More Stories From Va Psychology

More Stories From VA Psychology follows the format of the first stories book, Stories From VA Psychology (see Amazon.com, Authorhouse.com, and other online bookstores). Twelve former and current psychology leaders in the Veterans Administration/Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) describe their leadership careers and the people and events that shaped their career decisions in working with veterans. In doing so, their stories expand the understanding of the formal history of the role of VA psychologists in helping veterans over the years.The careers of the chapter authors and their stories collectively span 61 of the 66 years of VA psychology history that began in 1946. Some of the careers include descriptions of experiences as a trainee in the early and later years of the VA psychology training program. Some contain stories about research projects, treatment programs, and advocacy efforts as these leaders worked with colleagues they admired and respected in serving veterans. A brief description of the VA careers of chapter authors and the editor completes the book.The chapter authors include Georgette Bellucci, Matthew J. Blusewicz, Patrick A. Boudewyns, Jeffrey Burk, Stephen Cavicchia, Terence M. Keane, Richard A. McCormick, Kathleen M. McNamara, Edmund J. Nightingale, Joseph C. Rickard, Antonette N. Zeiss, and Robert A. Zeiss. The editor, Rodney R. Baker, writes a concluding chapter adding historical information about VA psychologists serving in non-traditional management positions over the years and the role of women in management in the early years of VA psychology.

Reading The Hex of Hemlock, a compelling, touching, and mainstream novel, will move the reader in a deep, personal way. Judith Ging, the author, has always been concerned with social and educational problems, especially those of the late twentieth century. She writes a novel of intrigue intertwining those concerns in her work. The novel is framed in flashbacks as Ging creates memorable characters and colorful dialogue. The fictional work tells the story of an idealistic young man, Joe Bloom. He is the main character who wishes to make himself and the world better. Spanning over three decades of the late twentieth century, Bloom's experiences carve a rare, intimate view of what too often goes on in our hallowed institution of public education. Shockingly, both teachers and students possess lethal weapons, material and non-material, adding fear to all of the characters' lives. Unexpected events in the classroom and the administrators' offices plunge the characters into situations the reader does not expect either in the classroom or out of it. Covering the entire working life of Joe Bloom, with wife and children as his allies, Joe's experiences and those of his family make the work a willing read. The incidents that fill the Blooms' lives evoke images of war and felonious activities. The story paints a realistic view of why education is as it is and offers its readers a chance to think about how to change the system into an equitable one for all students. The overall effect of the book leaves the reader filled with hope about solving some of humanity's problems rather than depression about reading about them.cto blame others for its innate faults.

More Stories From VA Psychology follows the format of the first stories book, Stories From VA Psychology (see Amazon.com, Authorhouse.com, and other online bookstores). Twelve former and current psychology leaders in the Veterans Administration/Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) describe their leadership careers and the people and events that shaped their career decisions in working with veterans. In doing so, their stories expand the understanding of the formal history of the role of VA psychologists in helping veterans over the years.The careers of the chapter authors and their stories collectively span 61 of the 66 years of VA psychology history that began in 1946. Some of the careers include descriptions of experiences as a trainee in the early and later years of the VA psychology training program. Some contain stories about research projects, treatment programs, and advocacy efforts as these leaders worked with colleagues they admired and respected in serving veterans. A brief description of the VA careers of chapter authors and the editor completes the book.The chapter authors include Georgette Bellucci, Matthew J. Blusewicz, Patrick A. Boudewyns, Jeffrey Burk, Stephen Cavicchia, Terence M. Keane, Richard A. McCormick, Kathleen M. McNamara, Edmund J. Nightingale, Joseph C. Rickard, Antonette N. Zeiss, and Robert A. Zeiss. The editor, Rodney R. Baker, writes a concluding chapter adding historical information about VA psychologists serving in non-traditional management positions over the years and the role of women in management in the early years of VA psychology.

"Even More Stories From VA Psychology" follows the format of the first and second book of stories from VA psychology. Former and current psychology leaders in the Veterans Administration/Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) describe their leadership careers and the people and events that shaped their career decisions in working with veterans. In doing so, the stories expand the understanding of the formal history of the role of VA psychologists in helping veterans since 1946.Career authors include Kenneth M. Adams, Loretta E. Braxton, Dale S. Cannon, David Carroll, Robert W. Goldberg, Robert C. Gresen, Steve Holliday, Robert D. Kerns, Peggy H. (Cantrell) Krieshok, Russell B. Lemle, Kathleen Lysell, and Wayne G. Siegel.

Psychological assessment is practiced in wide-ranging settings to address the varied clinical and administrative needs of veteran populations. Such assessment blends record review, clinical interviews of the veteran and collateral sources of information, behavioral observations, and psychological testing. This book promotes the care and well-being of veterans by bringing together knowledgeable and experienced psychologists to discuss a range of psychological assessment methods and procedures. It aims to help patients and their families, healthcare providers, and concerned citizens gain an improved understanding of veterans' cognitive functioning, emotional states, personality traits, behavioral patterns, and daily functioning. The book begins with a history of the psychological assessment of veterans and investigates its efficacy in different settings, including outpatient mental health, long-term care, primary care, home-based primary care, and telemental health. Later chapters address assessment of a variety of disorders or presenting problems, including substance use disorders, psychotic disorders, mood disorders and suicidal thoughts and behavior, PTSD and other anxiety disorders, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, dementia, pain and pain-related disorders, and polytrauma. The book concludes with important special considerations, including assessment of symptom and performance validity, assessment of homeless veterans and health-related quality of life, and ethical, legal, and professional issues. Psychological Assessment of Veterans provides an essential reference and guide for clinical psychologists, including those working in the subspecialties, and psychology trainees who work with veterans.

This history of psychological care through the VA tells how VA psychologists pioneered research in such areas as pyschopharmacology, care of elderly people, and psychological care aspects in treatment of tuberculosis, and how they helped establish a number of trends for such mental health services as group therapy, compensated work therapy, and other rehabilitation programs.

Today, almost all Americans can expect to live longer and healthier lives than their parents or grandparents ever thought possible, which introduces an entirely new realm of opportunities and challenges than previously contemplated. Although often underappreciated, how this new generation of well-educated, longer living citizens will ultimately decide to develop personally satisfying lives, beyond relying upon traditional jobs and employment colleagues for meaningful affirmation in retirement, is truly uncharted territory. There are few role models or societal expectations for these unprecedented times—especially for women and ethnic minorities. This volume brings together distinguished senior psychologists from a wide range of former occupational positions to share their personal retirement experiences—their struggles, their aspirations, their eventual journeys. Many do not consider themselves “retired”—and some even suggest the concept of retirement itself needs examination and refinement. Advances in technology, frustrating physical ailments, and missing friends influence late life decisions. However, even when facing existential unknowns, each of the authors remains optimistic and open to seeking new directions in their lives. How they navigate their individual journeys in retirement suggests some common themes and pathways, although there are also many individual nuances. The unique personal story approach in this book enables the reader to share the concerns of retirement with each author and find out how they resolved those concerns in seeking a meaningful retirement. It is comforting to learn that there is no one path that applies to everyone. The authors share their thinking and decision-making in approaching their retirement and provide multiple guides for the reader to consider. Readers will also appreciate that “retiring to” something, instead of “retiring from” something, provides a new perspective in examining and shifting life and work goals in later life.

Thousands of American service members are returning from their tours of duty with physical and/or psychological disabilities. Many—if not most—of these service members will need at least some assistance to adapt to their disabilities and learn how to reintegrate back into civilian life. Also impacted will be the spouse, friends, employers, family members, counselors, and community members of each veteran with a disability. The veterans may not be aware of the ways in which their disabilities are impacting them, nor knowledgeable about the resources available to help them cope. In addition, many such individuals feel isolated and reluctant to acknowledge their difficulties or ask for assistance. The volume compiles and summarizes the information disabled veterans and those with whom they interact will be interested in knowing and using. It describes how disabilities can impact an individual physically, psychologically, and spiritually. It also provides a context of these disabilities to reassure the readers that they are not alone in the thoughts, feelings, and pain, and that others have experienced the same problems and found solutions. The work provides guidance on different forms of treatment that may help the veteran and includes a list of contact information for local VA centers, peer-to-peer counseling services, and other programs, services, and individuals available (frequently for free) for veterans and their families. Brief biographies of disabled veterans and case studies of the ways they reintegrated back into civilian society provide support and perspective. In addition to aiding veterans, the book will serve as a useful reference source for librarians and other information providers.