What Is The APA? The American Psychological Association
What is the APA?
The American Psychological Association (APA) is a scientific organization providing representation for psychologists, psychiatrists, counselors, therapists, social workers, and other mental health providers in the United States. Approximately 146,000 people, including students, educators, consultants, researchers, and clinicians, are part of the organization. Each individual is responsible for helping advance the APA's mission and goals throughout the United States and abroad.
The mission of the APA
The mission of the APA is "to promote the advancement, communication, and application of psychological science and knowledge to benefit society and improve lives."
Overall, this mission requires constituents and the organization to improve the use of psychology, educate people about psychology, prepare future psychologists, and impact current societal challenges. Below are a few other ways the APA makes an impact.
Improving communication and applications
By improving communication surrounding psychological science and the knowledge of psychology among individuals and communities, the APA may reduce mental health stigma and reach more providers. As a group, participants of the APA can improve how people understand psychology, which could significantly increase the number of people seeking care.
One benefit of the APA is increasing the amount of research conducted and the number of distributions. The APA utilizes psychology education and research to improve the application of psychological science worldwide. More research may help psychologists find new treatment modalities for individuals who experience mental health conditions.
Preparing future psychologists and mental health professionals
The APA advances the field and attracts people to various mental health professions by providing an authoritative voice for psychology. Without students studying psychology, the US could experience a shortage of mental health professionals, which may mean more people go without the care they need. Additionally, the more people who study psychology, the more communities can build upon current research and identify more evidence-based treatments.
Disseminating information
Outside of the research that the APA supports and the professionals it helps to recruit and train, information is one essential aspect of the APA. The APA disseminates content in blog posts, on social media, in its Monitor on Psychology newsletter, and in various publications. This information may help the public, as well as psychologists and mental health professionals, to understand the types of advancements happening in the psychology field.
By ensuring that the average person can reach the information the APA is sourcing and the research that psychologists are conducting, the APA strives to help all Americans recognize the importance of academic rigor in psychological research. Through this work, the organization can continue to ensure that future professionals are adequately trained, research is conducted and communicated accurately, and more professionals enter the field of psychology to better society.
Helping the US and individuals worldwide: What is the APA impact?
Psychological research has the capacity to impact mental health significantly. The research produced by psychologists and its implementation within the United States and abroad has helped many people learn to manage distressing symptoms.
The research produced by APA constituents can inform new treatments and extend the reach of psychological education worldwide, which may increase the number of people seeking treatment for mental health concerns.
Offering therapy resources for mental health support
If you're considering seeking professional support for a mental health concern, you don't have to face it alone. The APA can provide you with resources and information about getting professional help from a licensed therapist.
If you'd like to speak with a licensed counselor but face barriers to treatment like cost, distance, location, or waitlists, you might also try talking to an online therapist. Online therapists can meet with you via the internet, so you don't have to be in the same city. For example, with internet-based platforms like BetterHelp, you can be matched with a therapist and meet via phone, videoconference, or in-app messaging from anywhere.
Online therapy has been proven as effective as in-person counseling, and it tends to be as affordable as traditional therapy without insurance. In addition, the APA has endorsed telehealth as a promising and effective option for those living with a mental illness or mental health concern.
Takeaway
The American Psychological Association has had many impacts on the psychological industry and is one of the most influential psychological organizations in the country. Psychology students, researchers, and experts who join APA divisions may benefit from APA services and APA events, including journal articles, news, books, and contacts in the field. The organization’s strategic plan to promote the psychology industry may benefit society and improve psychological services.
If you're interested in learning how the APA has impacted therapy or if you’re looking for support with a mental health concern, consider contacting a therapist. You can find providers online or in your area by searching on the APA's website or through your preferred search engine. You might also consider using an online therapy platform like BetterHelp, which allows you to be matched with a therapist based on your needs. Take the first step toward getting support and contact BetterHelp today.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Below are a few frequently asked questions about the APA.
What does APA mean in psychology and what is the American Psychological Association?
In psychology, APA stands for the American Psychological Association. APA is also a style format for scientific and professional research papers. APA style is often used by graduate students in the field of psychology.
Is the APA used for psychology?
The APA is the leading scientific and professional organization representing and making contributions to the field of psychology in the United States. Participants include students, educators, consultants, researchers, and clinicians.
According to the organization's website, the APA utilizes psychology to impact societal issues that influence mental health positively. They hold public interest as an essential concern and want to elevate people's understanding of the use of psychology. The organization seeks to prepare the discipline and profession of psychology for the future and strengthen its authoritative voice over time.
APA's reliability: Is the American Psychological Association reliable?
The goal of the APA is to use psychological science to improve the well-being of people in the United States and around the world. The organization is a reliable non-profit organization seeking to increase the credibility of psychological research, which makes it a credible resource.
The APA also accredits undergraduate and graduate psychology programs throughout the country. They position themselves to play a leading role in future psychological matters in the US.
How much does it cost to be an APA participant?
According to the APA website, the amount a participant pays each year depends on their participant level. Participation may range from $22 to $100.
What is the purpose of APA style?
The APA style aims to bring a standard format to scientific and professional writing in psychology and elsewhere.
Why do people use APA and what is the American Psychological Association connection?
People use APA to bring consistency to the format of research papers and results of scientific studies. Having a consistent format to follow can help writers organize information efficiently. APA is the most widely used format in most research papers for graduate students.
The American Psychological Association (APA) is the organization that created and maintains APA style. The organization periodically updates the guidelines to reflect changes in academic writing practices.
APA's guidelines: What does APA format look like?
An APA-style essay is typed in a readable font, such as Times New Roman, and laid out on standard-sized paper, with 1-inch margins on each side. APA format requires names and resources to be cited in a particular way.
Aside from this basic format, a paper in APA style is written with specific characteristics. For example, a paper in APA style must include a title page and a summary of the work before the paper begins. Sources must be cited in a specific way, and the paper's conclusion must include references and an appendix.
What is an APA citation example?
In APA style, you must put the author's last name and year of publication in parenthesis to cite another work. For example, if a student writes a paper with information from Stanley Hall published in 1950, the information cited would look as follows: (Hall, 1950). For direct quotations, the page number must be listed. For example, if a student is writing a paper from a book by Kendra Cherry and quoting her directly from page 133, it would look as follows: (Cherry, 2012, p. 133).
What are the characteristics of APA style?
The characteristics of the APA style can be found in the Manual of the American Psychological Association. These characteristics include:
Title page
Abstract, a summary of the work
Introduction to the paper
Method—how the study was conducted
Results of the study
Discussion of the results
References and citations
Appendix
Should I use APA or MLA?
What style you use may depend on what you're writing. MLA is often used in literary papers and subjects related to the humanities. It's more common at the high school level. APA is often used in research and technical work, especially in papers by professional psychologists and studies.
What do I do to become a psychologist?
To become a psychologist, you must first obtain a bachelor's degree in a social sciences area. A master's degree in counseling, psychology, social work, or a related area may be required. Graduate students in psychology can choose from a wide range of specialties, such as clinical psychology or experimental psychology. Once you have finished your master's, you can apply for a Ph.D. program.
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