My interest in serving as a Colorado Psychological Association (CPA) board member stems from the impact my involvement with CPA has had on both my professional growth and my ability to serve individuals and families in our community. Over the past 7 years as an active member of the CPA ethics committee, I've had the opportunity to contribute to the CPA community while also enhancing my skills as a psychologist working with individuals and families in our community. Through engaging with peers, learning from diverse perspectives, and navigating complex ethical challenges, I've advanced my skills as a psychologist, becoming more adept at providing effective therapy and support to those I serve. Moreover, my journey with CPA has extended beyond individual practice; it has made me a better supervisor to student therapists. By sharing my experiences, sparking discussions, and addressing the challenges psychologists face today, I've worked towards creating an environment where everyone can thrive and grow, and ideally, give back to our broader psychology community. I am eager to utilize these experiences and insights in a leadership capacity on the board. I see this as an opportunity not only to give back to the CPA community but also to advocate for initiatives that promote the professional development of psychologists statewide. My dedication to advancing the field and my commitment to ethical practice make me a strong candidate for this role, and I am enthusiastic about the prospect of contributing further to the betterment of our profession.

I have been a member of CPA since I started working as a psychologist back in 2008. I have been an active member of the CPA Ethics Board since 2017, participating in monthly committee meetings and serving as the on-call person for the ethics hotline several times a year. I've also held roles as secretary and chair. In this capacity, I have helped plan and organize four ethics workshops and have presented at one of them. I regularly attend CPA symposiums, workshops, and conferences, and I encourage my externs to participate in CPA events as a vital part of their training. My goal is to instill in them the value of professional involvement and the benefits of joining CPA or another state’s psychological association in the future.

Events that I have record of attending:
April 20, 2018, Green Symposium
October 26, 2018: Ethics Workshop: Ethical Challenges and Safety Issues for Clinicians Presentation plus Vignettes and Discussion
November 30, 2018: Suicidality Webcast: Clinical, Ethical and Risk Management Issues
February 15, 2019: 6th Annual Elevating the Conversation - Helping Suicidal Patients: A Clinical Toolbox
October 30, 2020: 2020 CPA Virtual Ethics Workshop
June 4, 2021:Colorado Psychological Association: Kids and Today’s Marijuana Products
January 27, 2023: CPA CE Webinar: The Minds, Lives, and Motivations of Mass Attackers
April 21, 2023: Spring Symposium ,Child and Elder Abuse: Clinical, Ethical and Legal Issues/ What's New in Genderland: Living in a Nonbinary World - Evolving Professional Guidelines and Therapeutic Practice Friday, April 21, 2023
November 8, 2023: 2023 Fall Symposium: Suicide Prevention
April 22, 2024: 2024 Spring Symposium: Tech-Forward Psychology: Navigating the Intersection of Technology and Mental Health.

As psychologists, we're navigating the mental health crisis and actively seeking solutions to better serve our communities. The urgency of this situation feels more pronounced now, especially as we work with youth, families, and individuals coping with the aftermath of the pandemic, compounded by the challenges of the digital age.

Our efforts extend beyond providing quality services; they also encompass advocating for fair compensation for our expertise. We recognize the myriad opportunities we have to make a meaningful difference both locally and nationally through our services, knowledge, and ongoing research.

While strides are being made towards granting psychologists prescriptive authority, there's still significant groundwork ahead. This shift has the potential to greatly enhance mental health care, but we must persist in our advocacy.

Furthermore, while PsyPAct has broadened our reach, particularly benefiting clients in remote areas, college students who are away during the semester, or those requiring specialized care, we're still confronted with ethical, logistical, and programmatic challenges. These issues demand our attention and concerted efforts to ensure the highest standard of care for those we serve.

As psychologists, we are not great at talking about ourselves. Overall, I really enjoy engaging, learning, and problem solving with colleagues. I believe we are better at what we do and how we serve others when we are connecting, consulting, and collaborating with each other. We can benefit those we work with, and each other as we support our colleagues in their clinical, teaching, and research. I started a monthly consultation group for therapists (psychologists, social workers, LPC, etc…) which consists of therapists who are new to the field to therapists who are about to retire. I enjoy learning from them, and providing my expertise when needed.

I also love to be a supervisor to externs. I want them to learn clinical skills, and have the confidence to do what psychologists do. I guide them by encouraging them to explore their unique therapeutic styles while introducing them to ethical and clinical principles. Additionally, I provide insights into the business aspects of our work and emphasize the importance of self-care in maintaining a healthy practice.

Overall, I believe that my qualities of collaboration, mentorship, and dedication to continuous improvement would contribute to advancing the vision of CPA and enhancing the professional growth and support of psychologists in our community.

In my perspective, the top priorities for CPA currently revolve around implementing PsyPAct and CO RxP, while also ensuring adherence to ethical standards and providing high-quality mental health care. Additionally, there's a pressing need to focus on improving services for our youth demographic. These initiatives are crucial for advancing the profession, expanding access to care, and upholding the well-being of both practitioners and clients.

I am Dr. Natalie Vona, a Licensed Psychologist in the State of Colorado and a member of PSYPACT. I specialize in working with children, adolescents, and families, with sub-specialties in pediatric sleep disorders and pediatric health-related issues. I have served on the CPA ethics committee since 2017. I earned my Bachelor's in Psychology at the State University of New York at Oswego, and my Doctorate from Northeastern University in Boston. I completed my internship and post-doctoral training at Kennedy Krieger Institute/Johns Hopkins Hospital, working with children, adolescents, and families in both inpatient and outpatient settings. Since 2008, I have been in private practice in the Denver area and am the founding member of 5280 Behavioral & Mental Health Center. I was also the staff psychologist in a pediatric office for four years and continue to collaborate with them to best serve the mental and behavioral health needs of patients. In addition, I love educating and training externs, and have been working with externs from DU’s PsyD program for many years. Outside of work, I am a mom to four children, three dogs, and a fish. I enjoy spending time with friends and family, traveling, and yoga/pilates.

Joanne Whalen, PsyD

Non-Metro Representative (1 candidate)

*What are the major issues facing psychologists today?
Rural psychologists face issues including access to wrap around and collaborative services. For example, there are no substance use facilities within my rural community and my clients are required to drive 1-2 hours to obtain access to detox and addiction treatment centers. I also think burn out via vicarious trauma can be a major issue facing psychologists today. I am an advocate of providing psychoeducation on reocognizing signs of burn out, as well as prevention and intervention.

Nina Campanile is a licensed psychologist and the Clinical Supervisor at the Bright Future Foundation, a domestic violence agency within Eagle County, CO. She graduated with her Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology from William James College, in Newton, MA. During her training, Nina was fortunate to treat a variety of populations with various presentations, including individual, family, and couples therapy, refugees and immigrants, crisis assessment and stabilization, substance abuse, complex trauma, mood disorders, personality disorders, and psychotic disorders. Nina’s mission is to provide trauma-informed care while utilizing a culturally responsive approach. She also has a passion for working within rural communities and increasing access to care via collaboration with community partners. Nina received her BA/S from the University of Colorado at Boulder and is thrilled to be back in the Colorado community.

RxP Representative - (2 candidates)

You will vote for ONE candidate

Alyssa Cunningham, PsyD, MSCP, HSPP

*Why are you interested in being a CPA board member?
I am interested in furthering the development of RxP in the state of Colorado and assisting other psychologists in their pursuit of RxP. I am interested in assisting with additional directives within CPA to further advance and support the field of psychology within Colorado.