The graying of APA

[Rivi]

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According to Dr. Suzanne Johnson (our APA president), the average APA member is over 50 years old, and they plan on attempting to "engage" the younger generation of psychologists (skip to 3:20 on the video below)

[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zzhVLmeRZLY&feature=player_embedded[/YOUTUBE]


I think this is a huge problem, as the majority of the APA leadership came into the field after managed care, the internship imbalance, and the boom in professional schools. I also think it is really hard for the younger generation of psychologists to trust the APA.

What are your thoughts on this? Are you surprised by the age of APA members? Do you feel like younger psychologists/graduate students have an equal voice in APA?

 

[Pragma]

Do you feel like younger psychologists/graduate students have an equal voice in APA?

No. But I think this is self-inflicted. People feel apathetic enough about the organization that they don't get involved. MC Parent and others have encouraged folks to get on APA committees. I can say that for all I complain about with APA, I hardly have any involvement with them at all (outside of the divisions I like).

 

[Therapist4Chnge]

No. But I think this is self-inflicted. People feel apathetic enough about the organization that they don't get involved. MC Parent and others have encouraged folks to get on APA committees. I can say that for all I complain about with APA, I hardly have any involvement with them at all (outside of the divisions I like).

Indeed. I actually tried to get involved this past summer/fall, but I was caught in the Catch-22 of, "You have great experience, but not doing APA things, sorry." I have prior experience w. large national associations (larger than APA) actually DOING what they needed, but since it wasn't for the APA...I couldn't even be considered for one of the spots, which was earmarked for an early career psychologist. 🙄 I also had more recommendations from current APA members than was typical for for consideration, but in the end that didn't matter either.

I have done some stuff here and there at the division level, so I may just stick with that, as every single time I've tried to get involved with generalist APA stuff I've been brushed aside. So much so trying to recruit the next generation of professionals.

 

[Doctor Eliza]

I imagine that a lot of it has to do with the realities of being an early career psychologist. Academics are working day and night trying to get tenure. Clinicians are busy trying to build practices and (on a tight budget) likely don't feel like shelling out any more money for professional memberships. Between the state psych assn and malpractice insurance I paid $1200 this year. No room in my budget for APA this year. Add to this when you are in your 30's and 40's you are more likely to have young children and priorities other than your career. So even if you are a member, how much of your limited time do you want to give to APA?

Now this isn't to say that this is a good situation. I think something needs to change. It is just gonna be difficult.

Best,
Dr. E

 

[futureapppsy2]

According to Dr. Suzanne Johnson (our APA president), the average APA member is over 50 years old, and they plan on attempting to "engage" the younger generation of psychologists (skip to 3:20 on the video below)


I think this is a huge problem, as the majority of the APA leadership came into the field after managed care, the internship imbalance, and the boom in professional schools. I also think it is really hard for the younger generation of psychologists to trust the APA.

What are your thoughts on this? Are you surprised by the age of APA members? Do you feel like younger psychologists/graduate students have an equal voice in APA?

Honestly, I feel like this generation of trainees has seen huge issues in our profession (internship imbalance, oversupply of psychologists, midlevel encroachment issues) met with no really effective response from the APA and so have little "ownership" in APA or its efficacy. Personally, I've experienced wonderful benefits from some of the divisions, but very little from the general APA,

 

[beingintherapy]

According to Dr. Suzanne Johnson (our APA president), the average APA member is over 50 years old, and they plan on attempting to "engage" the younger generation of psychologists (skip to 3:20 on the video below)

I think this is a huge problem, as the majority of the APA leadership came into the field after managed care, the internship imbalance, and the boom in professional schools. I also think it is really hard for the younger generation of psychologists to trust the APA.

What are your thoughts on this? Are you surprised by the age of APA members? Do you feel like younger psychologists/graduate students have an equal voice in APA?

I think, for the most part, the APA is fighting for a dead model of patient care, have lost a sense of respect for clients and the general public, and have adhered to a task oriented rather than transformational model. But then, my view is very much from outside that institution.

I don't think that graduate/younger psychologist influence is part of the issue. Rather that the issue itself is institutionalized. Oversimplification of analysis, no broad accurate synthesis of what's known beyond the largely horrible self-help isle, no emphasis on information dissemination, no emphasis on reducing the stigma of mental illness which is the underlying failure of the previous generation and the society juggernaut that's wiping out a standard of living for psychologists in general.

Instead the APA focuses the bulk of their resources on obesity, and a partnership with a christian organization. How could this not be a problem?

These are all only my opinions from my very limited view. Nevertheless, when access to accurate synthesis is limited to post-secondary educational libraries, there's an obvious problem. I think "publish or perish" needs to be extended to non-research positions, and access to that information has to be as broad as possible. The APA can no longer entrust this vital task to journalists who are trained for a different model of communication. Psychology may be somewhat inherently philosophical but it doesn't have to be obscure.

I think that's what psychology in general has really lost in my almost 40 year lifetime: an appreciation for and acceptance of the human condition. Grand theory beyond the reductionist approach is still out there. The problem is no one is talking about it, least of all the APA. That's what they, and we, could be doing much better, and that's what I think will energize the next generation of psychologists.

 

[roubs]

Instead the APA focuses the bulk of their resources on obesity, and a partnership with a christian organization. How could this not be a problem?

[citation needed]

 

[cara susanna]

I think this does explain part of the reason why younger psychologists and grad students feel that APA is so out of touch.

Honestly, if they really want to make us younger folks happy: fix the internship crisis.

 

[bmedclinic]

I think this does explain part of the reason why younger psychologists and grad students feel that APA is so out of touch.

Honestly, if they really want to make us younger folks happy: fix the internship crisis.

Agreed, Cara.

bmedclinic's steps for the APA to follow:

1. Fix internship.
2. Fix licensure.
3. Make me believe that once, just once, professionally, you're advocating for something specific I actually care about- not something broad, misguided, and out of touch. For the life of me, I cannot think about the APA actually taking a strong stand on one thing I really care about.

4. Advocate like you should. It's distrubing to see other MH professionals get laws and advocacy over psychologists. In my state, LCSW's are the $&*&*. They can do whatever they want in terms of services offered. Not bmedclinic, who is a 5th year clinical psych phd student- I cant do anything. It's rediculous, but we sit on our hands and point a finger and say "hmm, that doesnt seem right".

5. Get grad students involved in a realistic way. I'll admit- not once have I attended our regional (not state, as I've presented research there multiple times) meetings. How many times have I skimmed the emails- hundreds. The few times I've attended "grad student oriented meetings" they've been at speciality (bmed type) conferences. Those people both reach out and are oriented to things I'm interested in. The APA simply is not. In fact, they appear to have no problem putting multiple hurdles in my way.

 

[Ollie123]

If every time the leadership thought about doing something, they did the opposite - things would look a lot better!

I maintain my student membership for the insurance, but largely view them as a lost cause. I can't speak for their clinician membership but they are losing science-oriented folks in droves, and I'm expecting this to be accelerated by APS stepping up its clinical science emphasis and the PCSAS system. While we have a long way to go towards where we should be in terms of building and emphasizing an adequate base - many (most) of the young generation they are targeting is growing up in a world where EBP is the standard for care. Many of us have far less tolerance for non-EBT than the folks who "grew up" when this focus was just starting to emerge.

All that aside - I also agree with the above. Its once again a case of them "saying" they want something, but actions speak louder than words. People aren't going to join them as a favor to the leadership just because they "say" they want younger members - people expect something in return. "Something" is not an additional lame APAGS symposium at the convention or a few thousand dollars set aside for "Early career travel awards" to the convention (what I'm expecting the response to be). It means doing something substantive to convince us APA is actually going to do a better job representing us than alternative organizations.

 

[psychRA]

Has anyone else found that, when attempting to join an APA division online, their website takes you in an infinite loop? I go to a division site, click on "join now" and get taken to a list of sites that process applications online, and then get sent back to the original division site. A few times in the last couple of months, I've started to join a division, gotten caught in the loop, and then given up.

Somewhat tangential, I know. But I thought it was a good example of 1) APA being somewhat behind the times, and 2) younger professionals (that would be me) complaining about APA without taking steps to address the problem I should probably contact user support.

 

[futureapppsy2]

It means doing something substantive to convince us APA is actually going to do a better job representing us than alternative organizations.

Exactly. I'm hoping APA feels the pressure from APS and PCSAS and actually does something to address things like FSPS, the internship imbalance, etc., etc. APA can be useful for professional change and advocacy--but I think many in the general organization have forgotten that and taken measures that are, at best, lipservice to many of the serious issues facing psychologists of all stripes. Also, I wouldn't be surprised to see the divisions splinter off into their own entities down the line--many are fairly autonomous as it is.

 

[beingintherapy]

[citation needed]

The above video we're discussing.