As president of the Inland Empire Chapter, I am thankful I was a part of a transforming year for CAMFT. I believe I was able to contribute to its original vision of promoting MFT’s and the needs of the profession. I chose to be a part of the “Save CAMFT,” now CAMFT United.com, effort to keep CAMFT an organization that remains focused on the needs and interests of MFT’s. Save CAMFT was instrumental in keeping CAMFT from becoming a generic mental health organization, which had been the CAMFT Board’s plan. I spent hours talking to people and handing out flyers to inform members of the CAMFT Board’s intentions.

Because of the hundreds of thousands of dollars spent by the CAMFT Board to defend that agenda, many of us have continued to seek transparency regarding this and other issues. I attended the CAMFT Board meeting in Berkeley to challenge the Board on their intentions and continued direction of vision. I took the opportunity to speak to the CAMFT Board and believe I was a voice for all of us, who are just trying to make a living and be heard. I went to the Leadership Conference in San Jose, and challenged them on the same issues, and also went to a CAMFT Connect event, where the medium for speaking was reduced to written questions to which the Board chose to respond.

I am handing over my role as chapter president to two strong leaders, Sherry Shockey-Pope and Judy McGehee. As you know, we are all volunteers and to maintain our voice and accountability, it takes all of us to do what we can. We need to continue to let the CAMFT Board know how their efforts can best serve us. You know that with any relationship, it takes communication and clarification. I hope you will find that place where you can be involved. We are CAMFT. We are what we make it.

Thank you for the opportunity to serve and represent you.

Janine Murray, MFT

As the editor of the newsletter and a therapist who has worked with both victims and youthful sexual offenders, I have another perspective I would like to add to the discussion of AB 1775. I too am very concerned, as others have expressed, about the impact of reporting requirements which put therapists in the position of being informants and require reporting behavior that does not directly involve an identifiable victim and which could deleteriously affect the therapeutic relationship.

The most dangerous aspect of this in my mind is equating the viewing of child pornography with direct sexual abuse of a child because it reverses a core therapeutic precept as well as muddies legal precedent that draws a distinction between desire and action. In addition, it subverts the therapeutic process itself by turning the therapist into a kind of thought police enforcer rather than the elicitor of thoughts, feelings, fantasies etc. in order to identify issues and behaviors that need to be addressed therapeutically. Though viewing child pornography is a criminal behavior (rather than a thought) that must be dealt with in therapy, it is not direct abuse of a known victim and conflating the two obfuscates what should be a clear separation.

What is of even more concern to me, however, is how this law may sweep up victims of sexual abuse in its zeal to identify and report those who view child pornography. A teen who may be being pressured by a boyfriend or peers to send explicit pictures of herself, teens sexting one another, or a trafficking victim being coerced into advertising on a website, could also be reported, criminalized, and stigmatized as offenders, an outrageously unjust and injurious possible outcome of a poorly-written law.

I want to also point out that though identifying the victims of child pornography is the role of law enforcement and would not be known to the casual viewer and certainly not to a therapist to whom a client might divulge such viewing, there are always children who are victimized when we are talking about the production and dissemination of child pornography (excluding sexting between peers), not only in the original production of the material but who are re-victimized in the viewing of it.

We must recognize the role of sexist culture which objectifies and commodifies girls and women and sexualizes ever younger children in its attempt to sell sex with its resultant psychological and emotional injury. The shameful tendency by law enforcement to re-victimize rape victims, victims of domestic violence, prosecute prostitutes rather than going after their johns, failing to see teen prostitutes as trafficking victims, etc. is something which could easily be replicated in the enforcement of this law, and I find this very worrisome indeed as it would reinforce this overarching cultural problem and core cause of child sexual abuse. In its poorly-conceived attempt to protect victims, it could do precisely the opposite, the worst possible outcome.

President's Message

AB1775 Controversy

Since this law became effective January 1, 2015, I wanted to provide some materials to generate discussion and to inform. The main concern over this new law is that it is not specific enough. For example, some say it doesn't make enough distinction between those with the pedophilic behavior of viewing child porn and who are at high risk of acting on those sexually abusive fantasies and teenagers who use social media to send sexually explicit images of themselves.  Others say viewing of porn does not necessarily lead to child molestation and that this law equates the two.

Below you will find a statement by CAMFT, a petition to CAMFT, an appeal which has been filed with the court to put a stay on the law, some links to articles about the law, some links to articles arguing that viewing child pornography is linked to molestation as well as others which dispute this, and some articles reviewing the claims, related diagnoses, and research results. I hope this helps to begin your own research and discussion on this important issue and controversial law.

CAMFT Legislative Update in October 2014 states:

AB 1775 (Melendez): CAMFT receives many member calls asking whether the downloading or Internet viewing of child pornography is considered child abuse and, as such, would require a therapist to file a mandated report. Penal Code § 11165.1 does not specifically include Internet usage of child pornography within the definition of “sexual exploitation.” Since the Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act was written before the prolific use of the Internet, the terminology does not reflect modern technology. This bill would include knowingly “downloading, streaming or accessing through any electronic or digital media…” as a mandatory report in addition to duplicating and printing.

This bill, after receiving no “No” votes, was signed by the Governor. The bill was supported by the California Psychological Association, California Association of Licensed Professional Clinical Counselors, Board of Behavioral Sciences, Child Abuse Prevention Center, California District Attorneys’ Association, and the California State Sheriffs’ Association.

For more information from CAMFT regarding reporting requirements, see: http://www.camft.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Advocacy1&Template=/CM/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=18241

Stop AB 1775.com is gathering signatures for a petition to CAMFT to pursue revising the text of the law, among other demands. The following statements are from their analysis of the bill on their website at: http://stopab1775.org/read-text-ab1775/:

The language of AB1775 updates this law [existing child abuse reporting law] as follows: “sexual exploitation includes downloading, streaming, or accessing through any electronic or digital media in which a child is engaged in an act of obscene sexual conduct.”

Meanwhile, Penal code 11165, subsection 311.4 defines obscene sexual conduct as, among other things, “exhibition of the genitals for the purpose of sexual stimulation of the viewer,” as well as lewd and lascivious acts, which are further defined in subsection 288.2 as that which depicts touching intimate parts of the body, including “buttocks of a person and the breasts of a female.”

The law further removes the need to observe an “identifiable victim,” as is typically required by social service investigators. Thus, the idea is not to protect victims per se, but rather to capture those who view obscene material, and incorporate therapists as informants.

In an opinion in the Washington Post by Leslie C. Bell, she concludes the following re AB 1775:

On the face of it, the amendment may seem like a helpful addition to the reporting mandates for psychotherapists and psychiatrists. Child pornography is, after all, a damaging and illegal practice. As a society we surely want to decrease its production, distribution and consumption.

On closer inspection, however, the law falls short on three fronts: First, it will not protect children from either the production or distribution of child pornography, which is its intent. Second, it violates therapist-patient confidentiality and decreases the likelihood that people will get the psychological help they need to stop accessing child pornography; if the goal is to undercut production by reducing demand, the law will likely have the opposite effect. And, third, it conflates desire with action.

See: http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/a-california-law-about-reporting-child-porn-puts-psychotherapists-in-a-bind/2014/12/26/4ae09cdc-8aef-11e4-9e8d-0c687bc18da4_story.html

 

For other related articles on Stop AB 1775's website expressing concern about the expansion of reporting requirements and incursions on patient confidentiality represented by this law, see: 

http://stopab1775.org/articles/

 

A Petition for Writ of Prohibitory Mandate Request for Immediate Stay of A.B. 1775’s Amendment of Penal Code 11165.1 SubD (C) has been filed with the appellate court appealing the law on the grounds of unconstitutionality and violation of patients’ right to privacy. You can find the writ at:

http://stopab1775.org/wp-content/uploads/PetitionForWrit_AB1775.pdf

 

Links to articles and studies:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Relationship_between_child_pornography_and_child_sexual_abuse

http://www.politifact.com/ohio/statements/2011/nov/30/mike-dewine/mike-dewine-cites-link-between-viewing-child-porno/

http://phys.org/news/2010-11-legalizing-child-pornography-linked-sex.html

http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-244X/9/43

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/19/us/19sex.html?pagewanted=all

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/01/dsm-pedophilia-mental-disorder-paraphilia_n_4184878.html

http://www.apa.org/monitor/2009/12/child-abuse.aspx

 

 

Janine Murray, MFT

President, Inland-Empire CAMFT

I knew Don as a colleague at our inland Empire chapter of CAMFT, where he served as chapter president as

well as board member at large, always an enthusiastic supporter of our seminars and positive promoter of our

group. I attended a number of psychodrama sessions with him as well, which offered insight and were not only

informative, but personally helpful. I also got to know Don some in the context of music, which we both

enjoyed. Don had a great bass voice, singing for many years I know in the choir at the University United

Methodist, and he invited me along to go caroling with him and his church group a couple of times as I also sing

and play the piano. Though Don was a churchman and a previous pastor, he was never heavyhanded or pushy

about religion, but he was positively evangelical with regard to psychodrama, to which he devoted much of his

life.

But more than anything, Don was my friend. He was a great listener and always offered support that was free of

any sense of judgmentalism, and he had a quiet way of conveying his unconditional acceptance with just a few

words. These are rare traits, and ones that I value highly. I’m so glad we could spend some quality time together

and that he was able to come to the IE-CAMFT holiday party in December. I wish I had realized our time was

so short--it seems there is never enough time for the important, meaningful things in life and I just hope he

realized how much I appreciated him. I will miss you Don, my dear friend.

Carol A. Bouldin

“Strange, isn't it? Each man's life touches so many other lives. When he isn't around he leaves an awful hole, doesn't he?”

It’s a Wonderful Life

That is my favorite quote, from my favorite Christmas movie. So, my daughter surprised me this Christmas with the above plaque. I didn’t know it would come to have special meaning this year. As most of you might have heard by now, Don Miller, our colleague, died on New Year’s Eve. He was 88.

Don Miller was a psychologist, therapist, author, Past President of Inland Empire CAMFT, and as I came to experience, a Psychodrama Master. He was so passionate about his trainings, which were free. I cherished the times watching him at work. Taking a group of strangers from awkward encounter to sharing intimately came from the sheer sincerity of his direction. There was no doubt he believed in his craft, and it drew others in. The artistry of the way he directed seemed to come so naturally to him. Emulating his methods helped me deepen the experience I am able to provide for my clients.

Something else which enabled intimate revelation and sharing was the way Don seemed to truly value people. Always willing to listen, he remembered your name and your story, and tried to help create a cathartic healing. Wanting to empower people with life skills and tools, he was always willing to share information. He was the eternal student himself.

Knowing his diagnosis and how he stayed so positive to the end, is a true inspiration to me. I cannot imagine how difficult it was for him in these last months, but he chose to spend some of his last moments with us at our Christmas Party. I am touched and grateful for his example.

On a personal note, having lost my father at four, I am sensitive to looking for men to be who they say they are. Don was someone who had earned my trust. I was able to do important work in his groups, because I believed he cared.

Yes, Don, your life touched so many others with its godly example; your passing will leave a hole in our group. We will miss you!

Janine Murray

PEACE ON EARTH & WITHIN

This is that time of year when “Let there be peace on earth and goodwill towards all people," is posted everywhere and is repeated in our music.  We as therapists know as hard as achieving world peace can be, personal peace can be as much a challenge.

Post-traumatic Stress Disorder is one of the diagnoses that can greatly undermine attempts at peace. Depending on a person’s source of comfort, whether it be God, family, or a belief in a higher power, unless there is education on the dynamics of PTSD, the person feels unable to control the fear or to feel grounded.

I have done work in churches in Rwanda, Africa, after the genocide.   A common theme repeated itself which churches who were trying to help orphans found confusing.  Orphans who were considered stable emotionally became reactive upon adoption.  These children who had been through so much and had witnessed horrific violence, had found a place of peace but it seemed that the war lived on inside them.   After adoption into a peaceful family setting, they began to be instigators of crisis.  It was necessary to educate the church and the orphans on the dynamic of how someone with PTSD develops behaviors that get them through the trauma.  They were not prepared for the peace which created fear as it provides no distractions to keep them from imagining when the next crisis will happen. So in their overwhelming anxiety, they create a crisis themselves because they know how to survive in crisis.

For our clients, we can be that place of education, teaching these dynamics and normalizing their thoughts and reactions.  Where there is understanding, the journey to peace begins.   

Wishing you a Merry Christmas and personal peace!  

And praying for Peace on Earth,

Janine Murray, MFT

President, Inland-Empire CAMFT

 Oprah was not the originator of a gratitude journal, but her promotion of it has changed lives.  It encourages going past "seeing the glass half full" to truly embracing that at anytime, there are always things for which to be grateful. 

A cognitive challenge is to look for the evidence of the thought.  Clients who struggle with depression are many times the ones who are prone to a world view that life is like a roller coaster. A more balanced view can be encouraged by emphasizing that life is more like a road.  There are joys and struggles at any given time.  Two questions that can assist the client to identify this for her or himself is to ask "So what is working?" or "What has been a source of comfort or joy?"  At this time of Thanksgiving we can all benefit from identifying our sources of gratitude.  Daily, it can become a personal place of peace. 

 

An exercise that I do and I know others do as well around the Thanksgiving table, is to state for what we are grateful or thankful.  It is a way to bring "peace" to the table and renew a new way of acknowledging one another's lives.  It also can break the cycle of some of the negative conversations that shadow family communication.

 

Whatever your family experience, I wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving and a time of gratitude.

 

Janine Murray, MFT

President - Inland Empire CAMFT

With the holidays approaching, I am reminded of the importance of community.  For me as a therapist, one of the most difficult clients is one without family.  The lack of family might be due to a courageous choice to not be involved with a toxic family system.  Or, the lack of family might be the result of a rejecting system. The reasons are many. Perhaps it was a divorce, self-absorbed parents, rejection of a lifestyle choice, an emotionally distant non-communicating family, guilt, estrangement, inability to bridge physical distance or reconcile differences, or being the lone survivor of a family. The holidays represent the trek of going to the place we are best known.  The talk, like the food, is familiar and one of comfort.  Humor, like the conflicts, seems to make sense because it comes from a place of shared values. 

 

The double standard that still seems to exist in America, as well as with many of the clients I see, is we still aren't comfortable making families of choice instead of blood.  In America, there is a lot of talk about alternative families, while still remaining in the families with whom we have history.  We as therapists have an opportunity to normalize seeking families of choice for whatever reason family ties have been broken. 

 

I've heard many reports of symptom reduction by being with these families of choice as opposed to being with families of origin A gift our clients can give themselves this holiday season is a new definition of family, one that is based on shared values of love and commitment, true acceptance, and one that enables them to be their best selves and where they can grow.

Is Violence “Cultural?”

 

When violence is minimized and there are only minor consequences, if any, is violence seen for what it is, or is it seen as “cultural?”

 

We therapists have been trained extensively in being culturally sensitive and are encouraged to have clients educate us on their own cultural norms.  Having trained social workers, pastors, and staff in Rwanda, Africa, I have been challenged to define what is "cultural.”  Until approximately five years ago, there was no marital rape in Rwanda as the very act of being married entitled the man to sex, whether there was consent or not.  In fact, until the late 1970's, there was no marital rape law in America as well.   Having worked with the police and the public, there remains a misunderstanding of domestic violence and other violence against women.  The military is rampant with accusations of rape. Now we have the "Yes means Yes" law, which implies there was an entitlement if the rapist does not hear the word "No.” 

 

A recent violent incident revealed how some people still feel about violence against women. Professional football players, who are paid to be tackled and who practice being hit to dangerous levels, find it acceptable to consider this part of their manhood.  There is pride in believing they can "take it".   The irony in this case is that a professional football player who was supposedly hit by his girlfriend in an elevator, felt so threatened by her that he knocked her unconscious.  This implies a sense of entitlement or a “right” to respond violently if a woman resists control or intimidation.  Now if one person in a culture can rationalize their entitlement to violence, is that person a reflection of the culture or is it our collective response that makes it culture?  Until a video surfaced, the NFL commissioner initially disciplined the player with only a two-game suspension and the team for which he played supported him, even holding a press conference at which his victim said she “deeply regrets the role that she played the night of the incident.”We need to consider the impact of this. What do we identify as culture, and what do we identify as violence, and who is held responsible? 

 

I can list the statistics on rape, domestic violence, human trafficking, and female genital mutilation, but we have heard them. Our thoughts about violence make a difference, and I hope violence is never considered culture, wherever it happens. I hope violence is seen as violence.

 

Janine Murray, LMFT, President, Inland Empire CAMFT

 

 

I hope you are all taking the time to enjoy your summer in this place of resort living.  I'm reminded of all the opportunities we have here, when friends and family visit.   

I wanted to pass on some of the information that was discussed at the Inland Empire Board Retreat on July 25, 2014, that you were all invited to attend.   

The issues covered were whether to sign the new CAMFT Chapter agreement and Assembly Bill 1775, which would require all Mandated Reporters to report any client who views child pornography. 

 Chapter Agreement

The Chapter Agreement was part of the CAMFT Board plan to transform CAMFT into a generic mental health organization and was sent out within days of the June 2013 bylaws passage. Since we as CAMFT chapter members voted against changing the name and organization, we see no reason to accept a chapter agreement that was created to implement that transformation. After an open discussion of Board members, a vote was taken and it was unanimously decided that we would stand with other Chapters to not sign the Chapter Agreement for the following reasons:

• We already have a chapter agreement with CAMFT that encompasses what we need

·         There is conflicting legal double speak in the new agreement

·         It would obligate us to more administrative work and would indebt us financially

·         We were not given an adequate explanation as to the purpose this agreement serves for the chapters and we think there should be a clear explanation of the purpose.  This is a time of healing and reestablishing trust as an organization, so transparency is paramount in order to achieve that. 

 Assembly Bill 1775

In our discussion of Assembly Bill 1775 that would require mandated reporting of clients who view child pornography, there were various perspectives, but all were in agreement that, even though the bill had good intentions, it was a "slippery slope" with regard to how abuse is defined, especially when there is no identified victim who has been directly abused and unclear as to what would happen after the reporting. We too felt that it may be counterproductive in that the client would cease to be open in treatment or continue treatment if revealing the use of pornography would require a report to be filed.

We discussed an email that had been circulated through the CAMFT thread citing research which found that viewing pornography had kept some pedophiles from acting out. When I went on the Internet, I found a study which supported the opposite relationship, linking viewing child pornography with molesting children.  It is summarized below:

“Porn use and child abuse: The link may be greater than we think, a controversial study suggests” by Tori DeAngelis  December 2009, Vol 40, No. 11  Print version: page 56

The opening summary reads, “Clinical psychologists Michael Bourke, PhD, and Andres Hernandez, PsyD, have been making waves in the psychology and law enforcement communities with the recent release of a paper suggesting that men charged with Internet child pornography offenses and those who commit hands-on child sex offenses are, in many cases, one and the same."  See:  http://www.apa.org/monitor/2009/12/child-abuse.aspx

I hope whatever you believe about the bill or clients viewing child pornography, you will be encouraged to dialogue and do some personal research on this subject. With the Internet, this is a definite issue affecting many of our clients, whether they be victims or perpetrators.