Awards

Read a recent article about Volunteers In Psychotherapy in The National Psychologist by clicking this link: www.nationalpsychologist.com/articles/art_v17n1_2.htm Thanks to everyone who volunteered to help Volunteers in Psychotherapy this holiday season: Many people joined us at Borders Books for a couple of hours on either Thurs., Dec. 20 [Simsbury store] or Sat., Dec. 22 [Farmington]. During these events we wrapped presents for customers [who then learned about VIP's charitable service, while often donating a few dollars to VIP]. Many of our board members volunteered to do this; and they explained VIP to customers... but we certainly benefited from the extra people who helped us to wrap presents. Thanks to all who participated! Read a recent article about Volunteers in Psychotherapy in The New England Psychologist by clicking this link: www.masspsy.com/leading/0702_ne_volunteers.html Please consider making a charitable, tax-deductible contribution to VIP. At this time of tight funding for charities, VIP appreciates all private donations and foundation grants which allow us to continue to do this important work, helping people and families in the community. We provide all administrative work for free (without salaries) in order to provide VIP's service to the community; just as we donate office space and local phone to minimize overhead expenses. Your gift directly contributes to psychotherapy provided to people in the community. Thanks for considering making a tax-deductible donation to VIP [IRS Tax Exempt # 06-1532207]. Hear an online radio interview about VIP: webcast at www.WWUH.org; the show is called "Mind Matters."] Thanks for coming to the free presentation about VIP that was given as part of "National Cover the Uninsured Week." The event was sponsored by Trinity's Department of Psychology and their student Psychology Club on April 24, 2007. Thanks to the more than 100 people who attended! VIP hosted award-winning author Robert Whitaker on April 11, 2006 for a free presentation at Trinity College, titled "Forgotten Lessons of Psychiatric History and Science: The Healing Power of People" This event was co-sponsored by Trinity College's Psychology Department. Whitaker is the author of Mad in America: Bad Science, Bad Medicine and the Enduring Mistreatment of the Mentally Ill. He had previously worked as director of publications at Harvard Medical School. VIP's program was described in a presentation to the 1000 physicians, psychologists and other psychotherapists attending the American Institute of Medical Education [AIMED] "Creativity and Madness" conference in Santa Fe in early August, 2005. An additional workshop encouraged participants to set up organizations similar to VIP. [The 2003 award of the AIMED was given in recognition of the work of VIP. (VIP was selected from among 600 candidates nationwide.)] Learn more about the American Institute of Medical Education and their conferences by clicking this link: www.aimed.com VIP hosted psychiatrist Daniel B. Fisher, M.D., Ph.D. on April 6, 2005 for a free evening presentation at the University of Hartford, titled "How Human Connections Nourish Recovery from 'Mental Illness.'" This event was co-sponsored by the Graduate Institute of Professional Psychology, Psychology Department and Psi Chi. Dr. Fisher founded the National Empowerment Center, and has been a member of the White House's New Freedom Commission on Mental Health. VIP has been designated as a "PsychJourney Hero." Read about this "Laurel Award" at: www.psychjourney.com/lauralawards.htm The Connecticut Psychological Association gave the Award for Distinguished Psychological Contribution in the Public Interest to Volunteers in Psychotherapy. We are honored by this recognition. In 2005, The Connecticut Psychological Association Educational Foundation provided VIP with a grant, underwriting our work. Again, we are honored by this professional recognition and support. In June, 2004 RadioShack Corporation awarded VIP a Neighborhood Answers Grant, given to local programs which help to make children safe. Only two Connecticut nonprofits received the award, which grants $500 toward VIP's community work. 131 such grants were made nationwide. VIP has received a fifth charitable grant (in the last 6 years) from the Ensworth Charitable Foundation, Bank of America, Trustee. Similarly, the J. Walton Bissell Foundation awarded a fifth charitable grant to VIP in 2005. VIP has received a fourth charitable grant from the George and Grace Long Foundation, Bank of America, Trustee. VIP also received third or second charitable grants from numerous previous supporters of our work: the Universalist Church of West Hartford; the Cottonwood Foundation; the Daphne Seybolt Culpeper Memorial Foundation; the Joseph Stackpole Charitable Trust, Bank of America, Trustee; Wild Oats Market; the Timothy Mark Capers Foundation; and The Carse Robinson et al Foundation, Bank of America, Trustee. All grants underwrite VIP's provision of psychotherapy in the community. The Aetna Foundation also has funded VIP for the first time, as has the Newington Kiwanis Club, the Andrews Company Limited Partnership, the Ahearn Family Foundation, the McPhee Foundation and the Sumner Gerard Foundation. VIP has been awarded a grant for an unprecedented seventh consecutive year from the Ziv Tzedakah Fund, an international charity [www.ziv.org]. We are extremely grateful for their ongoing support of our work. The Greater Hartford Jaycees Foundation awarded VIP a grant in 2003. The Jaycees Foundation derives its funding from administration of the Greater Hartford Open golf tournament. VIP previously won a Healthy People 2010 Micro-Grant through the Yale-Griffin Prevention Research Center. The grant was supported by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion.

Events

Thanks to eveyone who heard a presentation about VIP through the University of Connecticut's Adult Learning Program on Tuesday, April 17, 2007: Preserving Private Psychotherapy in the Age of Pills and Managed Care Dr. Shulman provided an inside view of the nature of psychotherapy and how it works, the challenges psychotherapists confront in the current health care climate, and the ways that Volunteers in Psychotherapy has met these challenges over the 7 years of its nonprofit existence in greater Hartford. Close to a thousand physicians and psychotherapists learned about VIP at the Santa Fe, NM conference of the American Institute of Medical Education, August, 2005. More information appears above, at the top of this column. Thanks for your support!... For our April 6, 2005 presentation at the University of Hartford by psychiatrist Daniel B. Fisher [details at top of column!] The New York Times published a feature article on VIP on September 22, 2002. (See the left side of this page under "VIP News & Essays"). Psychology Today featured VIP in an article in its Dec. '01 issue. The article was excerpted in The Hartford Courant's Northeast Magazine on Sunday, January 6. In May 2003, VIP was one of three agencies participating in a teleworkshop sponsored by Volunteers in Healthcare, entitled "Mental Health for the Uninsured." Learn more about Volunteers in Healthcare at: www.volunteersinhealthcare.org VIP was featured on National Public Radio's "Marketplace" program in April, 2001 and was described in the Family Therapy Networker in January, 2001. Arrange for your community or educational group to hear a free public presentation about Volunteers in Psychotherapy. Recently we gave free guest lectures in classes at Wesleyan, Yale and Trinity. For more information, call Dr. Shulman at 233-5115. This Summer and Fall Dr. Shulman will be giving talks through the Lifelearn Adult Education programs of West Hartford. There is a small fee for these talks, and registration is through the town's adult and continuing education offices (523-3535).

Richard Shulman, Ph.D.,
Licensed Psychologist, Director
Volunteers In Psychotherapy, Inc.

7 South Main Street
West Hartford, CT 06107
(860) 233-5115