CAPP Response to Recent Events
June 14, 2021
In light of June being a celebration of Pride, we at CAPP want to recognize members of the LGBTQIA+ community, both patients and practitioners alike. We celebrate progress, and we recognize that there is much work to be done. We stand with you in this work to create a more just and inclusive community, and we advocate for equality in mental health education, treatment, and research.
April 20, 2021
CAPP honors that the recent verdict in the trial of Derek Chauvin for the killing of George Floyd represents a historic moment and has an immense impact on the mental health of everyone in our community. CAPP supports movement towards accountability for all, and continued efforts to address racism at the systemic level in the pursuit of justice. We highlight the importance of this moment in history, and acknowledge the work left to do in addressing systemic racism and the resulting trauma.
March 23, 2021
It is with heavy hearts that we at CAPP issue another statement this week. We know that these statements are repetitive. We want to be steadfast and clear regarding our stance towards these events, our mission as psychologists in our community, and in our country overall. We acknowledge the traumatic impact acts of violence have on humankind. CAPP condemns the recent gun violence and murders that took place in Boulder, Colorado. CAPP denounces extremist behavior, acts of hate, and violence of any kind. We mourn the lives lost in Boulder. We uphold psychologists’ role in treatment, support, and advocacy in response to acts of violence and loss of life. We also uphold, honor, and respect psychologists’ role in holding a safe place for processing traumatic events.
March 20, 2021
February 2, 2021
CAPP condemns the recent acts of vandalism that took place on the Xavier University campus. We acknowledge the presence of pervasive racism in our country and community, and we denounce extremist groups and acts of hate. CAPP continues to support non-violence and respect. We are steadfast in our resolve to utilize our role as psychologists to encourage these values in our Cincinnati community, and best support our community however possible.
January 7, 2021
CAPP condemns violence of all kinds, including the violence that recently took place at the U.S. Capitol. We support the peaceful transition of power that is an integral part of our democratic government. CAPP upholds psychologists’ dedication to advocacy through nonviolence, truth, and respect. We mourn the lives harmed and lost during these recent acts of violence.
CAPP Response to Systemic Racism
December 3, 2020
Over the course of this past year, we have witnessed the deaths of several black men and women at the hands of white police officers. We subsequently saw a racial justice revolution sweep across America. These and other movements have led CAPP to take steps to become a more inclusive and welcoming organization. Toward that goal, we have formed an Inclusivity subcommittee consisting of several CAPP board members.
CAPP recognizes that systemic racism persists and is maintained by racially biased systems in American life including economic systems, the criminal justice system, housing, employment, and education. CAPP mourns the countless victims of racial violence in 2020. We oppose racially biased systems and commit to using psychological science to combat systemic racism and implicit bias. We recognize that racism and racially motivated violence leads to racial trauma which is often passed down from one generation to the next, leading to considerable health consequences and further disparities.
We ask that CAPP members continually pursue culturally responsive training and education to increase understanding of the impact of racial trauma and systemic racism on communities of color and ethnic minorities. As an organization, we will strive to increase opportunities for multicultural training and education. Our hope is to be able to offer training opportunities in 2021 that specifically address racism and the impacts of structural racism on our clients. We are also exploring the possibility of a book club discussion group on racism that would likely be held remotely and be open to all CAPP members. Finally, CAPP would like to have a presence on the OPA Diversity Subcommittee.
In addition, please see the following resources that may be helpful to you, personally and professionally:
https://ohpsych.org/general/custom.asp?page=allypublicresources
Thank you,
Written by Joeanne Gutzwiller, Ph.D.
Our Mission
The Cincinnati Academy of Professional Psychology was created in 1981 to advance the science and profession of psychology in the Greater Cincinnati area. Our goals are to promote human welfare through the application of psychological science, to increase public awareness of psychology, to encourage the highest levels of ethical standards in the practice of psychology, and to promote the exchange of information and ideas among members.
History of CAPP
The following was written by CAPP’s very first president, Dr. Gary Schneider, on the 35th anniversary of CAPP in 2016…
It is amazing to realize that thirty-five years have passed since the formation of CAPP. The following stands out the most in my recollections of the early years.
I remember that nine psychologists met in various offices over several months until the very first official meeting at the home of George Wright. The initial driving forces that led to the creation of CAPP appeared to be: (1) The like-mindedness and increasing professionalism of clinical practitioners, particularly in private practice; (2) The perception that the only other local professional organization for psychologists, the Cincinnati Psychological Association (CPA), was not meeting all the needs of the clinical practitioners. CPA was more of an “umbrella” organization for all psychologists, including clinical practice, teaching, research, industrial/organizational consultation, etc; and (3) “Cleveland had one” referring to Cleveland having such an organization like the proposed CAPP. (Do you detect a tongue-in-cheek reference?)
To enhance the sense of solidarity with OPA and APA, the CAPP Board decided to require CAPP members to also be members of OPA and APA.
Some years later (probably early or mid-1980’s), there was a very well attended meeting at which time the term “managed care” was used for one of the first times. The speaker indicated that our local area would be one of the hardest hit by this new term (managed care). All we knew about this term was that it was associated with some vague entity zeroing in on limitations of subscriber’s benefits, case managing through treatment plans, and lowering reimbursement rates. For a group of practitioners who had achieved licensing only a few years before (1972), hearing this information led to a great deal of anxiety for all present. These concerns eventually led to the conclusion that that we needed to represent ourselves more effectively in the political arena. We hired a state lobbyist who explained to us that state legislators measured the amount of support “for” and “against” proposed legislation by measuring the height of the piles of mail “for” legislation and comparing these to the piles of mail “against” legislation. (Obviously, this phenomenon was light years before our new technology.)
The high level of anxiety led to fund raising efforts and CAPP raised more than $40,000! (Yes, the number of zeros is correct.) My recollection is that each psychologist was asked for a contribution of $1,000 and most contributors did give this amount. (Yes, this number of zeros is correct also.) One could ask oneself if there was any benefit to this fund raising effort as we see that managed care is still around and is accompanied by even lower reimbursement rates. However, that effort does display what a group of local psychologists can achieve, working together.
As I look back on these recollections, I wonder what future trends there will be as well as new opportunities for psychologists. Regardless of how these questions are answered, I think that the solidarity, viability and support by local groups, such as CAPP, and state and national organizations of psychologists, will probably be very important in continuing to shape our future as psychologists.
Gary A. Schneider, Ph.D.
CAPP’s First President, 1981
2021 Board Members
Rachel Sparn, Psy.D.
President
Joeanne Gutzwiller, Ph.D.
Past President
Bailey Bryant, Psy.D.
Ohio Psychological Association Liason
Amber Stevens, Psy.D.
Website Chair
Alexis Pittenger, Psy.D.
Treasurer, Program Coordinator Co-Chair
Teri Role-Warren, Ph.D.
Program Coordinator Co-Chair
Jim Dahmann, Ph.D.
Secretary
Laura Wilson
Executive Coordinator
Susan Urmetz, Psy.D.
Insurance/Managed Care Chair
Nikki Winchester, Psy.D.
Marketing/Public Relations Chair
2020 Board Members
2019 Board Members
2018 Board Members
2016-2017 Board Members
2015 Board Members
Past Presidents
2019-2020
Joeanne Gutzwiller
2018
Gary Schneider
2017
Jim Dahmann
2016
Teri Role-Warren
2015
Sarah Greenwell
2014
Debjani Sinha
2013
Steve Sparks
2012
Sharon Phillips
2011
Richard Sears
2010
Steve Nichols
2009
Tracy McDonough
2008
Debjani Sinha
2007
Marilyn Wander
2006
Kathleen Mack
2005
Mary Ellen Williams
2004
Nancy Stella
2003
Steve Billmann
2002
Dave Marcus
2001
Janet Thatcher
2000
Mark Schroder
1999
Jan Brinn
1998
Kathy Myszak
1997
Kathy Grant
1996
Jim Brush
1995
Les Swift
1994
Jim Dahmann
1993
Shelley Rooney
1992
Meryl Seidner
1991
Lynn Pierson
1990
Carol Lehman
1989
Scott Millis
1988
Rick Grant
1987
Chris Dacey
1986
Rick Reckman
1985
Don O’Grady
1984
Cynthia Dember
1983
Joan Reckseit
1982
Dave Hellkamp
1981
Gary Schneider