Psychotherapy Division Member Melba Vasquez Elected APA President!
January 8, 2010 by Steve Sobelman
Filed under Announcements, Latest from the Division of Psychotherapy, Members
Melba Vasquez
Melba Vasquez
The provision of psychotherapy is the basis of my work. Providing psychotherapy is an activity that is profound in its meaning and effectiveness as a change process. The evolving evidence base helps us to more fully understand the factors that contribute to therapeutic effectiveness. We must ensure that these services are fully included and funded in the evolving health care reform systems.
Leadership
As a member of the Board of Directors, I have advocated consistently for the Practice Directorate, and the APA Practice Organization. I currently Chair the Task Force to revise the Model Licensing Act, whose charge is to bring the MLA in line with other APA policies including proposing increase in licensure mobility, and ensuring that the doctorate is the level of credential required for the title “psychologist” and the independent practice of psychology.
I served as Chair of the Board of Professional Affairs, and as member of the Committee for the Advancement of Professional Practice. I also served on the Ethics Committee, as member of the Examination Committee for the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards, and helped to develop the oral exam for licensure in Texas.
Education and Training
I completed a psychotherapy videotape series as part of the APA DVD Videotape project, focusing on multicultural psychotherapy. These series are available for training students about psychotherapy skills.
I previously worked at two university counseling centers as senior psychologist and as internship training director (Colorado State University and University of Texas at Austin). I’ve taught various doctoral courses in supervision and training of psychotherapy. I helped to plan and coordinate the Supply and Demand Conference and the Competencies Conference, both of which yielded important directions for the training of psychotherapy.
Scholarship
I have authored/coauthored over 30 books, journal articles and chapters in the areas of ethics in psychotherapy, multicultural competency, and psychotherapy with women and with men. I am currently completing a volume, Multicultural Theory as part of the APA Theories of Psychotherapy Series. I have served on the editorial boards of practice journals such as Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, The Counseling Psychologist, and Ethics and Behavior.
Advocacy
I have participated in activities with the Association for the Advancement of Psychology such as raising funds for legislators and in making visits to Congress. Those efforts have included extending the restoration of Medicare outpatient mental health reimbursement cuts, and ensuring that health care reform integrates psychological services. While serving as president of the Texas Psychological Association, I helped ensure that our practice laws remained intact during the 12-year sunset review. I have received an Advocacy Award from the Association for the Advancement of Psychology (2008), and the APA Karl F. Heiser Presidential Award for Advocacy (2007).
I would very much appreciate the #1 vote from members of the Division. Please visit my website www.melbavasquezforapapresident.com.
