Appalachian Psychoanalytic Society
a local chapter of Division 39 (Division of Psychoanalysis)
of the American Psychological Association
presents a
Saturday Morning Seminar
with
Patrick Grzanka, PhD,
on
"Sincerely Held Principles"
or Prejudice?:
Conscience Clauses, Structural
Stigma, and Mental Health Care
Engagement
October 12, 2019
9:30am - 1:15pm
PLEASE NOTE:
Registration begins at 9:30am.
Program begins at 10am.
University of Tennessee Medical Center
Morrison Education and Conference Center
1924 Alcoa Highway
Knoxville, TN 37920
Click here for directions to the venue.
This intermediate presentation will address the implications of Tennessee's conscience clause for mental health care engagement among groups that face structural stigma. In 2016, Tennessee became the first state in the union to allow counselors and therapists in private practice to deny services to clients based on the therapists' "sincerely held principles." This religious exemption, which came to be known as the Counseling Discrimination Law, represented a critical moment in psychology's debate over "conscience clauses" in mental health care training and practice. Advocates for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) rights said the law was blatant discrimination; its defenders said it reflected a commitment to therapists' free speech. This presentation will survey the history of conscience clauses in psychology and detail the results of mixed-methods study of how sexual and gender minorities in Tennessee perceive the law, as well as mental health care services more broadly. In addition to addressing the implications of Tennessee's conscience clause for mental health care engagement among groups that face structural stigma, the presentation will conclude with a discussion of how psychologists can address issues related to religious exemption in training and advocacy.
This program meets the requirements for psychologists licensed in the state of Tennessee
to obtain continuing education that pertains to cultural diversity.
Presenter
Patrick Grzanka, PhD, is an interdisciplinary social scientist who studies social inequity at the intersections of race, gender, and sexuality. He is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Tennessee, where he also directs the interdisciplinary program in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. He formerly taught at Barrett, the Honors College at Arizona State University (ASU), and was affiliated faculty at ASU's Center for Biology & Society. The second edition of his first book, Intersectionality: Foundations and Frontiers, was published by Routledge in January 2019. His research has been supported by funding from the National Science Foundation and his writing has appeared in a wide range of journals, including the Journal of Counseling Psychology, Sexuality Research and Public Policy, Symbolic Interaction, American Journal of Bioethics, The Counseling Psychologist, and Sexualities. He is the 2018 winner of the Michele Alexander Early Career Award from the Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues. He is also associate editor of the flagship Journal of Counseling Psychology, and holds a PhD in American Studies from the University of Maryland.
Schedule
9:30am Registration and Continental Breakfast
9:50am Welcome and Introduction
10:00am Structural Stigma and Mental Health
11:30am Break
11:45am The "Counseling Discrimination Law" in Tennessee
1:15pm Complete Evaluations and Adjourn
Learning Objectives
After attending this intermediate-level seminar in full, participants will be able to:
1. Describe what a “conscience clause” is and explain how these kinds of legal strategies have been used in psychology and related mental health fields.
2. Describe the history of the conscience clause in Tennessee, including to whom it applies, and identify stakeholders in Tennessee who supported or opposed it, and why.
3. Describe the consequences of structural stigma on mental health care for stigmatized groups (e.g., LGBT), and explain how it affects their willingness to seek mental health services.
4. Describe professional psychology’s positions on conscience clauses, and describe how professional organizations (e.g., the APA) suggest practitioners approach religious exemption issues in training and advocacy for mental health care policy.
Participants
This program is open to all APS members and other interested mental health professionals who may not be members. It is not limited to individuals practicing in a predominately psychoanalytic mode. The material will be appropriate for clinicians with intermediate levels of experience and knowledge.
Registration
Professional and Scholar Members:
$45 until October 7, 2019,
$55 after October 7, 2019.
Early-Career Professional Members:
$25 until October 7, 2019,
$35 after October 7, 2019.
Graduate Student Members: Free.
Non-members:
$60 until October 7, 2019,
$70 after October 7, 2019.
Although walk-ins will be accepted, please register online at www.aps-tn.wildapricot.org in advance to assure adequate food and seating.
If you prefer to pay by check, please mail your payment to:
Scott Swan, PhD
APS Treasurer
1005 Kenesaw Avenue
Knoxville, TN 37919.
Refunds honored with written/electronic notice at least 24 hours before date of conference. Contact Scott Swan, PhD. Contact the APS President Joyce Cartor, PhD, to negotiate fees, if needed. Facility is accessible to persons who are physically challenged. Reasonable accommodations will be made for persons requesting them.
APS Membership:
Eligible professionals can join APS or renew their membership for the 2019-2020 program year for $80. Scholars can join/renew for $50 and Early-Career Professionals can join/renew for $45. Graduate students may join or renew for $25.
American Psychological Association Approval Statement:
Division 39 is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Division 39 maintains responsibility for this program and its content.
Continuing Education:
This program, when attended in its entirety, is available for 3.0 continuing education credits. With full attendance and completion of a program Evaluation and Learning Assessment, a certificate will be issued. Psychologists will have their participation registered through Division 39.
In order to fulfill licensure requirements, the Rules of the Board of Examiners in Psychology in Tennessee (https://www.tn.gov/health/health-program-areas/health-professional-boards/psychology-board/psych-board/continuing-education.html) state that psychologists must obtain three continuing education hours that pertain to cultural diversity as specifically noted in the title, description of objectives, or curriculum of the presentation, symposium, workshop, seminar, course or activity. Cultural diversity includes aspects of identity stemming from age, disability, gender, race/ethnicity, religious/spiritual orientation, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, and other cultural dimensions.
This program meets the requirements for psychologists licensed in the state of Tennessee to obtain continuing education that pertains to cultural diversity.
APS and Division 39 are committed to conducting all activities in conformity with the American Psychological Association’s Ethical Principles for Psychologists. APS and Division 39 are also committed to accessibility and non-discrimination in continuing education activities. Participants are asked to be aware of the need for privacy and confidentiality throughout the program. If program content becomes stressful, participants are encouraged to process these feelings during discussion periods.
Selected References/Recommended Reading:
Berke, D. S., Maples-Keller, J. L., & Richards, P. (2016). LGBTQ perceptions of psychotherapy: A consensual qualitative analysis. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 47 (6), 373-382. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/pro0000099
Hatzenbuehler, M.L. (2016). Structural stigma: Research evidence and implications for psychological science. American Psychologist, 71 (8), 742-751.
Hatzenbuehler, M.L., Keyes, K.M., Hasin, D.S. (2009). State-level policies and psychiatric morbidity in lesbian, gay, and bisexual populations. American Journal of Public Health, 99 (12), 2275-81. doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2008.153510. Epub 2009 Oct 15.
Howard, K.I., Cornille, T.A., Lyons, J.S., Vessey, J.T., Lueger, R.J., & Saunders, S.M. (1996). Patterns of mental health service utilization. Archives of General Psychiatry, 53 (8), 696-703.
Shelton, K., & Delgado-Romero, E. A. (2013). Sexual orientation microaggressions: The experience of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and queer clients in psychotherapy. Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity, 1 (S), 59-70. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/2329-0382.1.S.59
Two of the articles mentioned during the seminar:
Conscience Clauses and Sex and Gender Minority Mental Health: A Case Study
"Sincerely Held Principles: or Prejudice?": The Tennessee Counseling Discrimination Law
Contact:
If participants have special needs, we will attempt to accommodate them. Please address requests, questions, concerns and any complaints to APS President Joyce Cartor, PhD.
There is no commercial support for this program nor are there any relationships between Division 39, APS, presenter, program content, research, grants or other funding sources that could reasonably be construed as conflicts of interest. During the program, the validity/utility of the content and risks/limitations of the approaches discussed will be addressed.