FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 13, 2007 Contact: Andrew Boucher
Phone: 202-783-7663
Email: andrew@nationalregister.org

TEXAS STATE-LICENSED PSYCHOLOGIST RECEIVES NATIONAL AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE

June 13, 2007, Washington, D.C. - The National Register of Health Service Providers in Psychology (National Register) Board of Directors today announced the presentation of the Alfred M. Wellner Senior Career Psychologist Award to Melba J.T. Vasquez, Ph.D. of Austin, Texas. The National Register Board of Directors will present this prestigious award to Dr. Vasquez at its bi-annual meeting in Austin on November 17, 2007. The award is named for the National Register's first executive officer and recognizes excellence in a National Register credentialed psychologist with more than ten years of postdoctoral experience.

In his nomination letter, National Register Board member, John Norcross, Ph.D. said that "Dr. Vasquez has made a number of exceptional contributions to the advancement of health service psychology in both ethics and multicultural practice.

She is a leader in psychological and treatment ethics. Her best-selling ethics text, written with Dr. Ken Pope and now in its third edition, is a leading source of guidance and inspiration on all matters ethical. Her forthcoming coauthored commentary will further advance our understanding of the most recent American Psychological Association (APA) ethics code.”

Dr. Norcross continued: “Beyond these contributions, Dr. Vasquez has been a national leader in multicultural psychotherapy. Her numerous articles, professional positions on the state and national level, and her multiple presentations/workshops have led organized psychology into a more inclusive, culturally responsive practice.”

Dr. Vasquez received her Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from the University of Texas (Austin). She is currently Executive Director of Vasquez & Associates Mental Health Services in Austin, TX.  Some of her recent accolades include: APA Distinguished Professional Contributions to Independent or Institutional Practice in the Private Sector, August, 2007; APA Woman of the Year, Division 17, Society of Counseling Psychology Section for the Advancement of Women, August, 2006; APA James M. Jones Lifetime Achievement Award, 2004; and Psychologist of the Year, Texas Psychological Association, November, 2003. Dr. Vasquez has been credentialed by the National Register since 1991.

About The National Register

The National Register is the largest credentialing organization for psychologists. The independent, non-profit organization was created in 1974 with the help of the American Psychological Association and the American Board of Professional Psychology. Today, the National Register is the leading source of information on nationally credentialed psychologists in health care. Psychologists who are awarded national registrant status have achieved the highest educational and professional standards in health care. Early career psychologists can accumulate the necessary credentials during their training so that when they apply for a license to practice, they also are ready to become registrants of the National Register. It is the only independent, credentialing body with a national level standard for verifying education and training qualifications, licensing, and ethical standards with more than 12,000 doctoral level psychologists in its database. The National Register is relied upon by the health care industry, state and provincial licensing boards, and consumers. National Register also provides this valuable information to consumers as a free referral service to top quality psychologists at www.findapsychologist.org.

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