Monthly Newsletter - Mar 2026 |
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Promoting Psychology. Supporting Psychologists. |
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| Greetings IPA colleagues,
As we begin the new year, I want to take a moment to highlight some of the important work taking place across IPA. Over the past several months, I’ve had the opportunity to meet with each of our committees and connect with many of the members who volunteer their time to support the mission of IPA. I’m continually impressed by the dedication and thoughtful effort our committees bring to their work.
Our Continuing Education (CE) Committee had a productive year, offering high-quality learning opportunities for members. Looking ahead, the association is implementing a structural change that will combine the CE and Fall Conference planning processes. This change is intended to streamline planning efforts and improve coordination of our educational opportunities. Please don’t forget our Spring Ethics Conference is next Friday, March 27th and you can still sign up here.
The Diversity Committee continues to explore ways to promote inclusion and collaboration throughout the association. A key focus moving forward will be identifying opportunities to partner more closely with other IPA committees so that diversity and inclusion efforts are integrated across the organization.
The Ethics Committee remains an important resource for psychologists across the state. In 2025, the committee provided 12 ethical consultations. For 2026, we are receiving monthly requests, highlighting the ongoing need for ethical guidance in clinical and professional practice. The committee is also planning to work through an ethics-focused book together, which will support discussion and serve as the basis for improving their already stellar service.
The Finance Committee led IPA to have a strong financial year. Strategic changes in financial planning have helped create a financial buffer for the organization, strengthening our stability and allowing us to continue supporting programs, advocacy, and member services moving forward.
The Government Advocacy Committee continues to stay actively engaged during a busy legislative session. Several bills were under consideration that could impact mental health care and the practice of psychology. One bill that was passed, which we will continue to monitor, included a study to review the possibility of a one-year master’s program related to mental health training. The committee continues to work closely with our lobbyist partners to monitor these developments and advocate for policies that support strong training standards and access to quality mental health care.
Finally, the Student Committee is exploring ways to strengthen connections among psychology trainees across Indiana. One idea under consideration is establishing a student “ambassador” at each training program across the state to help improve communication and engagement between students and IPA. The committee is also looking for ways to increase collaboration among training program directors.
Across all these committees, what I see is an organization that is thoughtful, engaged, and forward-looking. As we move forward this year, I believe one of our greatest strengths will continue to be collaboration (across committees, across training programs, and across professional roles). When we share ideas, support one another, and work together toward common goals, we strengthen not only IPA but also the broader mental health community in Indiana.
I want to extend my sincere gratitude to all of the committee chairs, members, board members, and volunteers who dedicate their time and expertise to this work. Your efforts make a tangible difference for psychologists, for trainees, and most importantly, for the individuals and communities we serve. Thank you again for the opportunity to serve in this role, and I look forward to the continued work ahead!
Emily Roth, PsyD, HSPP - 2026 IPA President
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IPA Government Affairs Committee |
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The Government Affairs Committee consists of ten IPA members who volunteer their time to monitor and review the legislative activities in Indiana. Each year when the Legislature meets to discuss and create new legislation, this committee reviews all the proposed legislation. They then identify those bills which may have an impact on the practice of psychology. Then, in cooperation with our Lobbying firm, that list of bills is then monitored and acted upon as needed.
This year the Legislature completed its work on February 27. During the session, our committee monitored nearly 50 proposed legislative actions that could have had an impact on our profession. Fortunately, very few of those bills became law.
Some of the legislation that was passed and may impact Psychology are:
IGA l House Bill 1271 - Payment of health claims • Insurers are limited for downcoding.
• Cannot retroactively reduce CPT rates
• Must give at least 60-day notice for rate reductions
• For downcoded claims, insurers must provide reasoning and clinical criteria
• Recoupment cannot occur beyond 180 days post payment
IGA | House Bill 1266 - Department of education and education matters
• Conduct a study to determine feasibility of one-year master’s degree program in mental/behavioral health
This monitoring by our Government Affairs Committee is a valuable activity for IPA to pursue. IPA is the only organized resource to consistently review and respond to legislative actions that impact the practice of psychology in Indiana. We appreciate the commitment and the knowledge our volunteers provide for our profession.
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Ethical Questions and Dilemmas |
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The IPA Ethics Consultation service is exclusive for IPA members. This private and confidential resource for members can help analyze and resolve professional dilemmas.
For over five years IPA has been providing this service for members. During that time nearly 60 IPA members have submitted requests. Each month, one IPA member benefits from this professional peer service.
The volunteer members who provide confidential support for these inquiries are knowledgeable in ethical principles and continue to educate themselves on ethical practices.
Further details for this valuable IPA member resource are available at:
Ethics Consultation Service - ECS - Indiana Psychological Association
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New Members (February 16 - March 15, 2026) We welcome our new members and appreciate having them join us. - Ilana Plotkin, Doctoral Student, Ball State University
- Casey Combs, Student, IU Indianapolis
- Chryssa Athans, PsyD, HSPP, Westville
- Emily Boswell, PhD, HSPP, West Lafayette
- Natalie Dattilo-Ryan, PhD, HSPP, Carmel
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Howard Wooden, PhD, HSPP, Terre Haute
- Stephanie Rose, PhD, HSPP, Fishers
- Alyssa Kregloh, PsyD, HSPP, Lebanon
- Brianna Borri, PsyD, HSPP, IU Charis Center, Indianapolis
- Michael Maguire, PhD, HSPP, Ascension Public Safety, Indianapolis
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Update Your IPA Member Profile It is good to regularly update your IPA member profile. Your member profile is used by: -
The public to “Find a Psychologist”
- Professionals for referrals
- Your peers for networking
- IPA for correspondence
To maintain your profile updates: -
Go to the IPA website Members Only page and login.
- In the Member Dashboard, you'll see the Member Information tab.
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Choose the Change Contact/Profile Info button, then update as needed.
- Remember to click the Submit button at the very bottom when complete.
If you have any questions, issues, or need your password reset, please contact Connie at admin@indianapsychology.org.
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| Member Spotlight - Dr. Lauren Cunningham In this section of our NEWSletter we will highlight some of our IPA leadership as well as provide updates on our IPA committee activities throughout the year. Today we feature Lauren M. Cunningham, PhD, HSPP. Dr. Cunningham is an active member of IPA and IPA leadership. We are fortunate to spotlight her this month and appreciate all she does for the profession and IPA!
Tell us about your role within IPA.
I serve as the co-chair of the Diversity Committee with Dr. Danielle Henderson.
Tell us about your professional practice.
Professionally I have a few different roles - my full-time position is with Lyra Health as the Sr. Clinical Manager over their Mental Health Evaluations team where I clinically and operationally manage employer-mandated referrals as well as disability, FMLA, and medical accommodation evaluations. I also co-own a private practice where I perform Fitness for Duty and security clearance evaluations for the Department of Defense.
What motivated you to join the IPA?
At first, admittedly, I was reticent to join IPA! It wasn't until I attended the Fall Conference during COVID that I recognized the profound impact IPA has on Indiana's psychological community. Witnessing the intentionality and dedication to solutions everyone in IPA made to ensuring students, presenters, and attendees could connect and engage meaningfully highlighted the amazing work this organization is doing, and I knew then I wanted to be part of that. How do you see psychology impacting communities across our state?
A significant impact I see in Indiana is the role of graduate education. We have so many graduate programs taking on the responsibility of training our future colleagues, and I know many academicians who do not take that responsibility lightly. Students have a profound impact on the field of psychology, including the ways this field evolves, and I have personally been impressed by the students I've worked with in IPA. As our culture continues to change, and the landscape of academia along with it, I'm interested to see how IPA can support students, academia, and our communities through these changes.
What’s a fun fact your colleagues may not know about you?
I'm learning how to play the drums
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Job Postings (February 15 - March 15, 2026)
The IPA Message Board frequently sees posts seeking referrals, sharing job opportunities, requesting feedback on trending topics, educational opportunities, and more. Many consider the IPA Message Board a valuable component of membership. If you have not opted into the Message Board and would like to, please contact Connie Vore at admin@indianapsychology.org.
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The Trust Professional Liability Insurance |
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