APA Division 29
Society for the Advancement of Psychotherapy
Preserving and expanding the theoretical and evidentiary base for psychotherapy and psychotherapeutic relationships — supporting life-long learning, and making the benefits of psychotherapy accessible to all.
Who We Are
About Us
The Society for the Advancement of Psychotherapy (SAP) is a leading organization dedicated to the enhancement of psychotherapy practice, research, and education. Our mission is to promote mental health and well-being by supporting the professional development of psychotherapists and advancing the science of psychotherapy.
Read our mission
What Drives Us
Our Priorities
- Clarify and Communicate Our Mission: We are committed to clearly defining our mission and sharing it widely through our website and social media channels.
- Promote Diversity and Inclusion: We strive to foster diversity and inclusion across our membership, governance, research, training, and practice on both national and global levels.
- Provide Training and Continuing Education: We offer ongoing training and educational opportunities for psychologists and psychotherapists.
- Support Students and Early Career Professionals: We create pathways for students and early career professionals to connect with the division and advance their careers through grants, awards, committees, and mentoring programs.
- Honor Member Achievements: We recognize and celebrate the outstanding contributions of our members.
- Advance Psychotherapy Research: We are dedicated to generating, sharing, and disseminating cutting-edge psychotherapy research.
- Support Our Flagship Publication: We proudly support our flagship journal, Psychotherapy.
- Inform the Public and the Profession: We work to educate the public, policymakers, and healthcare providers about the effectiveness and importance of psychotherapy.
From the Bulletin
Featured Article
Integrating Mindfulness into Psychotherapeutic Practice
A client once described conflict at work “came out of nowhere.” Meetings would escalate quickly, leaving them feeling overwhelmed and reactive. When we slowed the moment down in session, something different emerged. As the client spoke about a recent disagreement, my favorite question to ask clients is: “What do you notice in your body right […]
Anne Bello, PhD
May 13, 2026
Recent Writing
Latest Articles
Suicidal Behavior Among Psychologists: Prevalence, Drivers, and Recommended Action Steps
Suicide is a serious threat to public health, and healthcare professionals, including psychologists, are not immune to it. Few experiences are as shocking to psychologists as learning that one of their colleagues has died from suicide. The experience often leaves their patients feeling bewildered or traumatized (Kleespies et al., 2011). This article reviews the prevalence […]
Samuel Knapp, Ed.D., ABPP + 2 more
May 12, 2026
Beyond Symptom Management: Existential/Humanistic Treatment for Combat Veterans
One observation of military veterans who served in Beirut, Afghanistan, and Iraq is their presentation and experience of persistent hypervigilance, avoidance, emotional constriction, and transitional forms of disillusionment. These symptoms may be part of a larger trauma response and mask unresolved affective states that should be addressed as a regular component of treatment. The recommended […]
Michael Pica, PsyD
May 8, 2026
The Projective Assessment Integration System (PAIS): A Guide for Student Clinicians in Training
When administered, scored, and interpreted correctly, projective assessments remain pivotal in assessing emotional functioning, problem-solving, interpersonal style, and linearity of thought. Critics of projective testing point to problems with validity, inter-rater reliability, and subjective preconceptions that may limit the generalizability of the results (Lilienfeld et al., 2000). However, there are a plethora of valid and […]
Michael Pica, PsyD
May 8, 2026
Practical Tips for Using Social Media to Promote Your Professional Practice
Creating professional social media accounts across multiple platforms can increase both business traction and community outreach and contact. By using your professional knowledge to inform the public about your mental health expertise and areas of specialty, you can help strengthen the relationship between mental health care and the communities it serves; destigmatizing various facets of […]
Amanda Conway, MS
May 6, 2026
Considerations for Adolescent Mothers: Trauma-Informed and Integrated Care
Adolescent pregnancies and teen birth rates are shown to be correlated with significant physical, emotional, and social risks in the United States (Mickler & Tellestrup, 2025) and in many countries across the world. In 2019, 21 million pregnancies were reported in women aged 15 to 19 years worldwide with approximately 50% of the pregnancies reported […]
Emma N. Jalili, MA + 2 more
May 6, 2026
Childhood Adversity and Suicide
What Childhood Events Are Especially Problematic? Suicidal patients often report adverse childhood events (O’Connor, 2021; Thompson & Kingree, 2022). Consequently, psychotherapists working with suicidal patients need to consider how these experiences impact their current functioning and how they contribute to their suicidality. Adverse childhood events could involve a wide range of serious and upsetting stressors […]
Samuel Knapp, Ed.D., ABPP
May 6, 2026
Start Here
Special Features
Explore the Society, learn how to join, and discover additional insights. Check out the articles below for more information.
Everything You Wanted to Know About the Division, It’s Benefits, and Resources
Recently became a member and need a place to get started? Renewed your membership but wondering how to make the most out of it? Thinking about becoming a member, but feel overwhelmed? This article is aimed at sharing all the ins and outs and getting you acquainted with the division. And as always, if there […]
Amy E. Ellis, Ph.D.
September 9, 2019
Why Join?
When I was in graduate school, the Scientist-Practitioner Model was every clinical psychologist’s ideal. We were trained to appreciate, understand, and actually do research following the lines of the Boulder Model (1949 Conference). In 1973, a new clinical psychology training model was proposed at the Vail Conference on Professional Training in Psychology. The Practitioner-Scholar model […]
Rosemary Adam-Terem, Ph.D.
December 12, 2018
Education & Training
Explore the latest in practice and research in the field of psychotherapy. Our recent posts provide cutting-edge research findings, clinical practices, and evidence-based approaches to improve patient outcomes. Stay ahead in your practice with our in-depth analyses and expert insights.
Society for the Advancement of Psychotherapy (SAP) Board of Directors Meeting Recap
The Society for the Advancement of Psychotherapy (SAP) Board of Directors recently gathered in Scottsdale, Arizona, for an intensive two-day business meeting to set the course for the division in 2025 and beyond. Our discussions centered on visioning our current directions, strengthening our strategic priorities, addressing emerging challenges in the field of psychotherapy, and enhancing […]
Amy E. Ellis, Ph.D.
March 31, 2025
THE BREAKERS BREAKING. THE SEAGULLS SQUAWKING
During the Closing Hours of 2024 The last time the Republican Party (GOP) controlled the Senate, House, and Presidency was from January 20, 2017 to January 3, 2019, during which time Donald Trump was President of the United States having being inaugurated on January 20, 2017. With this historical context in mind, the 118th Congress struggled […]
Pat DeLeon, Ph.D.
January 7, 2025
Education in Suicide Prevention Should Be Required in the Training of All Healthcare Psychologists
Over the last 20 years, the rates of suicidal ideation, suicide attempts, and suicides have rapidly increased in the United States (Garnett & Curtin, 2023). At the same time, evidence has developed that interventions can effectively reduce the risk of suicide (Calati et al., 2018). Given these changes, it is time for APA to require […]
Samuel Knapp, Ed.D., ABPP + 1 more
November 22, 2023
Bronfenbrenner and Psychotherapy: A Tale by an Emerging Clinician
I was inspired to write this piece by my postdoctoral mentor, Joanna Drinane, who asked about the integration of my two programs of study. To make a long story short, I achieved my PhD in Human Development and Family Studies some years ago and joined the Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Program at the University […]
Rochelle C. Cassells, PhD
November 22, 2023
Advancing Psychotherapy Practice and Research
Dive into our comprehensive resources on education and training. The articles below offer valuable information and guidance to help you advance your skills and knowledge in psychotherapy. Whether you're a seasoned professional or just starting, you'll find practical advice and innovative techniques to enhance your practice.
“WHEN THE NIGHT HAS COME. AND THE LAND IS DARK”
Enhancing Psychology’s Public Policy/ Political Presence Reflecting upon the APA/APA Services’ Grassroots Fly-In, Katherine McGuire, APA’s Chief Advocacy Officer, noted: “We were thrilled to host 70 psychologists representing over 40 states during our June Fly-In, Advancing Health Equity Across the Lifespan in Washington, D.C. Participants included Federal Advocacy Coordinators (FACs) and Directors of Professional Affairs (DPAs) from […]
Pat DeLeon, Ph.D.
July 8, 2024
2024 Editor’s Column 59(2)
Hello Division 29 and members of SAP! Spring is here and we are so thrilled to share exciting updates and accomplishments of the division. We had a successful Winter Psychotherapy Bulletin and eBulletin publication thanks to the incredible submissions from authors like you. Our eBulletin connects with about 6,000 subscribers; people from around the world […]
Zoe Ross-Nash, PsyD
April 5, 2024
The Historical Mental Health Effects of Viral Infections: Implications for COVID-19
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and the response efforts created an omnipresent effect of COVID-19 to individuals in the United States and globally in 2020. This literature review was written in 2021, one year after the outbreak, and recent studies have reported that the COVID-19 pandemic was an event that elicited behavioral, emotional, and psychological turmoil […]
Sheela Joshi, PsyD
January 1, 2024
Cultural Influences and Heteronormativity on Experiences in Romantic Relationships
Romantic relationships are influenced by various concepts, including the dominant discourses in society, cultural norms, and heteronormativity. One’s interpretation and connection to their significant other is informed by their childhood and family influences, the historical context and geographical location of their upbringing, along with the persistence of religiosity and the corresponding practices. Considering religion, heteronormativity […]
Kedene Smith, LMFT + 1 more
January 1, 2024
Promoting Social Justice and Influencing Public Policy
Engage with our discussions on social justice and public policy. The articles below address critical issues and advocate for policies that promote equality and access to mental health services. Join us in our mission to create a more just and equitable society through informed advocacy and action.
Bronfenbrenner and Psychotherapy: A Tale by an Emerging Clinician
I was inspired to write this piece by my postdoctoral mentor, Joanna Drinane, who asked about the integration of my two programs of study. To make a long story short, I achieved my PhD in Human Development and Family Studies some years ago and joined the Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Program at the University […]
Rochelle C. Cassells, PhD
November 22, 2023
“Please Don’t Take Him Just Because You Can”
2018 Was A Great Year: In March, the APA Practice Leadership Conference (PLC) celebrated its 35th anniversary with over 300 colleagues honoring Katherine Nordal during her final PLC. “During my career, I have tried to embody and facilitate this affirming, strategic collaboration between practice and other parts of our discipline, connected groups and organizations, policymakers […]
Pat DeLeon, Ph.D.
November 22, 2023
The Impact of Dobbs v. Jackson on a Client’s Well Being and the Therapeutic Relationship
On June 24, 2022, the Supreme Court decided on Dobbs v. Jackson’s Women’s Health Organization, overturning 50 years of the landmark Roe v. Wade decision, which previously protected the right to healthcare privacy and abortion. States now have the right to set their own abortion laws, which vary enormously between states. For example, under California […]
Deanna Young, PsyD + 2 more
October 29, 2023
“Heard A Sound, Turned Around, Looking Up, Looking Down”
The Politically Divided 118th Congress: NBC News recently noted that more than 50 years ago, two female lawmakers led a Congressional Committee for the first time: the House of Representatives Select Committee on the Beauty Shop. This Congress, women will hold all four of the top positions on the House and Senate Appropriations Committees for […]
Pat DeLeon, Ph.D.
April 9, 2023
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Explore Our Topics
Dive into the diverse range of topics covered in the bulletin. Each category collects articles and insights — select one to explore more.
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Join a community of psychologists, researchers, and clinicians dedicated to advancing psychotherapy. Share your expertise, connect with peers, and help shape the future of mental health care.