Response to questions posed by the Bulletin

As a psychotherapy researcher and a Fellow of Division 29 I am pleased to be responding to the question posed by your newsletter editor.  Practice Divisions play an important role in APA in representing the interests of various practice communities.  They join together in such venues as the practice caucus of Council. Divisions could be better utilized in APA, but I think the Divisions need to assert their role. Divisions could be more active, for example, in using their council representatives to bring issues pending in council to Division boards for discussion. The Divisions could be more active in expressing opinions and in influencing and initiating actions within APA.. Division 29 could also initiate joint projects with other Divisions and APA central office directorates.

Division 29 historically began with an emphasis on the practice of psychotherapy, but psychotherapy has obvious relevance to all of the APA Directorates, not just practice. There is a science base to psychotherapy; education in psychotherapy is at the heart of professional education and continuing education; and psychotherapy is important to many public interest policy matters.  I think the potential is there for more interaction and involvement, and I would suggest to the Division that they might want to sit down with the various Directors and explore possible joint projects.

Division 29 is an active and strong division. It could enhance its role in APA by taking the position that it has interests in the activities of all of the directorates and establishing some form of ongoing relationship with them.

I am honored to be nominated for APA President and would be pleased to have your support.

Department of Psychology at University of Houston
Comments to: lprehm@uh.edu