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A BAYOU VIEWVolume 4 Number 1 Spring 1999 |
Inside...
*Interviews with Mike Bowers, Bill Doherty Ph.D., Susan McDaniel Ph.D., Marlo Rouse
*Endowed Chair: Dr. Charles Lee Cole
From the Editors:
The focus of this edition of the Bayou View centers around the 1998 AAMFT (American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy) Conference held in Dallas, Texas in October. Many students and professors from our program at NLU attended this year's conference and contributed their opinions and shared their experiences in the following articles. We chose to interview several prominent individuals in AAMFT as well as the current president of NCFR (National Council on Family Relations) in order to clarify the importance of these organizations for students.
We hope that this edition of the Bayou View will be helpful for students in developing a clearer understanding of their opportunities for involvement in organizations such as AAMFT and NCFR. In addition, we would like to emphasize the importance of students to AAMFT as well as the benefits of becoming a member. We would like to express our gratitude to the individuals who helped make this newsletter possible. The contributions and cooperation of students, faculty, and interviewees is greatly appreciated.
Allison Kirby and Carrie Bowles
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From the Director: Janie Long |
Greetings from the Bayou! We have had a productive and successful year in both the M.A. and Ph.D. programs. The faculty and students have been busy making national and regional presentations, writing manuscripts, and generating grant proposals. We are preparing to submit for candidacy status for accreditation for the Ph.D. program and are ready to advertise for a new faculty position to secure a Director of Clinical Training. We have also had some fun including volleyball and burgers on the front lawn this fall, a Thanksgiving feast with the best spread of food that my taste buds have encountered in a long time, and a before-the-break blast at Gaushell's new home. A group of students and faculty also raised more than $500 for the American Heart Association and participated in the annual Heart Walk in honor of Lamar Woodham.
This issue of the Bayou View features several leaders of the family therapy field talking about ways for students and graduates to become more active in national organizations. In this day of consumer awareness and involvement it is important that we know how our voices can be heard and the benefits of our memberships offer us. Many thanks to Carrie Bowles and Allison Kirby for their hard work in initiating and conducting interviews and mastering Publisher 98 so that we might bring you this edition of the Bayou View.
Mentoring, Networking, and Professional Development
Dr. Charles Lee Cole; Hanna Spyker Endowed Chair
When I look back on my professional development, I am reminded of how important my mentors have been in helping me establish networks within professional organizations. Two professors served as valuable mentors for me during my graduate training while I was working on my masters degree. Dr. Ron Engle served as my major professor and made a point of inviting me to participate in regional conferences. I learned vital lessons in how to do research from Dr. William Bates, Chief of Behavioral Science at the U.S. Public Health Service Hospital and Clinical Research Center, National Institute of Mental Health, Ft. Worth. Both Drs. Engle and Bates were vital in shepherding me into the Ph.D. program at Iowa State University.
At Iowa State, I had two wonderful mentors, Dr. Dwight Dean, who served as my major professor, and Dr. Mary Heltsley, who served as my primary sponsor into the marriage and family therapy field. She fostered my interest and commitment in becoming a professional with a life-long commitment to contributing to the field by getting me involved in both the National Council on Family Relations (NCFR) and the Groves Conference on Marriage and the Family (Groves). NCFR is an interdisciplinary organization of family professionals that focuses on family therapy, family life education, family research and theory development, and family policy. Groves (the first organization for marriage and family professionals) founded in 1934 by Earnest Groves, the first president of AAMC (now AAMFT), is an organization open by invitation to leaders in the field which focuses on cutting edge issues. Dr. Heltsley literally opened up opportunities for me to become involved in the inner circles of the marriage and family field. It was through her contacts that I met the founders of the NCFR Theory Construction Workshop and was allowed to attend the very first meeting.
I believe that these early socialization experiences into the profession are vital for students in their graduate work, for new professionals launching their careers, and later in helping established professionals maintain a solid connection with both personal and professional growth. I have made a commitment to passing this legacy onto my students, colleagues, and professional friends. At every NCFR, Groves, and AAMFT conference that I have attended over the past twenty-five years I have made it a point to invite students to come to the conference with me, repaying the debts that I owe to my mentors by being a mentor and sponsor for others. At the 1998 AAMFT Conference, two current Ph.D. students, Barry Wingfield and Dan Williams, made presentations with me, along with Dr. Janie Long. And at the 1998 NCFR Conference, Dan Williams and I presented a major paper co-authored with another current Ph.D. student, Craig Moorman, one of my Ph.D. students at Iowa State, Bing Wall, and my wife, Anna. After the AAMFT Conference I worked with Barry Wingfield and Dan Williams to develop a manuscript that we submitted for publication based on one of the presentations that we made at the conference.
Students and alumni of NLU have excellent opportunities for networking with the leaders in the field and nurturing and advancing their professional development in numerous ways because the faculty in the MFT program themselves have strong professional networks and enjoy serving as mentors. I personally look forward to the experiences and enjoyment we all have ahead of us as we continue mentoring, networking, and growing professionally.
Dr. Janie Long, Barry Wingfield, and Dr. Cole
Conference Interviews
An Interview With the Executive Director of AAMFT
By Allison Kirby
Allison Kirby and Mike Bowers
Mike Bowers is the Executive Director of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT). He works with the Board of Directors and manages the staff of AAMFT.
How did you get involved in AAMFT?
"I realized how hard it was for MFT's to get paid and I began working with my division in their legislative work to get licensure for MFT. A job came open at the AAMFT office, and I applied for it."
What is your role as the Executive Director of AAMFT?
"My role is basically managing the staff side of the organization. I report to the Board of Directors. I'm responsible for creating programs that work, as is the staff. In many respects my role is a management job, not a therapy job. I manage the money and the politics outside the organization and work with the Board on internal matters."
Why is it important for students in accredited programs to be involved in AAMFT?
"Number one, because MFT has no other professional home. Part of a student's responsibilities after they graduate is to keep up in their field and there is no other place for MFT's to go. AAMFT is their home. It's part of being a competent professional to know what's going on in your own back yard."
How close are Marriage and Family Therapists to gaining licensure in all 50 states?
"Nine states away. I'll tell you the challenge with licensure is that we win where we can. We must have active therapists there to push the issue before we can win over the state. My experience is that students from accredited programs don't have trouble qualifying educationally in any other state."
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Dr. Bill Doherty on NCFR |
By Carrie Bowles and Allison Kirby
Dr. Bill Doherty, a professor at the University of Minnesota in the Ph.D. program in MFT and the president of the National Council on Family Relations (NCFR), shared his personal views about NCFR with us at the AAMFT conference. NCFR is the "parent" organization of AAMFT; rather, AAMFT was born out of NCFR. Dr. Doherty is a world-renowned scholar with interests in medical family therapy, men in families, and has most recently completed work related to ethical concerns in MFT. Dr. Doherty is also a member of AAMFT and of the American Family Therapy Academy. The following interview provided us with Dr. Doherty's perspectives towards NCFR and why students should get involved.
What is NCFR?
"NCFR is the oldest family studies organization in the country. It has about 4,500 members. It embraces more disciplines of study than AAMFT...and has a broad sweep of programs at its annual meetings. The family therapy section of NCFR has about 600 or 700 members, largely connected with academic settings (students and professors). NCFR's family therapy section's unique mission is the bridging of research in practice. NCFR offers to MFT students a combination of research and practice in a multidisciplinary environment.
How does a student go about getting involved with NCFR?
"A professor could get them information- there is a student membership. NCFR has the most active student population of any organization I've been in. It's quite remarkable. It's a chance for students to get involved in an organization that has a long history."
Would you advise that only students interested in research get involved with NCFR?
"Nope, nope, nope because there are more practitioners involved in NCFR than researchers. It's just that these practitioners are more open to research than some other clinicians are. NCFR is more collegial. There is more of a familial atmosphere that doesn't make notice of any hierarchy. Students are the future and NCFR takes note of that and tries to get students more involved."
A Reception with the AAMFT Student Representative
By: Carrie Bowles
Marlo and Carrie in Dallas
Marlo Rouse, the Student Associate Representative on the Board of Directors, led a networking reception for students and new professionals on the first day of the AAMFT conference. Marlo addressed several issues concerning AAMFT such as how she became involved, her role as the Student Associate Representative, and how students can become involved in AAMFT. She also mentioned the benefits of being the Student Representative as well as benefits of being an AAMFT member.
Marlo, a former student of Dr. Janie Long, is currently a doctoral student at the University of Georgia with a specific interest in women's sexuality. As Student Associate Representative, Marlo acts as a liaison between students and professionals in the organization and the board. She represents the students' interests and is responsible for bringing the students' needs to the attention of the Board members. Marlo also helps the Board members think about ways in which policies affect student membership.
Marlo explained that the Student Associate Representative becomes elected through the call for nominations. The Student Associate Representative then participates in a leadership seminar and retreat. Marlo expressed that although at first she experienced confusion about several details, many people helped her become acquainted with the position. The Board is currently focused on "The Strategic Plan" which addresses topics such as how to further the profession of MFT, where MFT trainees should be 20 years from now, and presenting marriage and family therapy to the public.
Marlo explained that students can also be involved with AAMFT at the local level. For students who prefer to become involved this way, each state has a local chapter with a student representative. Marlo advises students to talk to their state representative or professors in their program about becoming involved locally.
Marlo explained that the Student Associate Representative gets the chance to periodically take a break from the therapist role and see how decisions of the Board affect MFT students and AAMFT. In addition, the Student Associate Representative's vote is treated equally to every other Board member's vote. Marlo also emphasized the benefits of becoming a student member of AAMFT such as medical, disability, life, and liability insurance plans and subscriptions to journals and news publications. Student members will also have access to the AAMFT members-only web site as well as receiving discounts on annual conferences.
Students who have issues or concerns that they would like addressed by the Board of Directors should contact Marlo through her e-mail (mrouse@arches.uga.edu). Marlo encourages students to contact her with any questions and welcomes any suggestions or comments. She was very helpful and informative at the reception as well as committed to addressing studentsí'concerns.
Dr. Susan McDaniel and the Commission on Accreditation
By Carrie Bowles
Dr. Susan McDaniel, the outgoing chair of the Commission on Accreditation for AAMFT, took some time out of her busy schedule at the conference to answer some questions pertaining to her experience on the Commission. Susan has served as the Chair of the Commission for the past six years. She provided a brief explanation of the major changes implemented by the commission which have affected students in the Marriage and Family Therapy field.
Dr. McDaniel emphasized that all standards revisions occur for the benefit of students. One major change involved providing programs with more options in terms of clinical settings for students. By expanding clinical setting options, students receive better training and better preparation for the "real world." Dr. McDaniel also emphasized the increase in the diversity of students within MFT programs. She stated, "And it's remarkable in the six years that I've been on the commission, we now have a diverse student body in MFT programs...hugly different than before when we started enforcing that standard differently." The commission has also recently directed more attention towards diagnosis and treatment as well as the criteria a person has to meet in order to supervise students.
We asked Dr. McDaniel how students should go about addressing concerns in a confidential manner to the COAMFTE site team when they visit our program. She explained that there should be a private meeting with the students when the site team visits any program. In addition, site team members are well trained and understand that student concerns are a confidential matter. However, COAMFTE site members will eventually inform faculty members of students' concerns in an anonymous manner. Dr. McDaniel commented, "I think it is a very useful process."
We also asked whether or not graduating from a COAMFTE accredited program would be sufficient for graduates to become licensed in any state. In response, Dr. McDaniel commented that this process varies from state to state. Unfortunately, nine states still do not allow the option of becoming licensed, and according to Dr. McDaniel, "in some states issues of reciprocity need to be worked out." For other states, however, the licensure process is quite simple. Dr. McDaniel strongly encouraged students who know where they want to work to investigate that state's particular standards. For licensure purposes she states, "it means a lot that students come out of an accredited program." These are encouraging words for students at NLU!
In summary, Dr. McDaniel graciously provided us with her insight as to how the Commission on Accreditation directly affects students like ourselves. The commission makes revisions based on what is best for students and their training to become the highest quality therapists. According to our interview, students should be aware that they can present issues of concern about a program to the COAMFTE site team with the confidence that it will be handled in a confidential manner. Dr. McDaniel also encourages students to research the licensure procedures in the state where they want to work because the standards vary across states.
NLU'S National Conference Student Presenters
We contacted each of the students from our program who presented at the conference and asked them to provide a brief summary describing what it was like. Overall, everyone seemed to have a positive experience. Professors strongly encourage students to participate in conference presentations whether it be poster presentations or workshops.
Presenting at the 1998 National AAMFT Conference in Dallas, TX, was a tremendous experience. I was a bit nervous when Wendel informed us just prior to the presentation that he wasn't going to speak very much and that it was part of our training. Overall, I felt that the experience was a confidence builder. We've been trained by some exceptional professors and I felt that the level of our education was reflected in our presentation. However, I guess it would be difficult not to do well when working with people like Wendel Ray, Craig Moorman, and Loren Bryant.
Dave Govenor
Reflecting on the paper my colleagues and I were given the opportunity of presenting at this year's AAMFT Conference Round Table in Dallas, I hear myself uttering the Campbell Soup jingle, "Mm, mm, good." Why? First, I found the process of preparation to be challenging and mentally provoking, enlarging my understanding of the field and the subject presented. Second, the audience was enthused, positive, and interested in the ideas presented, convincing me that the membership of our profession is continually learning, open to dissonance, and desirous to advance the field. Third, the opportunity to be critiqued and questioned by colleagues stimulated further questions, sharpening and furthering my understanding of the concepts presented at the conference. Working with such perspicacious co-presenters as Wendel Ray, Dave Govenor, and Loren Bryant was particularly rewarding. I am very grateful for the opportunity and hope to return to this forum again.
Craig Moorman
I have truly enjoyed working with Dr. Long on this research project regarding sexual minority youth and their families. She is a great mentor and colleague. This has been both a rewarding and learning experience for me.
In regards to the conference, I not only had a great time, but I also enjoyed seeing so many people stop by our poster session! My colleagues and I put a lot of time and effort into preparing for the poster session, so I'm glad there was so much interest in it from people at the conference. In fact, we had to start a mailing list to send people information, because we had distributed all of our handouts.
Furthermore, I am looking forward to the workshop we are giving at the TAMFT Conference in San Antonio in January. I think the workshop will be another great experience for not only myself, but the entire research team. Visibility is the key, and Iím excited about it!
Curt Singleton
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Caught on camera.... An admirer of Dr. Wendel Ray, Associate Professor at NLU, asks for his autograph |
One of the things I appreciate about the Marriage and Family Therapy program at Northeast Louisiana University is the spirit of cooperation between faculty and students. At one time or another every faculty member has gone out of his or her way to help me with some professional or academic issue. At the same time, I've participated in many projects over the past couple of years, and I have always been pleased with the cooperation and support that exists.
I participated in two presentations at the AAMFT Conference in Dallas. First, Barry and I were invited to assist Dr. Charles Cole and Dr. Janie Long in analyzing transcripts from interviews conducted during last year's conference. Our conclusions were outlined in a poster presentation on "Prevention Themes In Marriage and Family Therapy". Barry and I first analyzed the transcripts separately, then compared our results, then discussed them with Drs. Cole and Long, for a truly interactive, recursive process.
Dr. Cole and I also collaborated on a two-hour class on "An Ounce of Prevention: Premarital Theories and Techniques". In this presentation we reviewed various theories of premarital enrichment, discussed the involvement of marriage and family therapists in providing such services, and demonstrated four specific techniques, two of which we had developed ourselves. Dr. Harper Gaushell had invited us to "field-test" our presentation during a session of his spring class on Marriage and Family Therapy Techniques. The helpful feedback provided by Dr. Gaushell and his class allowed us to refine and strengthen our material, and the presentation was well received by the participants at the Dallas conference. I was particularly impressed by the enthusiasm those attending our presentation had for the subject: people in the audience were from as far away as Australia and the Philippines. I am grateful for the experience and know that it would not have been possible without the spirit of cooperation and support between faculty and students so typical of the NLU program.
Dan Williams
This October I was privileged to co-present two poster presentations at the AAMFT National Conference in Dallas. One project was with Dr. Cole and centered around work I am doing on my dissertation. The other was with Drs. Cole and Long and Dan Williams. The preparatory work with these individuals was very beneficial to me personally as it allowed me the chance to collaborate with professionals for whom I have much respect. At the conference it was very affirming to see a lot of interest in my work and to get to talk with those who were especially interested in it. A personal highlight for me was getting to know another Ph.D. student from Syracuse University who presented on the back of my board. I look forward to future presentations and networking opportunities.
Barry Wingfield
INTERNATIONAL MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPY HONOR SOCIETY
Charles Lee Cole
Hanna S. Spyker Endowed Chair in Marriage and Family Therapy
On December 4, 1998 Delta Kappa, the International Marriage and Family Therapy Honor Society, installed the Alpha Chapter at NLU. The founding of this honor society represents the first attempt in the history of the marriage and family therapy field to establish a scholarly honor society that recognizes the distinction of accomplishments of marriage and family therapy students and professionals in the field. The traditions developed by the Alpha Chapter will help set the stage for the institutionalization of customs and rituals used by Delta Kappa throughout the world. The purpose of Delta Kappa is to provide a scholarly forum for the exchange of ideas related to the development of research, theory, and practice in the field of marriage and family therapy. Chapters will hold symposiums, seminars, workshops, and clinics to enhance the development of skills and knowledge related to marriage and family therapy.
One of the marks of a profession's development is the creation of institutionalized structures and customs that recognize and further the development of the field. Delta Kappa as an International Marriage and Family Therapy Honor Society hopes to further and compliment the fine work being done by AAMFT and AFTA in this effort. It is time that honored students in marriage and family therapy and graduates out of COAMFTE programs be recognized for the distinction that they achieve in earning degrees in marriage and family therapy from COAMFTE accredited programs. It is time that the achievements of practitioners in the field who have achieved distinction and continue to make significant contributions to the field be recognized.
Membership is open to students in COAMFTE programs who have earned at least 12 hours with a grade point average of 3.5 or higher, and to all graduates of COAMFTE programs that graduated with at least a 3.5 GPA. For information on membership or how to establish a chapter, contact the President of Delta Kappa, Dr. Charles L. Cole.
(e-mail: edcole@alpha.nlu.edu; phone: 318-362-5561; or at the address printed on the Bayou View through the Marriage and Family Therapy Program at NLU).
What Our Students Liked Best About the AAMFT
National Conference in Dallas
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Pictured from left to right: Jennifer Wallace, Allison Kirby, Ty Cunningham, Jana Parkin-Thomas, Glenn Bordelon, Anna Markovich, Trevin Campbell, and Curt Singleton. |
Trevin Campbell- "...being with my classmates."
Ty Cunningham- "...Nancy Boyd Franklin and the pre-conference session on the Family of Origin Solution-Focused Approach."
Allison Kirby- "...all the different sessions I attended and especially the presentation by Janis
Abrams Spring."
Anna Markovich- "...the sessions."
Jana Parkin-Thomas- "...Jo LloPiccolo."
Curt Singleton- "...attending the sessions on sexual orientation and parent/child issues."
Jennifer Wallace- "...meeting other students in the field and talking about their experiences."
Additional Student Responses to the AAMFT Conference
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Pictured from left to right: Chris Youngberg, Darin Perry, Lisa Yarghborough, Elizabeth Guice, Martha Rountree, Carrie Bowles, and Lee Patterson |
Carrie Bowles- " I enjoyed attending sessions regarding effective approaches to including children in family therapy as well as meeting several prominent individuals in AAMFT."
Elizabeth Guice- " The conference was great! I enjoyed meeting new people and getting to know my classmates and professors better. I'm really looking forward to next yearís conference in Chicago!"
Lee Patterson- "The information given in a couple of my sessions was very informative. I enjoyed the presentations and think that as I progress in the field the information will become much more valuable."
Darin Perry- "I enjoyed the opportunity to investigate the different schools of thought being taught in the field of Marriage and Family Therapy."
Martha Rountree- "...good to meet with many people in AAMFT."
Lisa Yarborough- "I enjoyed the networking that I did with class members, former students, and professors. I got a lot of information on therapy skills to use from the sessions."
Chris Youngberg- "I got some ideas for future career paths as well as meeting a few well-known names in the field. Most useful to me was the understanding of the position of systems theory in the field of MFT."
NLU Marriage and Family Therapy Program on the Web
http://www.nlu.edu
Select: Academics, Education, Department of Educational Leadership
Questions and comments should be directed to: edgaushell@alpha.nlu.edu
The 1999 National AAMFT Conference Will Be Held in Chicago, Illinois
October, 1999
It's A Great Place to Be!
Assistant Professor of Marriage and Family Therapy
The College of Education and Human Development invites applications for an Assistant Professor twelve-month position beginning Fall, 1999. Responsibilities include: Director of Clinical Training, teaching, research, and service. The Director will coordinate clinical experience for both the M.A. and Ph.D. programs. An earned doctorate in MFT (or closely related discipline) and AAMFT Clinical Membership are required. AAMFT Approved Supervisor or Supervisor-in-Training status is required. Demonstrated record of research/publications in MFT is preferred. Please send letter of application, statement of your philosophy of supervision, vita, transcripts, and three letters of reference to Dr. Virginia Eddleman, Associate Dean, College of Education and Human Development, Strauss Hall #216, Northeast Louisiana University, Monroe, LA 71209. Women and members of minority groups are encouraged to apply.
Get a Ph.D. in Marriage and Family Therapy
At
Northeast Louisiana University
For more information contact:
Northeast Louisiana University
Marriage and Family Therapy Program
306 Strauss Hall
Monroe, Louisiana 71209
Or call
(318) 342-1248
(318)362-3005
Questions or Comments
If you have questions, comments, or suggestions
For A Bayou View, please contact:
Carrie Bowles
Department of Educational Leadership and Counseling
Northeast Louisiana University
Monroe, Louisiana 71209
(318) 362-3005
College of Education and Human Development, Northeast Louisiana University
A Bayou View
A Publication of the Marriage & Family Therapy Programs * Student Editors: Allison Kirby and Carrie Bowles
Volume 4, Issue 1 February 5, 1999
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