JEFF BALL, PhD
I received my PhD in Clinical Psychology at UCLA in 1985. As CEO of PCH Center, I supervise, teach, and consult. I’ve been on clinical faculty at UCLA for many years, and have taught undergraduate and graduate-level psychology courses including Psychopathology, Psychological Assessment, Psychoanalysis, and Law and Ethics in Psychology.
I’ve presented my psychosocial model and vision for mental health both within the center as well as in the clinical and academic community. That model deemphasizes pejorative and often invalid diagnoses as well as promotes the appropriate use of psychiatric medications within a context-based approach. Our approach of not “othering” those labelled with psychiatric diagnoses fits within a general Social Justice model of mental healthcare.
As an artist, I started painting as a child and took about a 30 year hiatus... but my best paintings were always of figures and faces as well as subjects in which I have a passion. In recent years, I hadn’t had much time to paint until the lockdown in 2020, in which I had lots of time between Zoom calls! I’ve found that my best are of people and/or animals that I know very well, as well as of subjects in which I feel passionate. In recent years, I’ve studied with the artist Bo Bartlett. Bo’s work has always captured the psychology of his subjects, and many of his paintings have a strong Social Justice theme.
The End of Innocence
(Oil on Linen, 24” x 24”)
After the George Floyd murder, we started a Social Justice Initiative at PCH with service, education, and art pillars. As part of our Artivism Project (www.pch-arts.com), I painted “The End of Innocence", which captures two little girls at a BLM rally. It was painted from a black and white photograph, and inspired by all of my Black friends who have had to have “the talk” with their children about what to do when confronted by law enforcement. It struck me as another example of White Privilege that my parents never had to have that talk with my brother or myself. It is a reminder that we remain vigilant to oppression and racism though the cost is a loss of innocence in childhood. Art provides an essential venue toward displaying those essential reminders.