June 2026

Coping with Uncertainty…

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Ethics and Behavior

Like most professions, psychology has a code of ethics that guides practitioners’ behavior. Early in graduate school, students learn what’s appropriate and what isn’t. Supervision is guided by ethical principles, and by the time a student graduates from a professional school in psychology, he or she is well-versed in ethics. The guidelines for psychologists mainly center on maintaining clear boundaries with clients.

Professionals can’t date patients, accept financial tips from patients, accept large gifts, go into business with a client, or take advantage of their patients in any way. Psychologists must practice within their area of expertise. Such ethical dictates are easy to understand and make sense.

One would expect our government leaders to provide leadership guided by ethical principles. Like mental health professionals, they should respect boundaries. It seems simple. Is it? The FBI has always operated independently of the White House, as has the Department of Justice. Kennedy wanted to get rid of J. Edgar Hoover, the head of the FBI, but he didn’t because he respected the departments’ sovereignty. President Trump has weaponized departments like the D.O.J. and the F.B.I. to strike his enemies, such as James Comey. Boundaries have been rendered irrelevant.

The current president is accepting gifts from foreign governments. He received a plane from one government. What price will he pay? The president is actively trading on the stock market and making huge profits. Isn’t this a conflict of interest, since, by the nature of his office, he has insider information?

The Administration is full of people practicing outside their areas of competence. What qualifications do Robert Kennedy or Kav Patel have for their jobs? The head of the disappearing Department of Education ran a wrestling league, and the list goes on. Would you want a dermatologist performing heart surgery or a realtor installing a water heater?

Jared Kushner, the president’s son-in-law and a chief negotiator in the Middle East, has financial interests there and is raising funds for his business. At the same time, he’s negotiating a peace settlement with Iran. This would seem to be a basic conflict of interest and an ethical breach.

The above are just a few examples of ethical violations in the highest offices in our country. How is it that the President of the United States has repeatedly received a free pass, while a 22-year-old psychology student is reprimanded for the slightest deviation from their profession’s code of ethics? How is this possible?

Italy

Italy, a place where the cliffs
Fall into the sea and
The sun glistens off the water,
Where the aroma of warm Bread
drifts along the
The meandering streets of Revello, and
the cobblestone ways of Tuscan villages.

Yes, it is a magical place,
a place to wander,
a place to love,
a place to feel life’s music,
and bask in a symphony of color and taste.

From the mountains of Cortina d’Ampezzo
To the coral seas of the Bay of Napoli
From the Isle of Capri
To the Grand Canal of Venezia,
From the rolling fields of the Piemonte
To the undulations of the Cinque Terre
The rhythm of Italy reverberates
Creating ease and joy
Passion and pride.

Kissed by the sun,
Embraced by the sea,
Soothed by the music of the land,
And blessed by
The magic it creates,
Italy lives on.

Senior Sketch: Bert Edelstein

Psychologist Bert Edelstein, in his day, took a different path after graduating from CSPP-SD in the 80s than many of his peers. Having worked in industry before graduate school, Bert was clear about his desire to work with companies as an organizational psychologist. Over the years, he consulted with numerous companies on numerous projects. His interpersonal skills and knowledge of his field created demand for his services.

Beyond psychology, Bert and a colleague helped bring to light the remarkable contributions of the Ghost Soldiers, a clandestine group of troops who, during World War II, made an impact by deceiving the enemy. Bert’s father was a member of this elite unit, and Bert helped secure the Medal of Honor for these men who had never been recognized.

An excellent golfer, Bert enjoys travel, art, and fine cuisine with his wife, psychologist Karen Helrich. The parents of two adult children, the Edelsteins, reside in North County. They have been involved with numerous nonprofit organizations over the years, donating their time and effort.

Neurofeedback Therapy in Older Adults

As the U.S. population ages rapidly, expected to reach 83.7 million citizens over the age of 65 by 2050 (U.S. Census Bureau, 2014), some older individuals demonstrate a need for mental health intervention. Among a large, representative sample of older adults, 11.4% met criteria for a past-year anxiety disorder, 6.8% for a mood disorder, 3.8% for a substance use disorder, and 14.5% for at least one personality disorder (Reynolds et al., 2015). Polypharmacy (multiple medications) impacts up to 87% of older adults, and it can result in health and mental health complications (Nicholson et al., 2024). Non-pharmacological interventions can help individuals maintain healthy aging.

Neurofeedback therapy (NFB) is a form of electroencephalogram (EEG) biofeedback used to train participants’ brain waves through a process of operant conditioning (Hammond, 2007). Neurofeedback provides an alternative for patients seeking treatment without the use of medication, though the research findings regarding NFB for an aging population are equivocal. NFB interventions typically take the EEG data from the patient and provide audio or visual feedback, reinforcing the desired brain waves, theoretically training the brain to remain in these targeted states (Marzbani et al., 2016). Participants are aware of the desired brain state, with electrodes placed on different areas of the head to target specific symptoms. Treatment typically involves 2-40 sessions, though some studies included up to 100 sessions, and it is difficult to pinpoint a consistent dose of the traditional neurofeedback protocol (Marzbani et al., 2016). Cramer (2024) estimates that a typical neurofeedback session costs $100-200.

Members On The Move

Senior Members of SDPA. What are they doing?

Bob Burgess and Timmie Pollack recently returned from a Viking cruise on the Danube. Vic Frazao is working part-time and hopes to attend APA in D.C. and visit his daughter, Krissy, a national correspondent for the Sinclair Broadcasting Group. Denny Lougeay and her husband, Denis, continue to travel the world, having recently returned from India. When not abroad, they ride the back roads of the United States in their RV. Vicki DiCicco is recovering from April surgery for a torn meniscus. She is back to her usual routine of walking several miles a day and is looking forward to the upcoming ski season in Snowmass, Colorado. Clark Clipson continues to write music as he develops his new career. Mary Sheets continues in her role as a member of the Board of Psychology. She hosted a meeting of SDPA Past Presidents at her home in May.

Knives

Utility Knife vs. Box Cutter

What’s the difference? If you are like many these days, you have packages delivered directly to your home or place of residence. However, rigid plastics, heavy delivery tape, thick cardboard, and clamshell packaging can make opening these packages challenging.

Recently, I had a package delivered that was encased in thick cardboard. I had no clue how to open it. I tried using the sharp edge of a pair of scissors, but with no luck. Next, I used my stainless-steel kitchen utility knife, again without success. So I went to my local Ace Hardware store, where they recommended a carpenter’s utility knife with a retractable blade. That one allowed me to open my package. In discussing the above situation with a friend, I learned that he had a similar challenge, which he resolved with a box cutter he ordered from Home Depot.

Legacies: Kenneth L. Greene

Former SDPA member Ken Greene passed away on May 24^th, 2005, while visiting his 93-year-old mother in Peoria, Illinois, the town where Ken was raised. He was in private practice for more than thirty years and started the La Jolla Clinic in 1970.

I first met Ken when we worked together on a project at Scripps Hospital. I found him to be a competent, warm man who was generous with his time, ideas, and self. Ken was fun and intelligent. He quickly provided some needed direction and leadership for our group. During our time together, I learned that Ken’s daughter had recently died in an auto accident, and we were all so touched by Ken’s courage and compassion during a terrible tragedy. He exemplified what a person should be.

Ken was a scholar, an outstanding sailor, and a ham radio expert. After retiring, Ken volunteered at the American Indian Health Center. A quote from the Union Tribune by Dr. Drew Ruocco states, “He was loved and admired by the staff and deeply touched the lives of his Indian clients.” In deep appreciation for his work, the Indian Center awarded him the Order of the Eagles.

On the distant horizon, a lone sailboat moved swiftly before the wind. As the sun began to set, the boat gained speed and moved gracefully, silhouetted against the darkening sky. Sail on, Ken Greene, and let the ocean breezes carry you to places of adventure, peace, and quiet. Thank you for your contribution.

Creativity in Retirement: Jim Bazzetta

Jim Bazzetta is a geriatric clinical psychologist practicing in San Diego. He is semi-retired. Jim’s passions include photography and tennis. Born in the U.S., Jim was raised in Italy and Puerto Rico where his father’s career took the family. He speaks Spanish fluently. He particularly loves travel to Mexico to visit extended family and to collect Mexican pottery. Recently, Jim spent two weeks in Ecuador visiting a tennis buddy who maintains a home there.

Lucrezia La Jolla

Young people might say, “It’s the bomb.” Translated into seniors’ lexicon, the place was cool.

What am I talking about? Lucrezia La Jolla is an Italian restaurant on the ground floor of the University Town Shopping Center. It’s accessible via La Jolla Village Drive and offers valet parking, though the valet parking fee is excessive. It’s $20 to park your car.

We went to the restaurant on a recent Saturday night, and the place was hopping. High schoolers were heading to proms, and tourists and locals mingled, talking loudly and sharing a fun-loving vibe. We had a wonderful waitress from Poland who had been in the country for 14 years. She was young, ambitious, and highly relatable.

We initially started out at a booth in the back room, but it was too noisy to hear. After all, we’re the hearing-aid crowd, and we need a little bit of quiet. Our waitress, Alexandra, moved us to the patio, which was quieter. I enjoyed my martini, and our meals were excellent. My wife and I split a Caesar salad and a pasta vongole. Both dishes were terrific, as was the homemade gelato dessert. I had a glass of Sauvignon Blanc to go with my pasta.

Though the place is a little frenetic, the food was delicious, and the staff was very friendly. I would definitely go back, though not on a Saturday night. The prices were reasonable given that we split the dishes, and the restaurant is easy to reach. The valet fee is overpriced, but you can park in the main areas at UTC and walk down to Lucrezia.