Co-occurring disorders
Natalie Feinblatt, Psy.D.
LACPA Local Advocacy Network (LAN) Chair & Board Member

Co-occurring disorders, also known as dual diagnosis, refers to the presence of two or more disorders or conditions in an individual simultaneously. These disorders can be mental health disorders such as depression, anxiety, or Bipolar Disorder, or they can be substance use disorders such as alcoholism or drug addiction.

Co-occurring disorders can be challenging to diagnose and treat, as symptoms from one disorder can often mask or worsen the symptoms of another disorder. However, it is essential to identify and address co-occurring disorders to provide individuals with the best possible treatment and outcomes.

In the United States an estimated 8.4 million adults experience both a mental health disorder and a substance abuse disorder in a given year. Among individuals with a substance abuse disorder, 43% also have a mental health disorder, and among individuals with a mental health disorder, 20% also have a substance abuse disorder.

The causes of co-occurring disorders are complex and can vary. However, several risk factors can increase the likelihood of developing both a mental health disorder and a substance abuse disorder simultaneously, including:

Alcohol abuse: links to common diseases
By Miriam Hamideh, Ph.D., LACPA 2023 President

Excessive drinking can have a variety of negative effects on the body. In fact, alcohol abuse is one of the leading causes of preventable deaths worldwide. In this blog, we will explore the link between alcohol abuse and common diseases. We will also provide you with some important facts that you should know about the dangers of excessive drinking.

Liver Diseases: The liver is a vital organ that plays an important role in breaking down and filtering out toxins from the body. Excessive alcohol consumption can lead to a variety of liver diseases, including:

Supporting Parents of Children with Language-Based Learning Disabilities
Daniel Franklin, Ph.D. LACPA Continuing Education Chair & Board Member

Language-based learning disabilities (LBLDs) such as dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia, and ADHD impact over 2.4 million students in the United States and represent over 45 percent of all students receiving special education. When children, teens, and young adults have LBLDs, families often face an array of challenges at school and at home. Parents and clinicians frequently ask me for strategies they can use to make schoolwork go more smoothly for these children. The strategies I recommend address many of the challenges students with LBLDs and their parents contend with day-to-day, but they are not a set of “quick fixes.” My approach is a collaborative method that encourages parents to commit their time, energy, and kindness to improve their child’s learning experience. 

Welcome to the Los Angeles County Psychological Association!
By Daniel Franklin, Ph.D.
LACPA Membership Committee Chair & Board Member

I joined the Los Angeles County Psychological Association (LACPA) over six years ago. I am a board-certified educational therapist, and I was seeking a strong, clinical organization to be a member of that would represent my interest in the areas of psychology, education, and mental health. I was especially drawn to LACPA because of the many opportunities to connect with psychologists and affiliated clinicians and practitioners.

Upon joining, I quickly took advantage of the opportunity to submit an article to the Los Angeles Psychologist, the LACPA award-winning quarterly magazine. It was gratifying to have my article published in the following issue. I am now one of the co-editors of Los Angeles Psychologist. I also joined the LACPA Child and Adolescent Special Interest Group, which I am now the co-facilitator of.

Creative Resilience: Harnessing Uncertainty to Achieve Balance
Miriam Hamideh, Ph.D. 

It is an honor to once again be a part of LACPA leadership, now joining you as President for the 2023 term. To better demonstrate my commitment to LACPA and to our profession, I would like to share a little about my personal, educational, and professional journey.

I have been working as a psychologist since 1990. My journey began at the Catholic University of Pelotas (UCPEL) in Brazil, where I found my passion for psychology. I then moved to Buenos Aires, where I worked at a private psychiatric clinic and wrote my doctoral thesis at Belgrano University.

Lauren Muhlheim, Psy.D. 

It is an honor to join you as LACPA’s 2022 president. To share a little about me, I have been a practicing psychologist for the past 25 years, most of it in Los Angeles. The first 10 years, I worked as a staff psychologist at the Los Angeles County Jail. After a brief side trip to Shanghai with my family from 2008 - 2010, where I worked as a psychologist serving the expatriate community, I started my private practice, which has since expanded to a group practice specializing in eating disorders.

Remembering Our Shared Humanity
Kenneth Skale, Psy.D.

Four years and seven months ago (or thereabouts) I began my journey in LACPA leadership as a student representative, and somehow I find myself here today as LACPA’s incoming president for 2020. For those familiar with the responsibility this entails, you would be forgiven for asking why someone would want to do this! Stepping into this role comes with a host of meetings, events, speeches, and a truly untoward amount of emails on top of everyday practice and home life. Nietzsche is quoted as saying, “He who has a why to live can bear almost any how.” The duties of LACPA’s presidency are enjoyable and rewarding, save the emails, but as I have watched our past-presidents shoulder this responsibility, I realized I would need a compelling why of my own to make it through.

Connect. Collaborate. Get Inspired!
Leticia C. Amick, Ph.D.

My name is Leticia C. Amick and my journey in LACPA leadership began as a committee member - the Networking committee to be specific - and later on as Secretary and President-Elect on the Board. In January I’ll begin my term as President with – I must admit – a little trepidation but also with a sense of gratitude to be so intimately involved with LACPA. I face this opportunity knowing how important this organization is to me and hopefully to all of you too.

Self-Care and Balance
Lynne A. Steinman, Ph.D.

Here I am writing my first President’s Column (actually, I’m still President-Elect for a few more days) for the LA Psychologist and introducing my theme for 2018 – Self-Care and Balance. When I first thought about writing these columns, I considered researching the topic and reading a bunch of scholarly articles. Then I reconsidered and decided that I’d be practicing much better self-care by reading a sci-fi novel in my backyard!

Professional Advocacy: Do a Lot by Doing a Little More.
Lisa Osborn, Psy.D.

Once again, it is time for the annual issue of The Los Angeles Psychologist devoted to professional advocacy. We are now in our fifth year, which I find very hard to believe. Where has the time gone? Again, I would like to offer my expression of gratitude to the Editorial Board and LACPA Board of Directors for their commitment to the vital importance of professional advocacy to our profession and providing a forum in which to continue to educate and inspire our membership.