The general meeting of the New Jersey State Board of Psychological Examiners was held at the Board office, 124 Halsey Street, Newark, New Jersey. The meeting was called to order at 9:40 a.m. by Dr. Friedman, Chair.

PRESENT:

Nancy E. Friedman, Ph.D., Chair
Kenneth G. Roy, Ed.D.
Loretto A. Brickfield, Ph.D., Vice Chair
Alan M. Groveman, Ph.D.
T. Stephen Patterson, Ph.D., Government Member
Patricia A. Farrell, Ph.D.

ABSENT:

Evelyn A. Orozco, Ph.D., Secrerary

ALSO ATTENDING:

J. Michael Walker, Executive Director
Carmen A. Rodriguez, Deputy Attorney General, Counsel to Board

REVIEW OF MINUTES:

Upon motion made by Dr. Patterson and seconded by Dr. Groveman, the Board approved the public session minutes of November 5, 2007 and December 3, 2007, with corrections. Voting in favor of the motion: all.

CLOSED SESSION AND RETURN TO OPEN SESSION

The Board voted unanimously to go into closed session for discussion of the oral examinations. The Board returned to open session.

CREDENTIAL COMMITTEE REPORT:

TEMPORARY PERMIT–NOT TO EXCEED THREE-YEARSB

The following candidates were unanimously approved for a three-year temporary permit for the supervised practice of psychology:

Mark Dell, Psy.D. Michele Horn-Alserge, Ph.D.
Barbara Couvadelli, Ph.D. James Sumowski, Ph.D.
Jamie Canataro, Psy.D. Jemour Maddux, Psy.D
Meredith Weber, Ph.D. Diane McNeil, Psy.D.
Brooke Donald, Psy.D. Jennifer Carlson, Psy.D.
Nelson Byrne, Ph.D. Karina Bienfait, Ph.D.
Azilde Sanchez, Ph.D. Kathleen Tobin, Ph.D.
Sara Seung-McFarland, Ph.D.

TEMPORARY PERMIT–NOT TO EXCEED ONE YEAR

The following candidates were unanimously approved for a one-year temporary permit for the unsupervised practice of psychology:

John Janko, Ph.D.
Kara Schmidt, Ph.D.
David Brandwein, Psy.D.
Christopher Drost, Ph.D.

LICENSED BY EXAMINATION

Upon motion made by Dr. Farrell and seconded by Dr. Roy, the following candidates qualified for licensure. Voting in favor of the motion: all.

LaTeisha Mason Callender, Ph.D. Michael Silverstein, Ph.D.
Pamela Alkins-Guallub, Psy.D. Mary Westhead Psy.D.
Elaine V. DiMola, Ph.D. Sharon A. Kramer, Ph.D.
Monica Jefferson, Ph.D. Luba Rafalson, Ph.D.
Craig Springer, Ph.D. Michael Brustein, Psy.D.
Lynn M. Schiller, Ph.D. Brett Biller, Psy.D.

DEFERRAL OF EXAMINATION

Upon motion made by Dr. Farrell and seconded by Dr. Roy, the Board voted to defer final consideration of the oral examination of the following candidate pending submission and approval of papers outlining the information a psychologist can share with a third-party payor (insurance company) under the Act Concerning the Disclosure of Patient Information by Psychologists (a.k.a. New Jersey Peer Review Law) and a paper concerning her understanding of the regulations regarding sexual misconduct. Voting in favor of the motion: all.:

Christina Ann Palmese, Ph.D.

CORRESPONDENCE

Christa K. Martin, Psy.D.

Dr. Martin wrote requesting an extension of the 90-day limit to submit her work sample for the oral examination. Dr. Martin stated her work had been delayed due to the recent birth of her child. Upon motion made by Dr. Farrell and seconded by Dr. Roy, the Board voted to grant Dr. Martin’s request for an additional 90 days to submit her work sample. Voting in favor of the motion: all.

Mordechai Zeiger, Psy.D.

Dr. Zeiger wrote requesting a two to three-year extension of his one-year unsupervised temporary permit that expires on February 1, 2008. Dr. Zeiger stated that he is in the process of moving his practice to Baltimore, MD, but would like to continue working in Lakewood, NJ one day a week. Upon motion made by Groveman and seconded by Dr. Brickfield the Board voted that because Dr. Zeiger is currently licensed in New York, he may now qualify to receive permission to practice under the provisions of N.J.S.A. 45:14B-6 (d) which would allow him to see patients for a period not to exceed 10 consecutive business days or 15 business days in any 90-day period if he resides outside the State of New Jersey and his major practice is outside of the State of New Jersey and gives the Board a minimum of 10 days’ written notice of his intention to practice in New Jersey. Otherwise, he must continue in the licensure process. Voting in favor of the motion: all.

Norine L. Mohle, Ph.D.

Dr. Mohle wrote requesting an extension of the 90-day limit to submit her work sample for the oral examination. Dr. Mohle stated she was not able to adhere to the original requirement because of an emergency family medical problem. Upon motion made by Dr. Brickfield and seconded by Dr. Farrell, the Board voted to grant Dr. Mohle an additional 90 days to submit the work sample. Voting in favor of the motion: all.

Colleen Taylor Lukens, Ph.D.

Marilyn L. Drukin, LCSW and Sherri Shubin Cohen of the Pediatric Feeding and Swallowing Center wrote to request that Dr. Lukens be given special consideration to take her oral examination as soon as possible. They also stated that without allowing her to take the examination earlier, "she will need to go through the temporary licensing process again." Upon motion made by Dr. Farrell and seconded by Dr. Roy the Board voted to deny the request stating that, in order to be fair to all, candidates are scheduled in the order in which their work samples are received and that Dr. Lukens could request an extension of her permit by sending a letter to the Board again. Voting in favor of the motion: all.

Jennifer Lambert, Psy.D.

Dr. Lambert wrote requesting that her oral examination be offered at a later dated and closer to central New Jersey. Dr. Lambert explained that she is in the first trimester of a high risk pregnancy and that traveling for her originally scheduled examination on January 25th in Cape May would present an elevated risk for miscarriage. She also requested that she be scheduled for an examination nearer to her home. Upon motion by Dr. Roy and seconded by Dr. Groveman, the Board voted to make every effort to schedule her according to her needs. Voting in favor of the motion: all.

Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards

An email from Emil Rodolfa, Ph.D., Chair of the ASPPB Practice Analysis Advisory Committee included a call for participation in a new study to update the description of the practice of psychology.The results of the study would result in the identification and validation of underlying professional competencies, the identification of assessment methods to best measure professional competencies and revised test specifications for the Examination for the Professional Practice of Psychology (E.P.P.P.). The Board accepted the email as informational.

James V. Hetzel. Esq.

Mr. Hetzel wrote requesting clarification concerning a current practice of compensation methodology and whether or not it would be construed as illegal fee splitting. Upon motion made by Dr. Roy and seconded by Dr. Patterson, the Board voted to invite Mr. Hetzel to the March meeting of the Board in order to discuss his concerns. Voting in favor of the motion: all.

Kathleen Torsney, Ph.D., #4261

Dr. Torsney wrote to complain that the public session minutes of the June 7, 2007 and October 1, 2007 meetings of the Board are "unduly damaging" to her professional reputation as she feels they indicate that she sought to mislead students by writing something that was completely deceptive concerning the program for which she was responsible at William Paterson University. Upon motion made by Dr. Roy and seconded by Dr. Groveman, the Board voted to inform Dr. Torsney that it disagrees with her interpretation of the minutes and that the minutes need to be read in their entirety. Dr. Torsney will also be informed that the concern of the Board was with the description of the program, not with its Director. Indeed, the Board is grateful for the changes in the descriptions that Dr. Torsney implemented. Voting in favor of the motion: all.

Michael Likier, Ph.D.

Dr. Likier wrote to request that the Board accepted supervisory hours accrued before the change of his supervisor was approved. Upon motion made by Dr. Roy and seconded by Dr. Brickfield, the Board voted in favor of an exception to its usual practice and therapy allowed the hours accrued because material that Dr. Likier had received from the Board office was ambiguous. Voting in favor of the motion: all.

Robert Prentky, Ph.D.

Dr. Prentky wrote with questions concerning his work sample. Dr. Prentky explained that he evaluates criminals and prepares reports. He is having problems with writing the sections concerning interventions, present status and effectiveness. Upon motion by Dr. Brickfield and seconded by Dr. Farrell, the Board voted to instruct Executive Director Walker to contact Dr. Prentky to explain the work sample more fully. Voting in favor of the motion: all.

Raymond F. Hanbury, Ph.D. #2657

Dr. Hanbury wrote to inform the Board that due to a conflict of interest, he has resigned as Liason to the Board for the New Jersey Psychological Association.

Dr. Hanbury also expressed his gratitude for making him feel welcome and for permitting his input, when appropriate, during the ten years he has served as NJPA’s Liason. Upon motion made by Dr. Patterson and seconded by Dr. Roy, the Board voted to thank Dr. Hanbury for his service. Voting in favor of the motion: all.

REPORT ON TEMPORARY PERMIT CONFERENCES HELD ON JANUARY 7, 2008

Jennifer Jackson, Ph.D.

Dr. Jackson failed the oral examination administered on October 26, 2007 and is currently working at the Montclair Counseling Center with a one-year unsupervised permit as she is currently licensed in New York. Upon motion by Dr. Groveman and seconded by Dr. Brickfield, the Board voted to direct Dr. Jackson to consult with some of the professionals she has worked with recently to help find a supervisor who can help her to focus on the issues raised in the permit conference, particularly her theoretical orientation and her test anxiety. Her supervisor must be approved by the Board. With approved supervision, her permit will be extended for a year. Voting in favor of the motion: all.

Maura Tuite, Ph.D./Donna Pass Schatten, Ph.D., supervisor (Present)

Dr. Tuite took and failed the E.P.P.P. written examination administered on November 2, 2007 and is currently working under a three-year supervised temporary permit. Upon motion made by Dr. Brickfield and seconded by Dr. Roy, the Board voted to extend her permit for a year contingent upon her retaking the examination by the end of October, 2008.

EXEMPTION NOTICE FORMS

St. Joseph’s Hospital & Medical Center/Deborah L. Hartel

The Board reviewed a continuation of exemption status request from Ms. Deborah Hartel. Pursuant to the provisions of N.J.S.A. 45:14B-6 (a)3, after review of the information provided in the continuation request and upon motion made by Dr. Brickman and seconded by Dr. Farrell, the Board determined that St. Joseph’s Hospital & Medical Center continues to meet the requirements of an exempt facility. Ms. Hartel will be reminded that in order to continue exempt status, the agency is required to confirm annually that it continues to qualify for exempt status. Voting in favor of the motion: all.

REVIEW OF LEGISLATION

Senate No. 2387

The bill would establish a certificate of rehabilitation for certain persons with criminal records. Upon motion made by Dr. Roy and seconded by Dr. Groveman, the Board voted to express that it is already bound by factors in the the Rehabilitated Convicted Offenders Act (N.J.S.A. 2A-168A-1 et seq.) and does not see the need for meeting an intermediary into the licensure process. Voting in favor of the motion: all.

DISCIPLINARY MATTERS

I/ M/ O Irit Felsen, Ph.D. #3756

Ronald A. Zirin, Ph.D., Board approved therapist for Irit Felsen reported that Dr. Felsen has participated in the therapeutic process for the quarter from July 7, 2007 through October 7, 2007. The therapy began at a frequency of two sessions per week and changed to one session per week in September, 2007, at which frequency it continues. The Board accepted the report as informational.

I/ M/ O Irit Felsen, Ph.D. #3756

Rosalind Dorlen, Psy.D., Board approved supervisor for Dr. Felsen reported that Dr. Felsen continues in weekly supervision of her psychological practice. Dr. Dorlen states that Dr. Felsen continues to work hard in supervision and appears to be working to improve her therapeutic and clinical skills. The supervision continues with emphasis on issues of potential risks and ethical pitfalls using an ethical decision-making model.

APPROVED BY:

__________________________________
Date: Nancy E. Friedman, Ph.D.
Chair

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