Dennis J. Woody, PhD           IPA Fellow

BIOGRAPHICAL INFO

BUSINESS NAME:   Optum Idaho/United Health Group

REGION OF IDAHO WHERE YOU PRACTICE:   When actively practicing pediatric neuropsychology, I was principally working in the Treasure Valley, but often consulted around the state for the Dept. of Health & Welfare. I continue to practice essentially in the Treasure Valley on a limited basis in the Boise School District.

WHERE DID YOU GROW UP:   I was raised within an active duty Air Force family until my junior year in High School and consequently lived in multiple places. When dad retired, we settled in Emmett, Idaho (parent’s hometown).

UNIVERSITIES ATTENDED:  
University of Idaho (1973-77) - BS Elementary Education & BS Early Child Development

University of Montana (1980-87) - BA Psychology, MS Clinical Psychology and Ph.D. Clinical Psychology

University of Minnesota (1989-90) - Post-Doctoral Fellowship in Clinical Neuropsychology

CURRENT WORK:  On staff with Optum Idaho participating as the Senior Clinical Services Program consultant and member of the medical team for utilization management.

YEARS IN PRACTICE:  35 years

POPULATIONS SERVED:  Infant/Toddler & Child/Adolescent/Young Adult

PRACTICE INTEREST AREAS:  
Currently - My focus within the Optum Idaho framework is clinical system development with evidence based mental health service lines for members of Idaho Medicaid. This entails clinical program evaluation, clinical service utilization and analysis as it interfaces with service efficacy, new clinical services development and establishment of funding platforms for provider training in evidence-based practices for children, adolescents and adults. It is also within my responsibilities to assist in the improvement of mental health resource accessibility for Idaho Behavioral Health Plan (IBHP) members. This occurs in the context of workforce development projects, collaboration with community stakeholders and sponsoring new interventions in Idaho’s Medicaid based treatment arrays.

Formerly - I maintained a private clinical practice in Boise addressing consultation for children and adolescents with neurocognitive challenges. Simultaneously, I was on contract with the Idaho Elk’s Pediatric Rehabilitation program (20 years), St. Luke’s Children’s services in pediatrics at MSTI (18 years) and the State of Idaho for Family and Children’s Services (16 years). I also consulted for the Meridian (about 10 years) and Boise School Districts (about 16 years and continue to do so).

WHAT DO YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT BEING A PSYCHOLOGIST?  The strongest appreciation I have for my role as a psychologist is the ability to contribute to the improvement of people’s lives at a clinical level and at a systems level for service provision. This capacity is a function of the natural transition across a career of providing direct clinical services that benefitted patients to one wherein the changes are brought about through experience with the system of care vulnerabilities and its potential for improvement. Now, to be a psychologist working within a care management team that supports improvements in care through expanded accessibility and improved clinician skills, it affords me opportunities to make contributions through shared projects, professional relationships and a willingness to “try something different”. This resonance with betterment and sustained effort is the very core of what we practice as psychologists. I’m fortunate enough to be in a role to help make that happen within Idaho’s system of care for persons challenged with behavioral health concerns.

THEORETICAL ORIENTATION:   My clinical training and practice were essentially oriented to a bio-psycho-social model that was influenced by cognitive behavioral methods for treatment and intervention. As a neuropsychologist, I was always most comfortable with normatively based delineations of cognitive abilities and the potential they portrayed in a(n) child, adolescent or adult. However, there were occasions wherein I certainly appreciated an Exner oriented scoring of a Rorschach protocol with well-developed overtones of dynamic implications and interpretations.

SERVICE IN PROFESSION:   I’ve always felt that being involved with colleagues through APA and IPA was a sure way to stay connected personally and professionally. In doing so, I participated within APA as the Federal Advocacy Coordinator for multiple years in Idaho and briefly for the Louisiana Psychological Association in the early 1990’s. I also served on the Idaho Board of Psychologists for a rotation and enjoyed getting to know other psychologists from around the state. There have also been rotations for varying periods of time serving on different committees for IPA such as Ethics and Continuing Education. For about the past 10 years I’ve served on the Idaho State Bar’s Reasonable Accommodations Committee addressing Bar Examinees’ requests for changes in their testing circumstances.

WHERE ARE YOU IN YOUR CAREER:   At this point I’m looking at elements of change in a mental health delivery system that is just beginning here in Idaho when compared with our neighbors in the Pacific Northwest. So, my intentions are focused on the development of high-quality care supported by solid underlying platforms of funding that reward excellence. That objective is anchored to accountable outcomes of treatment within the mental health domain. Bringing workable solutions to our system that have worked in other rural/frontier states is an obtainable goal that I see myself working toward with the help of multiple community stakeholders.

FUN FACTS

HOBBIES:
Sports Fan: Observer Status (Baseball, Football); SCUBA; Woodworking; Socializing with Others; Reading; Travel for Fun (on hold); Shooting (Targets); Gardening/Landscape

HIDDEN TALENT: 
Excellent with kitchen clean-up (Bull Cook)

ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANT TO SHARE:   
Grateful to have been able to work as a psychologist in a place like Idaho given the people, the need, and the community of other colleagues having the same intentions. A good run……..ongoing! 

Danielle Richner, MS

WHERE DID YOU GROW UP
I was born and raised in Boulder City, NV, outside of Las Vegas.

UNIVERSITIES YOU ATTENDED
University of the Pacific - Stockton, CA, and Idaho State University - Pocatello, ID

POPULATIONS SERVED
Throughout my time at ISU, I have been lucky enough to work with clients across the lifespan, from toddlers to geriatric populations. As of right now, my primary focus is on working with adults for both therapy and assessment.

PRACTICE INTEREST AREAS
I enjoy working with clients across a variety of presenting concerns and with different modalities. I would say that I particularly enjoy my work with comorbid mental health and physical health diagnoses, trauma, identity development, and working with rural, underserved, and/or marginalized communities.

WHAT DO YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT STUDYING TO BE A PSYCHOLOGIST
Beyond being able to help others, I value the variety of work that we get to do. Each day is different, and I am often doing therapy, completing assessment(s), supervising other students, and attending class all within the same day.

THEORETICAL ORIENTATION
I primarily conceptualize through a cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) framework. When appropriate, I will also integrate my training in acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), interpersonal process therapy (IPT), and dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) to better individualize treatment.

PRACTICUM EXPERIENCES
I’ve worked in a number of settings, including HealthWest of Pocatello and HealthWest OB/GYN, ISU Counseling and Testing, State Hospital South, and within the ISU Psychology Clinic (4 different teams). Prior to graduate school, I worked in sexual assault response, diversity and inclusion programming, as well as in settings for adults experiencing chronic and severe mental illness and homelessness.

WHERE ARE YOU IN YOUR CAREER
I am currently in my 4th year of graduate training at Idaho State University, and will be applying for internship this fall.

IN WHAT AREA OF THE COUNTRY DO YOU SEE YOURSELF PRACTICING
I would love to stay on the West Coast, preferably somewhere that includes direct access to mountains. After spending two decades in the desert, I would also prefer somewhere that includes all four seasons.

IN WHAT TYPE OF SETTING OR WITH WHAT POPULATION DO YOU IMAGINE YOU’LL WORK
I hope to continue working with adults in integrated healthcare settings, and where I can continue to have a variety of therapy, assessment, supervision, and/or teaching opportunities.

HOBBIES
I love to ski, and was a full-time ski instructor during my intermission between undergraduate and graduate school. I also enjoy running, mountain biking, cooking, gardening, and doing anything outside with my husband and two greyhounds.

HIDDEN TALENT
Not-so-hidden talent: My mother is from Denmark, and I will make Danish food for any gathering.  Also, I can wiggle my ears!

Dawn Cureton, PsyD

WORKPLACE
College of Eastern Idaho & Healthy Care Solutions

REGION OF IDAHO WHERE YOU PRACTICE
Southern- Eastern Idaho

WHERE DID YOU GROW UP
Indianapolis, Indiana

UNIVERSITIES YOU ATTENDED
IUPUI, Argosy University, ISU-Meridian

YEARS IN PRACTICE
10

POPULATIONS SERVED
Adolescents & Adults

PRACTICE INTEREST AREAS
For the college - generalist
For private practice – social justice, racial/ethnic development & concerns

WHAT DO YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT BEING A PSYCHOLOGIST
Seeing the change in people that they did not believe was possible

THEORETICAL ORIENTATION
Psychodynamic

WHERE ARE YOU IN YOUR CAREER
I’ve been licensed for 10 years and working toward my masters in psychopharmacology

HOBBIES
Used to be going to the movies, reading, spending time with my family

IPA President-Elect Wally Campbell, PhD

WORKPLACE
Idaho Department of Correction

REGION OF IDAHO WHERE YOU WORK
Boise

WHERE DID YOU GROW UP
Upland, Indiana (affectionately known as the armpit of the Midwest)

UNIVERSITIES YOU ATTENDED
Taylor University (B.A., Philosophy of Religion) 1990; Indiana University (PhD), 2013

YEARS IN PRACTICE
4 years

POPULATIONS SERVED
Adult prisoners

PRACTICE INTEREST AREAS
I mostly work as an administrator, supervising the overall mental health services in the Idaho prisons. When I worked directly with the prisoners, I enjoyed the really hard core prisoners in maximum security facilities. I’m not sure why but I just always seemed to be able to relate to them somehow, which probably says something about me but I’m not sure what.

WHAT DO YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT BEING A PSYCHOLOGIST
I have enjoyed working with men who would probably not ever self-refer themselves to traditional therapy. Working in male prisons, I have had the opportunity to focus on mental health and behavioral concerns with people’s whose actions have often harmed others, which is rewarding. Hopefully my work has been helpful to my clients as well as the people around them.

THEORETICAL ORIENTATION
I’m kind of Rogerian by inclination, but CBT is the dominant theoretical approach in my field.

SERVICE IN PROFESSION [Added by committee member] 
Assisting membership committee with recruiting new members, and other things Wally has not mentioned here!   Other examples: serving as IPA's CE Committee Chair, volunteering to present an IPA webinar and soon to be IPA President.

WHERE ARE YOU IN YOUR CAREER
I’m a little shy of ten years since getting my PhD. I’ve being doing this administrator role for about four years, and I’ve found that the skill set that makes a good therapist is very different from the skill set that makes a good administrator. I’m still trying to figure it all out.

FUN FACTS:

HOBBIES
Kind of an opera buff, no real other hobbies. Idaho is supposed to have beautiful outdoor activities but I wouldn’t really know first hand because I’m strictly an indoor kind of guy. I like to spend my free time at the public library.

HIDDEN TALENT 
(ex- “Can juggle 4 objects in the air without breaking anything.”): no real talents, sadly. I’m told I have the very annoying habit of humming to myself constantly which seems to be quite irritating to the people around me, but I’m not sure that’s really a talent.

ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANT TO SHARE 
I’ve read Moby-Dick about six times and I’m still trying to figure it out.

IPA Student Member Megan Olsen Bird, BS

WHERE DID YOU GROW UP 
Pocatello

UNIVERSITIES YOU ATTENDED 
I completed my undergraduate degree at Idaho State University (ISU) and I am currently attending ISU as a graduate student.

WHAT DO YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT STUDYING TO BE A PSYCHOLOGIST 
Learning how to best help my future clients by using effective evidence-based treatments.

THEORETICAL ORIENTATION 
Since I am so new, I haven't determined what my theoretical orientation is yet.

PRACTICUM EXPERIENCES
I did multiple different practicums as an undergraduate.  One of my favorites was working with adolescents in the juvenile detention center where I helped perform clinical assessments and/or interviews to determine the best possible available interventions for adolescents.

WHERE ARE YOU IN YOUR CAREER 
1st year graduate student

IN WHAT AREA OF THE COUNTRY DO YOU SEE YOURSELF PRACTICING
I am not sure where I will end up working, but I would love to be close to Idaho.

WHAT TYPE OF SETTING OR POPULATION DO YOU IMAGINE YOU'LL SERVE
I would like to work with children and adolescents.  As of right now, I am interested in working in a medical university or a child advocacy center.

FUN FACTS ABOUT MS. BIRD:

HOBBIES 
I like skiing, hiking and spending time with my family.  

HIDDEN TALENT 
I don't really feel that I have one, but I do play the violin.

IPA Fellow Bill Green, PhD, ABPP

BUSINESS NAME 
William Green, PhD

REGION OF IDAHO WHERE YOU PRACTICE 
Coeur d'Alene

WHERE DID YOU GROW UP 
Born in Washington, DC.  Moved to Coeur d'Alene, ID, at age two.

UNIVERSITIES YOU ATTENDED 
St. Mary's College in Moraga, CA, earning an undergraduate BA degree in philosophy; University of the State of New York at Mount Saint Alphonsus Seminary, earning a Master in Divinity and an MA in Religious Education; College of Great Falls studying music education for a couple years, then transferred to Gonzaga University.  I was going to teach in Santa Barbara, so took math, speech and scripture.  Attended the California Institute of Integral Studies-San Francisco for my PhD, followed by dissertation work at University of California-San Francisco at the research hospital, with a focus in prayer and healing of patients with pituitary illnesses.  This was done with the support of lead researcher and staff. At the same time, worked at the Berkeley Mental Health Clinic doing a practicum.  I did my post doctorate at Alameda County Juvenile Corrections.

Also earned my Board Certification in Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology.

YEARS IN PRACTICE 
I guess 25.

POPULATIONS SERVED 
Kids, couples, family, adults and court for kids.

WHAT DO YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT BEING A PSYCHOLOGIST 
All the neat people that you can meet.

THEORETICAL ORIENTATION 
Psychodynamic, cognitive behavioral and existential.

SERVICE IN PROFESSION 
IPA Private Sector Representative for years, IPA President for two years and IPA Federal Advocacy Coordinator for one year.

WHERE ARE YOU IN YOUR CAREER 
I've never known that.  The end of it, I guess.  I'm in a spot of changing my whole perspective of my career.  I guess it's not ending.  It never is.

FUN FACTS ABOUT DR. GREEN:

HOBBIES 
Aviation and music.  Trumpet for years and years and was in a band for a long time.  Also, improvisation, voice lessons, the woods and bike rides.  

HIDDEN TALENT 
Languages, working on French; writing politics; and American Philosophy. 

IPA Fellow  

Laura Asbell, PhD

BUSINESS NAME 
Laura Asbell, PhD/Asbell Health Strategies

REGION OF IDAHO WHERE YOU PRACTICE 
North Idaho, outside of Post Falls

WHERE DID YOU GROW UP 
Mostly in Texas—My Dad was Air Force.  My husband was also in the Air Force, so I have lived in Germany, Japan, Wyoming, Oklahoma, and Arkansas, as well as Texas.

UNIVERSITIES YOU ATTENDED 
With an Air Force life, I went to five universities to get my BA in Psychology, then received a terminal master’s degree in clinical psychology from Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls, Texas, before being able to get my PhD in Clinical Psychology from WSU.  I interned through the UW School of Medicine. 

YEARS IN PRACTICE 
30 years at the PhD level.  I worked at a BA and MA level prior to returning for my PhD.

POPULATIONS SERVED 
Adults—individuals and relationships.  I also work with the LGBTQ population, especially with individuals who are transgender. 

WHAT DO YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT BEING A PSYCHOLOGIST 
I love the emotional connections, the intellectual challenge, the meaningfulness of what we do, the collegiality that is part of our culture, and the control and flexibility that a private practice allows.  

THEORETICAL ORIENTATION 
Adult Developmental, Cognitive Behavioral, Existential

SERVICE IN PROFESSION 
I have been especially active with WSPA, but I served for many years on the Ethics Committee for IPA. 

WHERE ARE YOU IN YOUR CAREER 
I now work part time, 12 clients a week.  I practice from my home one afternoon a week and from my Spokane office two afternoons a week.  My practice has varied over the years, at one time with eight providers including psychiatry, social work, assessment, geriatrics, child, and family specialists.  I also did organizational consultation for most of those years.

FUN FACTS ABOUT DR. ASBELL:

HOBBIES 
My hobby is native plants and restoring our acreage to what it would have looked like prior to European influence.

HIDDEN TALENT 
Whatever it is, it is well hidden.

             IPA Member  

          Tim Rehnberg, PhD

BUSINESS NAME 
Rehnberg Psychological Services, P.S.

REGION OF IDAHO WHERE YOU PRACTICE 
Coeur d'Alene area   

WHERE DID YOU GROW UP 
Colorado

UNIVERSITIES YOU ATTENDED 
University of Colorado (Pre-med flunk out…too much skiing….)
Colorado State University - BS
University of Northern Colorado - MS
Washington State University - PhD

YEARS IN PRACTICE   
40 + if including Master’s Degree:  28 since completing Ph.D.

POPULATIONS SERVED   
Primarily Adults

PRACTICE INTEREST AREAS 
Psychological Assessment and working with normal people in abnormal situations

WHAT DO YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT BEING A PSYCHOLOGIST 
The challenges involved with trying to help people unravel their twisted lives.  I really enjoy dealing with cases that have diagnostic challenges.  I taught at WSU for about 10 years and enjoyed teaching graduate level classes in Psychological Assessment, Statistics, Theories of Career Development and Psychological Aspects of Disability.  I miss the students…I don’t miss academia.

THEORETICAL ORIENTATION    
“Functional Eclectic”  (my own term…)  My primary mode is cognitive-behavioral; however, I also believe in family systems and bio-psycho-social models in general….whatever works.

SERVICE IN PROFESSION  
I do lots of pro-bono and reduced rate work for low-income and no-income folks…

WHERE ARE YOU IN YOUR CAREER 
In the twilight years….only working three days/week now and will probably bow out completely within the next 12-18 months.FUN FACTS ABOUT DR. REHNBERG:

HOBBIES  
Puttering in the yard…drinking coffee with old cronies…trying to improve my golf game.

HIDDEN TALENT 
So deeply hidden I can’t find them….   

IPA’s Advocacy committee has been busy in recent months. We followed several topics of interest through the legislative session. The advocacy committee’s priority is to follow and address practice issues related to psychologists. This is what IPA’s lobbyist, Kris Ellis, helps us to do. Some of you have wondered about social issues related to the field of psychology. The advocacy committee can consider taking action on these types of items, but we receive no help in following the relevant issues and must do so on additional volunteer time. If you haven’t taken a moment yet to familiarize yourself with our advocacy issue request form, please do so! Here’s the link: https://www.idahopsych.org/resources/Committees%20-%20Groups/Advocacy%20Committee/IPA%20ADVOCACY%20ISSUE%20REQUEST%20FORM%20-%20MASTER.pdf . Please send us any topics that you view as important to psychologists and/or related social issues, and we will consider the issue and if we have the resources to address it. If you choose to submit an issue, just remember that we may need your help implementing a plan to address it. As of today, we have received two request forms. Both issues raised are long-term issues and are working to be addressed.

The Advocacy committee has also been working on RxP. Page Haviland continues to work towards starting the ISU Psychopharmacology program. Sue Farber has played a major role this year in implementing the rules. Due to a hold on the signing of all rules, not just ours, during the legislative session, the RxP rules are tentatively in place. The committee has also been working on making sure that prescribing psychologists will be able to become credentialed and thus able to bill with Idaho insurers.

Please let me know if you are interested in serving on our committee! The more volunteers we have, the more issues we can address.

Greetings from your representative to the APA Council of Representatives.   The latest meeting was held in February 2019...the full minutes can be accessed by signing into the APA website as a member, then searching for 'Council of  Representatives'.   Towards the bottom of that page there is a list of council meeting minutes by date.

At the most recent meeting the Council overwhelmingly approved a new strategic plan, designed to better position the field of psychology to make an impact on critical societal issues and on  public understanding of psychology.  The plan's implementation is also designed to prepare the discipline and profession of psychology for the future and to strengthen APA's standing as an authoritative voice for psychology.    

In further action, the APA Council voted to receive a report regarding master's programs in health-service psychology....specifically, the report discussed possible pathways that APA can use to establish accreditation of master's programs in psychology.   To read the report:  www.apa.org/ed/governance/bea/masters-accreditation-blueprint

The Council also adopted the Resolution on Physical Discipline of Children by Parents, which recommends using alternative forms of discipline;  adopted a clinical practice guideline for the Treatment of Depression Across Three Age Cohorts (to be available on APA 's website by summer), and approved updated policies and curriculum related to psychopharmacology, among other actions.

As always, your comments and questions are welcomed!

Hello fellow IPA members!

As the student sector representative, I am gearing up for the IPA conference in May.  It looks like there will be some great programming available to students attending the conference including presentations on telehealth, ACT for the treatment of compulsive disorders, and presentations and the opportunity to meet with Dr. Puente, and more! I look forward to the student presentations and the poster session from some of my fellow ISU undergrad and graduate students.

It is also my pleasure to report that myself and 4 other students from ISU participated in the AAPIC match this year and everyone has matched and is ready to go forth on internship!

With the IPA conference approaching, this also means that we are looking for a new student sector representative! This is a one year appointment where a student member of IPA reports concerns and interests of psychology students to the board. More details about the position can be found here. Next years representative will also be encouraged to write on IPA’s new blog!

It has been my pleasure being the student representative for IPA and I look forwarding to meeting everyone at the conference!

Take a look at the following estimates for psychology students from Idaho State University entering the work force in psychology, per Joshua K. Swift, PhD, Department of Psychology, Idaho State University. He is also the author of: Premature Termination in Psychotherapy; Engaging and Retaining Clients in Psychotherapy

"I would estimate 15% in academic positions at Universities, 35% in hospital or VA settings, 35% in outpatient mental health clinics, and 15% in individual private practice."

IPA's Membership Committee has grown to include 4 active members.  These members regularly review applications received for membership and participate in monthly committee meetings over the phone.

The Committee has implemented several programs in an attempt to increase and retain members.  Included in the last mailing for new members was a list of the benefits of membership and the offer of an incentive for joining IPA.

Among the benefits of membership is a mentorship program for new members.  We are still in need of mentors!  Please contact Deb or Kendra if you are interested in serving as a mentor to new IPA members.

We will also be highlighting certain members in a "Member Spotlight" position on the website.  We will be starting with IPA members who are fellows -- members who have dedicated service to IPA and/or APA for at least five years.  If you fit this category, please apply for fellow status when you renew your membership!

A brand new initiative of the committee is recognition and appreciation of referrals for membership.  If you are a current IPA member and you recruit a new member, you will receive a token of our gratitude!