About PSWC
The Academy’s Psychologists, Social Workers & Counselors (PSWC) Section specializes in the provision of psychosocial services to meet the biopsychosocial care needs of individuals affected by spinal cord injury/dysfunction (SCI/D) and their families. Our members have the opportunity to work collaboratively with many of the finest interdisciplinary leaders specializing in SCI/D, while developing their own skills through active participation in the Academy. We provide high quality educational and training opportunities in SCI/D; promote the use of empirically-based psychosocial interventions, while also facilitating awareness of any new treatments; develop research and scientific inquiry into improving the quality of life for persons affected by SCI/D; and recognize exceptional health care professionals devoted to optimizing the psychosocial health of individuals living with SCI/D and their families.
Goals:
- Establish and maintain standards of care for psychologists, social workers, and counselors working in the field of SCI/D rehabilitation.
- Promote participation in the Academy’s journal, The Journal of Spinal Cord Medicine, by encouraging members to submit manuscripts.
- Facilitate education, leadership, research opportunities and resources for trainees and early career professionals.
- Recognize individuals who have demonstrated outstanding leadership and accomplishments in the field of SCI.
- Provide a biopsychosocial perspective for issues related to SCI/D and contribute within the interdisciplinary Academy from our area of expertise and competence.
In Memoriam: Michael Dunn, PhD
Michael died suddenly 8/5/21 as he was being discharged at Stanford where he had been treated for a UTI. Although he was in a hospital and intervention was swift, he could not be revived.
Michael was President of PSWC for 1989-90. He received the Essie Morgan Excellence Award (now called The Essie Morgan Lecture) in 1998.
Michael was enrolled in an experimental psychology graduate program when he suffered a SCI in a motorcycle accident. He switched to clinical psychology after being inspired by a rehabilitation psychologist during his own rehabilitation.
Chuck Merbitz Honored at 2017 ASCIP Conference
PSW Changes Name to PSWC
PSWC Board of Directors
President : Trisha Hicks, MSW, Med
Vice President: Lisa Ottomanelli, PhD
Past President: Maggi Budd, PhD, MPH, ABPP
Board Members: Jackie Wondolowski, MSW; Jenn Irish, PhD; Herb Ames, PhD, ABPP, ABN; Kimberly Monden, PhD; Tammy Abbott-Thiel, LMSW; Jonathon Rose, PhD.
PSWC Resources
Professional Links
NASW- SCI link: http://www.socialworkblog.org/
American Academy of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation: www.aapmr.org
American Board of Professional Psychology: www.abpp.org
American Psychological Association (APA): www.apa.org
Association of Psychology Postdoctoral and Internship Centers (APPIC): www.appic.org
Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPPB): www.asppb.org
National Register of Health Service Providers in Psychology: www.nationalregister.org
Accredited Online Colleges: AccreditedOnlineColleges.org
Division of Rehabilitation Psychology, Division 22: Click here to view more information or join Division 22.
Professional Resources
Action: www.unitedspinal.org
ADA home page: www.ada.gov
American Psychological Association’s Family Caregiver Briefcase for Psychologists: http://www.apa.org/pi/about/publications/index.aspx
APA PsycLINK- email name to: psycLINK@apa.org
Disability Resources: www.disabilityresources.org
FacingDisability.com (for families facing spinal cord injuries): www.facingdisability.com
National Transplant Assistance Fund- Catastrophic Program: www.catastrophicfund.org
New Mobility- Life Beyond Wheels Magazine: www.newmobility.org
PAR Assessment Toolkit: http://toolkit.parinc.com
Personal Assistance Services: www.pascenter.org
SCI information & resources by state: www.sci-info-pages.com
Consumer Resources
The American Psychological Association (APA): http://www.apa.org/
Paralyzed Veterans of America: http://www.pva.org
The ALS Association: http://www.alsa.org/
The National MS Society: http://www.nationalmssociety.org
Brain Injury Association of America: http://www.biausa.org
American Stroke Association: http://www.strokeassociation.org