Yes, that’s Elvira, Mistress of the Dark. Also my long time nemesis. I used to hate her. She took a perfectly good name and turned it into a joke. On her About Me page she says, “When you hear the name Elvira only one person comes to mind…”Excuse me? What did that make me, and while we’re at it, at least a thousand other people? Chopped liver?
You might be thinking, “Gee, Elvira, why would it scare you to be associated, even loosely, with a slutty, Vampira wannabe in a cheap wig?
[Yes. Before Elvira there was Vampira, circa 1953, the first ever late night horror film hostess. She was featured in that wonderfully campy Tim Burton film ‘Ed Wood‘, with Johnny Depp as the cross dressing Mr. Wood.]
Anywho…
I don’t really mind that much…anymore…but once upon a time I dreaded hearing my name mispronounced and dis-respected. Unlike el-Vi-rah, my name is pronounced el-VEE-dah, which in Spanish makes sense. But even after the tutorial I’d hear people call me things like Velveeta cheese. God! Couldn’t my name at least sound like a classy cheese, like, l don’t know… Brie?
Should I Be Defensive About My Name?
It doesn’t take a psychologist to figure out why I would get defensive, not to say persnickety, or snotty, about my name being misprounced or made fun of. Your name is your brand, badge of honor, your coat of arms, your flag! Ever since I could talk I’ve been correcting people about how to say and spell my name. Stubbornly I insisted on keeping my full name. No nicknames for me! If you have a so-called “difficult name” you know exactly what I’m talking about.
Does Growing Up With a Difficult Name Build Character?
But I’m not touchy about my name any more. No, no, no! Having it mangled before my ears is nothing to me now. Being mature and of a certain age has its perks, one of which is you just don’t care as much. It’s nice, really. Many of my comrades in middle-age-dom like to say they are in their “Fuck you, Fifties” (or Forties, or Sixties) and proud of it! Maybe there’s something to that.
Have I Faced My Fear?
Could it be I’ve faced my fear of name abuse so many times and for so long that I’ve finally gotten to the other side of it? I don’t correct people as much as I used to or wince so much, either. I like to think I’ve grown up about it, gained some perspective.
Besides, as I said to a friend recently, it could be worse. At least Elvira/Vampira is hot in a ghoulish, Morticia Addams kind of way.
Ah, Morticia! Now there’s a vampire with class!
Photo courtesy San Diego Shooter via Flickr
ELVIRA G. ALETTA, Ph.D.
Clinical Psychologist
716.308-6683 ❖ draletta@explorewhatsnext.com
CH3 BioSystems, LLC
University Commons
1416 Sweet Home Road, Suite 3
Amherst, NY 14228
Explore What’s Next
1231 Delaware Avenue, Suite 101
Buffalo, NY 14209
1416 Sweet Home Road, Suites 2&3
Amherst, NY 14228
AUTHOR: 7 Rules For Living Well With Chronic Illness
EXECUTIVE/MANAGERIAL APPOINTMENTS
2007-Present Owner, Co-Founder & Director of Operations
CH3 BioSystems, LLC
www.ch3biosystems.com
2008-Present Owner, Founder, Director
Explore What’s Next
Psychotherapy, Psychological Services
Executive & Professional Coaching Practice
www.explorewhatsnext.com
1998-2007 Executive Director
Behavioral Healthcare Network, Inc.
HOSPITAL APPOINTMENTS
1993 – 1998 Erie County Medical Center – Behavioral Health Services, Buffalo, NY
Director
Comprehensive Psychiatric Emergency Program
1991 – 1993 Erie County Medical Center – Behavioral Health Services, Buffalo, NY
Supervising Clinical Psychologist
Comprehensive Psychiatric Emergency Program
1989 – 1991 New York Hospital – Cornell University Medical Center
Westchester Division, White Plains, NY
Coordinator of Psychology (1990 – 1991)
Community Services Division
Senior Psychologist (1989 – 1990)
Anxiety & Depression Clinic, Outpatient Department
Dual Diagnosis Chemical Dependency Rehabilitation Unit
1986 – 1989 MOUNT SINAI MEDICAL CENTER, New York, NY
Senior Clinical Psychologist (1988 – 1989)
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine
Research Psychologist (1986 – 1988)
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine
ACADEMIC APPOINTMENTS
1990 – 1999 STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK AT BUFFALO, Buffalo, NY
Clinical Assistant Professor – Department of Psychiatry (1994 – 1999)
Instructor – Department of Psychiatry (1990 – 1994)
1989 – 1990 CORNELL UNIVERSITY MEDICAL COLLEGE
Westchester Division, White Plains, NY
Instructor – Psychology in Psychiatry
1988 – 1989 MOUNT SINAI SCHOOL OF MEDICINE, New York, NY
Instructor – Depts. of Psychiatry and Rehabilitation Medicine (1988 – 1989)
Research Associate – Department of Rehabilitation Medicine (1986 – 1988)
PRIVATE PRACTICE
1989-1991 FACULTY PRACTICE ASSOCIATES
Cornell University Medical College, White Plains, NY
1988-1989 FACULTY PRACTICE ASSOCIATES
Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY
EDUCATION
Doctor of Philosophy, Clinical Psychology, 1986
Derner Institute, Adelphi University, Garden City, NY
Master of Arts, Psychology, 1984
Derner Institute, Adelphi University, Garden City, NY
Bachelor of Arts, Psychology, January 1981
University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS
LICENSURE
Certified New York State Psychologist, 1988
License Number 009478-1
AFFILIATIONS
Full member, Psychological Association of Western New York
President, Psychological Association of Western New York (2013 – 2014)
Full Member, New York State Psychological Association
New York State Psychological Association Representative to Council for WNY
Full member, American Psychological Association
Advisory Board, Buffalo Center for the Treatment of Eating Disorders
Board of Directors (1997-2000) Compass House Services for Youth
Board of Directors (1998-2001) Genesis Behavioral Health Systems, Inc.
President (2000-2001) Genesis Behavioral Health Systems, Inc.
President (1994-1998) Adult Mental Health Service Providers Consortium, Erie County, NY
