To: <s-acc@yahoogroups.com>

From: "Andrew Phelps" <starfish@northcoast.com>

Date: Wed, 9 Mar 2011 23:25:07 -0800

Subject: [s-acc] head bump experience

Networking with psychology can have its points.

Here's a "head bump experience" that shows the dynamics today have matured from the 90s and that psychologists can play new head bump roles in an interesting manner.

One of the participants was Fred Frese, Ph.D., whom our movement experiences as a lead advocate against freedom and dignity on a national basis. Fred is a clinical psychologist and also is openly a "consumer" (NAMI talk for a person with diagnosis and lived mental health experience).

In his usual manner, Fred kept looking for ways to interrupt and divert the conversation. But our group had him pretty well psyched out and he had problems providing his usual quantity of pain. Finally he turned to Jasenn Zaejian, the clinical psychologist with whom I was staying. Jasenn is an old-time radical therapist from the 70s, who recently worked as consultant for Calif. DMH on their DOJ Consent Judgment for the State Mental Hospitals. [And quit after 9 months because he found their approach "lacked compassion."] Anyway Fred made a professional comment or two, and took Jasenn's business card. Then, he turned to him and STARTED YELLING AT HIM. So we saw Fred act as the bear bopping down the stairs, and heard loudly the report of his head bumping. [!] Jasenn held his own even though this was a bad experience for him.

Recently Jasenn sent me a pre-print copy of his new book, "Healing Personal Psychology." I'm pleased to say that he lists me among the people acknowledged, saying that I helped him to understand better the "clinical gaze."

I hope we can reach to PsySR and construct an advocacy that the metabolic syndrome disaster we face is a "human rights" issue.