WESTCHESTER PSYCHOTHERAPISTS FOR SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
Westchester Psychotherapists for Social Responsibility (WPSR), which formed in June of 2004, is a local group of psychotherapy activists and lay people with a mission of using psychological skills and knowledge to build a culture of peace with justice. The group works closely with the national organization: Psychologists for Social Responsibility (www.psysr.org). WPSR also focuses on how psychotherapists can employ their expertise in the service of the community.
Psychotherapists from all disciplines and all lay people interested in our mission are encouraged to join.
Representing WPSR, Ray Lightstone, Psy.D. presented: The Psychology of the Holocaust and the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict at a WESPAC Foundation event in New Rochelle. Dr. Lightstone also participated in the News 12 Town Hall Debate on the presidential campaign issues, at Purchase Elementary School. Dr. Arlin Roy and Dr. Lightstone presented Managing Fear in a World With “Terror” on the Progressive News Network, a cable access television station airing independent news throughout Westchester County. (www.progressivenewsnetwork.com).
WPSR held an event called "Our Culture of Fear," at WESPAC. (www.wespac.org). Approximately thirty people attended an evening gathering to discuss the topic of fear, its role in our personal lives, and its role in American culture and politics.
COPING SKILLS TRAINING IN THE SCHOOLS
WPSR is volunteering its services in the Westchester School System, teaching psychological coping skills in the classroom to students, teachers and other school faculty. This project was agreed upon at WPSR’s first meeting. WPSR members spoke of hearing frequent and increasing complaints from parents, teachers and school officials about a rising stress problem faced by students and teachers in Westchester. Since that meeting, we have learned from numerous school officials and health professionals of an almost invisible public health crisis producing “an epidemic of serious emotional problems for Westchester’s children,” according to one school psychologist’s report.
A Westchester high school agreed to pioneer a program in which training in coping skills, including stress management, anger management, crisis problem solving, assertiveness and other skills needed to cope emotionally with life’s stressors could be incorporated into their high school curriculum. Two classes were chosen for a pilot program. “Beating the Blues” and “Don’t Worry” were two modules presented by WPSR as demonstrations to the classes and a health teacher from the school was offered one-on-one training in the coping skills model. The plan called for students, school faculty and parents to be educated about the current public health crisis and to play an active role in shaping the skills training program. There was also a plan to alert the Media at an appropriate point so the public at large could learn about the health crisis and the program this school is pioneering.
Unfortunately, the pilot program was aborted because the time pressures faced by school faculty did not allow the program to continue.
If you are interested in joining our group or in learning more about WPSR, please visit our web site at:
http://www.psysr.org/westchester.htm
Ray Lightstone, Psy.D.
Westchester Psychotherapists for Social Responsibility