Dr. Mary McLaughlin

Dr. Mary McLaughlin Mary McLaughlin, PhD is the President of Emotional Education Services, LLC. She is a rehabilitation psychologist by training who specializes in the prevention of psychiatric disabilities and in the promotion of mental health. She serves as an advocate in the areas of mental health promotion, disabilities, addictions, veterans issues, human rights and homelessness and as a consultant in lawsuits involving malpractice and discrimination towards individuals with disabilities.

Posts by Dr. Mary McLaughlin

Letter to the Orange County District Attorney Regarding the Arrest of the Suspected Homeless Serial Killer

Posted Jan 25, 2012 | Comments Off

Editor’s note: The following is a letter that Dr. Mary McLaughlin sent to Orange County, California District Attorney Tony Rackauckas regarding the recent arrest of Marine Corps Veteran Itzcoatl Ocampo, who is suspected in the murders of four homeless men.

District Attorney Rackauckas:

I am a rehabilitation psychologist. My areas of specialty are psychiatric disabilities and brain injuries. I interned on the Psychology Service at the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Syracuse, New York and I work with chronically homeless people.

Holiday Wishes of a Homeless Advocate

Posted Dec 23, 2011 | Comments Off

Yesterday I visited an office where there was a small, dusty, artificial holiday tree on display in the waiting room that looked to be long past its prime.

It got me thinking: I’m really tired of dark red and dark green holiday decorations. I want a bright, fresh, clean look this year.

I bought a big, live, flowering, pink poinsettia plant in a pewter pot and brought it home. I love the color… plus I’m tired of gold and silver decorations too.

Profile of Common Ground’s new Executive Director Brenda Rosen

Brenda Rosen was recently named Executive Director of Common Ground, the renowned, non-profit organization located in New York City that is celebrated both nationally and internationally for its success in the provision of supportive housing to homeless, disabled, elderly and low-income people.

While it is not unusual for the founder of an organization like Common Ground to have a compelling personal history that has manifested itself in a visionary direction, the executives who follow are often characterized by far more conventional backgrounds.

Interview with PATH CEO and Poverty Insights Founder Joel John Roberts

Editor’s note: In this post Dr. Mary McLaughlin interviews PATH CEO and Poverty Insights founder Joel John Roberts, documenting his approach to poverty and homelessness and what drives his work. Joel John Roberts, CEO of PATH (People Assisting the Homeless), is a nationally renowned leader in the provision of services to homeless people. He is [...]

A Conversation With Street Logic Author Steve Sundberg

Street Logic has been praised as “The most closely observed, emotionally charged account of American homelessness I know” by Harvard University Professor of Social Policy Christopher Jencks. This reality based novel was derived from author Steve Sundberg’s experiences as a shelter counselor and street outreach worker to the men and women who lived and died [...]

Book Review: Street Logic

Street Logic, a book by Steve Sundberg, is a reality based novel. It is a fictionalized account of the author’s own experiences as an outreach worker to homeless men and women who somehow survive, for a while at least, on the streets of Boston. While we’ve all heard that wonderful song about leaving your heart [...]

New York City Council to Investigate Controversial Homeless Services Study

New York City Council’s General Welfare Committee has scheduled a hearing for this Thursday to discuss a research protocol proposed by the city’s Department of Homeless Services. The Department of Homeless Services is planning a study to evaluate the effectiveness of its Homebase program. Homebase helps at-risk individuals and families receive coordinated services designed to prevent [...]

New York Department of Homeless Services Study Violates Research Ethics Principles

Editor’s note: We have covered the New York Department of Homeless Services troubling study of one of their homeless services programs here and here.  In this post Dr. Mary McLaughlin explains how the study violates research ethics. Social research programs have been conducted for centuries. Basic data collection procedures such as taking the census were [...]