🚀 go-pugleaf

To all,

I just wanted to take this opportunity to introduce myself to all the members
of PSYCGRAD.  My name is Melissa and I am a 5th year doctoral student in
Clinical Psychology.  I am completing my PsyD. at the University of Hartford,
however I am currently living in Pennsylvania.  I am currently doing my
internship at Norrisrown State Hospital.  I am working with a severly
mentally ill population, focusing in the areas of substance abuse with a
forensic population and women with Borderline Personality Disorder (Aren't I
a saint??).  Actually, one of my main interests lie in the area of
personality disorders with an emphasis on BPD.  My other passion (if you can
call it that) is in the area of alcohol and other drug addictions as well as
dual diagnosis.  This past year, I completed an alcoholism and substance
abuse counselor program and am collecting my hours so that I can sit for the
credentialing exam.  I feel that too many psychologists are lacking the
proper training and education regarding working with substance abusers.  I
have been quite enlightened by the alcoholism discussions over the last few
days and would like to pose a practical question:  I am finding that the more
confrontational approaches I would use with substance abusers who are not
dually diagnosed is not the way to go with psychotic individuals . . . any
suggestions as to a more suitable approach??
One last thing (bear with me if I'm rambling), the topic for my dissertation
is prescription privileges for psychologists.  Currently, the emphasis in the
literature is on established professionals opinions as to whether or not
gaining prescriptive rights would be beneficial.  I am interested in the
views and opinions of graduate students in that we are the future generation
of psychologists.  Do we as a profession want the responsibility of
prescribing medication?  Will it better serve our patients?  Would the
training be sufficient?  I'd be extremely interested in hearing other
people's opinions around this issue.