Dr. Michael Elterman: Some Facts about the University of Cape Town

Originally established as South African College in 1829, the University of Cape Town is Africa’s oldest university, and is currently its leading educational institution. Founded as a boys’ high school, South African College first began offering higher education during the 1880s in order to provide training for future mining professionals. The school began admitting women in 1887, and became a formally recognized university in 1918. Shortly after becoming the University of Cape Town, the institution began admitting black students, beginning a tradition of opposing the policy of apartheid; today, the school boasts a diverse population of students, with black individuals and women both making up half of the student body.

The modern University of Cape Town has six faculties that educate more than 25,000 students in areas ranging from the humanities to health sciences. The school also supervises postgraduate education through over 60 specialist research units, which include more than one-fourth of the A-rated researchers living in South Africa. To learn more about the University of Cape Town, visit http://www.uct.ac.za.

About Dr. Michael Elterman:

Educated at the University of Cape Town, the University of Ottawa, and Queen’s University, Clinical Psychologist Dr. Michael Elterman has more than three decades of experience as a healthcare professional. Previously, he served as a Consulting Psychologist for the Ministry of the Attorney General in British Columbia.

Dr. Michael Elterman: Benefits of Joining the Canadian Psychological Association

Offering several decades of experience, Dr. Michael Elterman currently practices psychology in Vancouver, British Columbia. An expert in child and clinical psychology, he frequently assists with family law cases. He also participates in professional groups, such as the Canadian Psychological Association.

For more than 70 years, the Canadian Psychological Association (CPA) has served as a resource for practitioners and patients alike. The organization has several goals, including promotion of psychological awareness, advancement of excellence and innovation in the practice and research of psychology, and enhancement of the welfare and health of all individuals living in Canada.

Those who join CPA receive numerous benefits, including access to liability insurance, journals, publications, advocacy, and pro bono legal assistance. Other membership features are; an electronic newsletter, a magazine, and access to special interest subgroups. Members also receive access to insurance packages and banking for personal or practice purposes. Furthermore, CPA provides accreditation and continuing education opportunities.

A Brief History of Forensic Psychology by Dr. Michael Elterman

Private practice owner and Fellow of the American College of Forensic Psychology Dr. Michael Elterman has prepared more than 2,500 reports for the British Columbia court system. In this entry, he provides a short account of the development of forensic psychology.

Some of the earliest research pertaining to forensic psychology dates back to 1895, when J. McKeen Cattell conducted research on the psychology of eyewitness testimony. His experiment’s results indicated a startling degree of inaccuracies among witnesses, which aroused the interest of his colleagues. A psychologist by the name of William Stern conducted similar experiments, and found similar results, namely that emotions negatively influence the ability of witnesses to accurately recall an event.

Meanwhile, psychologists throughout North America and Europe began to act as witnesses in criminal trials regarding issues with witness testimony. The opinions of psychiatrists in Canada proved pivotal in several major cases towards the end of the 19th century, including the landmark Canadian judgment against Louis David Riel in 1885.

Until 1940, the field of forensic psychology did not see major growth. Psychologists were allowed to serve as expert witnesses during trials, but their testimonies were often trumped by those of medical experts, who were widely seen as more qualified. In 1940, the case of the People v. Hawthorne set the precedent that expert witnesses would be defined by the depth of their knowledge regarding a subject, not by the specific degrees they had attained.

Through the validity gained for psychologist testimony by the ruling in the People v. Hawthorne case, forensic psychologists have, therefore, proven essential to a number of cases throughout the 20th and 21st centuries, including Jenkins v. United States and Brown v. Board of Education since both cases allowed psychologists to serve as experts. The field has continued to grow, and, as of 2001, the American Psychological Association considers forensic psychology an official specialization for psychologists.

Signs of Child Abuse

By Dr. Michael Elterman

Since 1982, Dr. Michael Elterman has owned and operated a private clinical psychology practice in the Vancouver area. He has also collaborated extensively with the courts, preparing over 2,500 reports regarding such issues as child development, custody issues, and child abuse.

Aside from glaringly obvious indications such as cigarette burns or very specific bruising patterns, it can be difficult to know when a child is suffering abuse. Though no one of these on its own serves as definitive proof, radical changes or a combination of signs, such as those I list below, might necessitate intervention from an adult.

Obvious physical damage: It is no secret that children often play a bit too rough and end up with bruises and scrapes. But if these injuries repeat, or a child starts to act suspicious (i.e., wearing long sleeves and pants every day), it might be worth investigating.

Inappropriate behavior, seemingly out of nowhere: Some of these incidences can be chalked up to self-exploration, but if a change occurs that makes you feel uneasy (i.e., a pre-adolescent child obsessed with private zones, or a formerly mellow child abruptly starting to act out), look into it.

Extremely low self-image: Children who have been abused tend to be, if not explicitly told by the abuser, made to feel inadequate or useless. Children who constantly say things like “What’s the point? I’m stupid anyway” or generally express very little self-worth might be the victims of abuse.

Drastic fluctuations in personality: Though a child suffering abuse may play with his classmates normally and appear content most of the time, this may be a defense mechanism. A victim of abuse might vacillate between a content, surface persona and an anxious, depressed side that sometimes shows through.

Objects fervently to going somewhere: Instead of forcing a child who strongly resists visiting a particular person, communicate with the child. Ask questions to uncover the real reason the child does not want to go. Children may be afraid to tell the truth, as children who suffer abuse often withhold it to protect the abuser if the abuser is a perceived caretaker.

Introduction to Forensic Psychology: An Interview with Dr. Michael Elterman

The owner of a private psychology practice and prior Consulting Psychologist for the Ministry of the Attorney General in Vancouver and Fraser Valley, Dr. Michael Elterman has years of experience with a range of psychological issues, including forensic psychology. In this interview, he shares some of his knowledge.

Q:What is forensic psychology?

A: Forensic psychology represents the intersection of criminal justice and the study of the mind. Those involved in this field work in such places as rehabilitation centers, law firms, government agencies, private practices, and a variety of other places. Though forensic psychologists come from an array of backgrounds and experiences, they all have earned a doctorate in psychology.

Q:What are the typical job duties of a forensic psychologist?

A: Many of those involved in the court system work on insurance claims, lawsuits, and child custody issues, to name a few. They often work with child witnesses and suspects, assess mental competency in criminal and custody cases, and conduct risk assessments in visitation cases. Not all forensic psychologists work directly in the court system, however; some devote their careers to the continued study of the intersection between psychology and the law itself.

Q: In a trial, what is the difference between how a forensic psychologist and a clinical psychologist views a defendant or a witness?

A: The difference is that a clinical psychologist’s duties include advocating for an individual and taking on more of an observational role. A forensic psychologist, however, implements a more thorough and fact-based series of psychological tests and interviews and has to be more alert to deception in the individual. The clinical psychologist assesses the individual, while the forensic psychologist investigates the individual. 

Dr. Michael Elterman on Memory Development in Children

The field of infantile childhood memory development was originally thought to hold no weight because researchers considered babies of eight months or younger as incapable of possessing a memory of past events. However, a child’s memory is widely considered never to be stronger than it is in his or her first years of life. 

Childhood memory development affects how quickly a child learns a specific skill and remembers past instances that guide his or her future activities. The context of a situation has been found to be important in memory development as a child can remember the specific setting and atmosphere of the environment in which he or she created a memory and assign those factors unique meanings. In order to facilitate positive memory development, parents can ensure that the child receives balanced nutrition and grows up in an intellectually stimulating environment with lots of books and a chance to play. This encourages positive brain growth, which allows the child to create memories. 

Parents should not participate in any program without first consulting with their pediatrician and/or child psychologist. 

About the author:

In his career as a child and adult clinical psychologist who works out of a private practice in Vancouver, British Columbia, Dr. Michael Elterman has conducted assessments in several different areas of family law for civil and criminal cases. Dr. Michael Elterman, who opened his psychology facility in 1982, possesses close to three decades of experience in submitting evidence in cases that include instances of child abuse, criminal sexual assault, and memory development.

A Brief Overview of Childhood Conditions that are Products of Abuse

by Dr. Michael Elterman

This article is meant as a summary of three medical conditions that affect children who are neglected or abused by their parents.

1. Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy: A condition that affects mostly children who are preschool-aged, Munchausen syndrome by proxy is a situation that occurs when a child’s parent or guardian embellishes upon or completely makes up an illness that the child may or may not be diagnosed with. Children who suffer from Munchausen syndrome by proxy can be victim to unnecessary surgeries and intentional medical neglect.

2. Abusive Head Trauma: Also known as shaken baby syndrome, abusive head trauma is an injury to a child’s head that is a direct product of blows to the head, shaking, dropping, or throwing. Most of the victims of this condition are less than one year old, and the effects can include serious brain damage.

3. Child Traumatic Stress: Children who have experienced physical or emotional distress may exhibit characteristics of child traumatic stress, a condition that shows the effect of the stressful event through the child’s emotional responses, behavior, and actions. Those children who have child traumatic stress may become submissive, shy, anxious, or troubled.

About the author:

After he graduated from the University of Ottawa with a Master’s degree in Psychology, Dr. Michael Elterman embarked on a career that would lead him to specialize in child and adult clinical psychology. During Dr. Michael Elterman’s career as a private practitioner in Vancouver, British Columbia, he has supplied evidence for cases involving child development, child custody and access, and sexual and physical child abuse. Dr. Michael Elterman, who is familiar with several debilitating conditions that are the consequence of child abuse, continues to treat children and parents out of his facility in Vancouver.

Psychological Assessment of Parenting Capacity – By Dr. Michael Elterman

By Dr. Michael Elterman

Currently a psychologist treating children and adults in Vancouver, British Columbia, Dr. Michael Elterman has also served as a Consulting Psychologist to a number of governmental organizations, specializing in family law and custody cases, as well as assessing parental capacity.

Generally, a psychiatrist, psychologist, or social worker with an expertise in parenting evaluates parenting capacity. Judges utilize these assessments in child protection and custody cases, as testimony to determine whether one or both parents are qualified to safely raise the children. If the court finds the parents incapable of parenting, the assessment might suggest interventions that could assist the parents to gain relevant skills or might alternately recommend terminating parental rights.

Assessing parenting capacity is a critical duty, as the results of these reports can result in very serious ramifications for the children, parents, and families involved. Judges consider separating families very carefully and require a highly qualified, neutral observer’s opinion to justify the step.

In addition to giving an opinion, assessors identify the qualifications against which they judge each family or parent, making clear the qualifications to remain in a parenting role. Assessors strive to represent a parent’s capacity at the moment, as well as the long-term potential of a given situation.

Assessments generally consist of interviews with each parent and child, as well as a visit to the home of each parent and a number of interviews with other people who are significant in the children’s lives, including teachers, babysitters, therapists, doctors, and other key figures. Assessors also review materials pertinent to the case and conduct a number of psychological tests.

Although most interactions with psychologists are confidential, in the case of a parenting capacity assessment, these rights are waived. The assessor’s findings become part of the court case and will not be held in confidence in the court.

Common Risk Factors and Symptoms of Depression – by Dr. Michael Elterman

By Dr. Michael Elterman

One of the most common reasons for visiting a psychiatrist or psychologist, depression affects approximately 16 percent of adults worldwide at some point in their lifetimes. According to Health Canada and Statistics Canada, around 8 percent of Canadian adults will experience major depression or anxiety during their lives, and 5 percent will have such an incident in a given year. Although no one understands the precise cause of depression, scientists have identified a number of factors that seem to increase an individual’s chances of developing the condition.

The incidence of depression in women is much higher than that in men, with approximately one in five women developing clinical depression at some time in life. Only one in every three of these women will seek professional assistance. People with one or more biological relatives with a history of depression, alcoholism, or suicide face high risks of developing the condition. Those who experienced trauma as children or have recently gone through a stressful life event, such as the death of a family member or close friend, are more likely to report depression.

The disorder also commonly arises following the birth of a child, in which case the condition is labeled postpartum depression. Also, people with serious chronic or acute conditions, such as cancer, heart disease, or HIV/AIDS often experience depression. Feelings of depression include more than just sadness and can involve having trouble concentrating; feeling tired, guilty, worthless, or helpless; insomnia; and irritability.

Often, patients presenting depression notice they have recently lost interest in activities they previously enjoyed or they have experienced changes in appetite. In addition to these symptoms, people with depression sometimes also experience persistent aches and pains, cramps, headaches, and digestive problems that do not respond to treatment. Depression can be a life-threatening condition, and it is important to visit a doctor or therapist if you notice these signs in yourself or a loved one.

The Revised Family Relations Act of British Columbia, by Dr. Michael Elterman

The government of British Columbia (BC) is planning to implement its revised Family Relations Act (FRA) this year, which includes a number of groundbreaking changes that received positive receptions across the board. At the heart of the changes are new protocols and definitions that update the Act to reflect current trends, as well as a series of clarifications on past ambiguities.

One of the biggest changes to the FRA involves prioritizing the best interests of the child as the only factor in disputes between parents. The FRA also extends the range of factors that can be analyzed in determining what constitutes a child’s best interests. Examples include the presence of violence in the family and the history of the child’s care.

The FRA also provides important designations for the definition of a parent. For instance, the birth mother is now the child’s legal mother unless she gives up that right via surrogacy or adoption. Other clarifications exist for assisted conception, third-party donors, and other technologically facilitated family structures. In some cases, the courts may recognize more than two legal parents.

Other changes to the FRA include an emphasis on alternative dispute resolution processes. Parents must now undergo some form of mediation before engaging in a traditional custody lawsuit. In addition, the FRA redefines terms such as “custody” and “access,” employing less adversarial terms, such as “guardianship” and “parenting time.” It also includes provisions for separating assets between common-law couples with children, providing a framework similar to that employed for married couples.

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Psychologist Dr. Michael Elterman has served as a family court counselling consultant to the Attorney General of BC. He has held positions with the Parole Board of Canada and the former Vancouver Health Department. Dr. Michael Elterman currently maintains a private practice in Vancouver.