Anne C. Dobmeyer, PhD, ABPP
Q. What is your practice like?
A. I am an active-duty psychologist in the United States Public Health Service (USPHS). My current position is Director of the Clinical Health Psychology (CHP) Service at a large military medical center. My time is primarily devoted to training and supervising predoctoral psychology interns in clinical health psychology and providing direct clinical and consultative services to patients with medical and/or psychological concerns in an internal medicine clinic.
Q. What motivated you to seek board certification in clinical health psychology?
A. I am an active-duty psychologist in the United States Public Health Service (USPHS). My current position is Director of the Clinical Health Psychology (CHP) Service at a large military medical center. My time is primarily devoted to training and supervising predoctoral psychology interns in clinical health psychology and providing direct clinical and consultative services to patients with medical and/or psychological concerns in an internal medicine clinic.
Q: What was the most challenging aspect of the board certification process?
A. My own expectations for the written work samples were one of the greatest challenges in completing the board certification process. I had difficulty selecting two cases because I wanted to present the “perfect” work sample. Eventually, I accepted that no work is without flaws and trusted that the evaluating board would understand this as well. Reflecting on my work in the written samples—including what I might do differently and why—proved far more important than presenting an impossibly flawless assessment or intervention example.
Q. What advice would you give to a candidate for board certification in clinical health psychology?
A. Do not let anxiety prevent you from pursuing board certification. Seek guidance and feedback from clinical health psychologists who have already completed the board certification process. Remember that the process is designed to help you demonstrate your expertise in clinical health psychology.
Q. What have you found most valuable about board certification?
A. Board certification streamlined the process of obtaining licensure in a new state when I changed positions. It has enhanced my credibility with medical colleagues and made it easier to gain approval for health insurance networks. Being board certified has also led to pay increases in both a prior academic position and my current role in the USPHS.