Articles from the Summer/Fall 2023 Issue of The National Psychologist

Should AI be used in ethical

healthcare decision-making?

By Monica E. Oss, M.S.

Artificial intelligence (AI) and ChatGPT have captured popular press attention. From writing resumes to planning travel adventures to completing law school applications, people are wild about the potential uses of AI to make their lives easier.

There is just as much coverage of the promise of ChatGPT in health and human services. Getting AI-infused life coaching and mental health counseling has been with us for a while, but the emergence of ChatGPT is taking it to a new level. There is AI as counselor and coach and AI in the therapeutic process.

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Severe need for more psychologists

By Amanda Riedel, M.A., and

Leihua Edstrom, Ph.D., ABSNP

There is a severe supply and demand problem in health service psychology.

As the country’s mental health needs continue to grow after the COVID-19 pandemic, the need for psychologists is more significant than ever. It is estimated that one in five Americans will experience a mental health illness yearly.

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Psychologists' ethical use of self-disclosure

about highly charged issues

By Linda K. Knauss, Ph.D., ABPP

and Jeanne Slattery, Ph.D.

Like our clients, we have been responding to COVID-19, the Dobbs decision, racial and political unrest, gun violence, concerns about climate change, the war in Ukraine, inflation, and voting rights. Sometimes our clients bring these issues up in our work, or we consider whether we should do so.

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Therapists desire to have effective outcomes in their work. One known method of increasing treatment outcomes is to connect with clients through their culture, their interests, or by establishing strong rapport. To help meet clients where there are more and more therapists are finding ways to bring niche interests into the therapy office.

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How are tabletop role-playing games being used in therapy?

By Megan A. Connell, Psy.D.

Must I comply? It doesn’t have to be perfect

By Susan C. Litton, Ph.D.

Yes, you have to comply.

Not long ago, it was theoretically possible for some mental health practitioners to make a case for not being Covered Entities (CEs), thus not needing to comply with HIPAA. However, that was before COVID. COVID pushed the entire profession toward digital apps. To remain protected, we signed BAAs (Business Associate Agreements). BAAs commonly begin with language like:

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Iowa Psychological Association opposes

PSYPACT

By Paul Ascheman, Ph.D.

In 2018, the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPPB) held a PsyPact pitch meeting in Washington, DC, to recruit additional states needed to enact the interstate compact. Iowa invitees included a state senator and house representative, the chair of the Iowa Board of Psychology, and me, serving at that time as the Iowa Psychological Association’s (IPA) State Advocacy Coordinator.

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Should psychologists refuse care for clients they find morally objectionable?

should psychologists refuse care morally objectionable

By Thomas G. Plante, PhD, ABPP

In recent years, much attention has been focused on mental health professionals and graduate students in training who refuse to treat certain clients due to conflicts associated with the values and religious beliefs of the therapist or student and their client’s behavior.

Differing views on PSYPACT

Paul C. Berman, Ph.D.

Hamid Mirsalimi, Ph.D.

Maryland enacted PSYPACT during the 2021 legislative session. The Maryland Psychological Association (MPA) actively advocated for the bill despite significant opposition from our licensing board. The bill unanimously passed the Maryland House of Delegates and Senate and was signed into law by Governor Larry Hogan. It became effect on May 18, 2021.

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Here are a few free articles from the Summer/Fall 2023 issues of The National Psychologist. If you would like to enjoy the entire issue of The National Psychologist, click here and subscribe. It is only due to our subscribers that we can continue to provide these free articles.