Mission

The Division of Psychotherapy was founded in 1968 by a group of leading psychotherapists to advance the science, teaching, and practice of psychotherapy. Our name was changed to the Society for the Advancement of Psychotherapy in 2014.

A strong voice for psychotherapy and home for psychotherapists, the Society for the Advancement of Psychotherapy is committed to preserving and expanding the theoretical and evidentiary base for psychotherapy and psychotherapeutic relationships, supporting life-long learning of psychotherapeutic skills, as well as making the benefits of psychotherapy accessible to all. The Society is an international community of practitioners, scholars, researchers, teachers, health care specialists, and students who are interested in and devoted to the advancement of the practice and science of psychotherapy. Our mission is to provide an active, diverse, and vital community and to generate, share, and disseminate the rapidly accumulating evidence base in clinical science and practice.

Society Priorities (to be reviewed every three years)

Last review and update: September 2, 2020

  1. Dedicate time and resources to make clear our mission and communicate it broadly (e.g., via web, social media).
  2. Promote diversity and inclusion within our membership, governance, psychotherapy research, training, and practice with a national and global perspective.
  3. Offer training and continuing education to psychologists /psychotherapists.
  4. Provide opportunities for students and early career professionals (ECPs) to connect with the division and further their professional development (e.g., grants, awards, committees, mentoring).
  5. Honor the outstanding achievements of our members.
  6. Generate, share, and disseminate psychotherapy research.
  7. Support our flagship publication, the journal Psychotherapy.
  8. Inform the public and broader profession (e.g., health policy makers, health care providers) about psychotherapy, such as evidence of psychotherapy effectiveness.
  9. Promote equity and social justice within our field and in the public interest.

Advancing Psychotherapy

The Society for the Advancement of Psychotherapy addresses the unique needs of psychotherapists and psychotherapy researchers, educators, supervisors, and trainees interested in advancing the field of psychotherapy.

  • Providing a home for all psychologists and mental health professionals interested in psychotherapy.
  • Publishing Psychotherapy Bulletin, which provides news on both professional issues and those psychotherapists and psychotherapy researchers, educators, supervisors, and trainees in the vanguard of psychotherapy.
  • Influencing state and national legislation of benefit to both the public and psychology by disseminating information of the efficacy of psychotherapy.

The Society for the Advancement of Psychotherapy (DIVISION 29 of the American Psychological Association) is the only American Psychological Association division devoted to the survival of psychotherapy.

  • Informs and educates the public, including legislators, about the value of psychotherapy as provided by licensed psychologists and other mental health professionals.
  • Addresses the training and practice concerns of doctoral students and post-doctoral residents preparing for careers in psychotherapy.
  • Serves the research and development function that emphasizes the critical importance of psychotherapy for health and mental health treatment and prevention.
  • Emphasizes the need to provide psychotherapy to diverse populations by fully qualified psychologists and other mental health professionals.

The Society for the Advancement of Psychotherapy IS THE HOME FOR ALL psychotherapists and psychotherapy researchers, educators, supervisors, and trainees.

  • Involved with all aspects of psychotherapy: theory, research, practice and training.
  • Developed unique publications such as The History of Psychotherapy and the Children and Adolescents Treatment Brochure.
  • Moved rapidly to provide assistance and training and to collect research date during recent national crises and disasters such as the Gulf War, the Los Angeles riots, and Hurricane Andrew.
  • Encourages graduate student participation through columns in the Psychotherapy Bulletin and by annual awards to graduate students for psychotherapy research.
  • Values multimodal approaches in psychotherapy so consumers, students, and providers have the broadest array of efficacious alternative available.

Not Yet A Member?

Then join us and find your home among practitioners, educators, researchers, and students who are passionate about psychotherapy.