change efforts.

In addition, as chair of the California Psychological Association of Graduate Students, Eric has been selected to participate in a presidential program entitled "Struggling Together: Stakeholder Collaboration to Address the Internship Crisis." APA President Dr. Nadine Kaslow has convened a panel of five students and one early career psychologist to present solutions to the internship crisis.

Dr. Milena Esherick speaks in Washington, DC about how to use psychology to spread social change.

Master's Program Director Milena Esherick was a featured presenter at the Humane Society's Taking Action for Animals Conference in Washington, DC. The Saturday, June 28 panel, "Change of Heart: The Psychology of Social Change", was warmly received by a standing-room only crowd. An active and energetic advocate for animal welfare, Dr. Esherick is interested in using psychological research and methods to effect positive social change. Presenting alongside Dr. Esherick was Nick Cooney, author of Change of Heart, founder and director of The Human League, and contributor to media outlets, including Time Magazine and the Los Angeles Times.

Jessica R. Areen Joins Board of Trustees at San Francisco Center for Psychoanalysis

Jessica R. Areen, Wright Institute PsyD program student, has been named to the Board of Trustees at the San Francisco Center for Psychoanalysis.

Entering into her second year as practicum trainee at the Mission Mental Health Clinic, she provides psychoanalytic psychotherapy and intake assessments for adults in a community mental health setting. Prior to attending the Wright Institute, Jessica worked as an attorney specializing in corporate governance, nonprofits, venture capital, and taxation.

The San Francisco Center for Psychoanalysis (SFCP) is a not for profit organization with more than 160 practicing analysts and more than 45 candidates (psychoanalysts in training). It is is dedicated to advancing the vitality and enduring value of psychoanalysis in northern California. The SFCP provides an extensive training program in psychoanalysis. In addition, it maintains Low / Moderate Fee Referral Services for adults, children and adolescents as well as providing other mental health services.