2026 CANDIDATE STATEMENTS

CANDIDATES FOR PRESIDENT

James Boswell, PhD

I am honored to run for President-Elect of the Society for the Advancement of Psychotherapy. I am a Professor of Clinical Psychology and Director of Clinical Training at the University at Albany, State University of New York. I received my PhD in clinical psychology from Penn State University and am a licensed psychologist.

I have been a member of the Society for nearly 20 years and have served in various roles, beginning with multiple student committees. Since completing my PhD, I have been a member of numerous Society grant review committees, Chair of the Division 29 APA Convention Program, and an Editorial Board member for our journal, Psychotherapy. In addition, I recently served on the APA Advisory Committee on Measurement-Based Care.

My primary research interests are in practice-oriented psychotherapy research, and I’ve always valued the Society’s commitment to integrating science and practice. If elected, rather than make everyone dizzy with another set of new President initiatives, my primary aim would be to continue supporting the strengths and recent initiatives of the Society and its governance. In addition, I would focus on promoting (a) the clinical relevance of scientific findings from our journal and Society-funded research projects, and (b) the input of practitioners in the generation and dissemination of practice-based evidence. I have experience in local, national, and international leadership roles, and I will draw on that experience to further strengthen the Society and build connections with our colleagues in allied organizations. Thank you for your consideration.

Melissa Goates Jones, PhD

Division 29 has been my professional home for years. In a profession that can sometimes feel fragmented across roles and settings, being part of a community grounded in shared values has been important to me, and because of this I’m honored to be nominated to serve as Div 29 President. 

At this moment, our field faces both opportunities and strains. We are navigating evolving training and licensure pathways and emerging technologies that are reshaping how psychotherapy is practiced, documented, and evaluated. I believe Division 29 can lead thoughtfully in this moment.

We can strengthen international mentoring and research networks by intentionally pairing scholars and practitioners across countries and licensure paths, creating structured opportunities for collaborative research, supervision dialogue, and shared programming. We can cultivate inclusive leadership pipelines by identifying students, early-career psychologists, and master’s-level practitioners for committee roles, offering leadership development workshops, and ensuring transparent pathways into governance. And we can offer guidance on the ethical and effective use of technology—through task forces, convention programming, publications, and practical resources—that helps members integrate AI and digital tools while preserving psychotherapy’s relational core.

Division 29 has always advanced psychotherapy by bridging science and practice, and I would love to be a part of helping to bridge tradition and innovation in the same spirit. 

CANDIDATES FOR SECRETARY

Kevin McCarthy, PhD

I am excited and ready to take my next step in the service of the field of psychotherapy, and I believe secretary of Division 29: The Society for the Advancement of Psychotherapy (SAP) is an optimal position for my talents and efforts. A long-time member of SAP, I have participated in the Society’s many activities, from reading, citing, reviewing for, and publishing in the Psychotherapy and the Psychotherapy Bulletin to following social media and online postings. I have been a part of the selection processes for various awards and honors that SAP gives, as well as a grateful recipient of the Charlie Gelso award to start a psychotherapy process data archive. I have joined in the discussions of the Board of Directors as a Chairperson of the Early Career Psychologists Committee. Having these experiences, I am capable to take on the duties of secretary to SAP. Organizing and providing support to the Board meetings with the Executive Officer will be my major purpose, making certain that the membership has access to the proceedings and decisions being made to further the Society. I am excited for other ways the Secretary can fulfill the mission of SAP, like facilitating communication and outreach to our community. I especially look forward to influencing the update our priorities statement in 2028 to match our every-evolving commitment to the field. I would be grateful for your vote for secretary of the Society so I would have the opportunity to serve in these ways. 

Wilson Trusty, PhD

I am honored to be considered for Secretary of Division 29. I am a research psychologist at Penn State’s Center for Collegiate Mental Health (CCMH), which is an international practice-research network of university counseling centers. I have been involved in Division 29 since the beginning of my psychology career, including receiving the Gelso psychotherapy research grant and publishing in Psychotherapy and Psychotherapy Bulletin. I currently serve on the Division’s Professional Practice Committee and am an Associate Editor for Journal of Psychotherapy Integration. As a psychotherapy researcher, clinician, and supervisor, I believe that excellence in the science and practice of psychotherapy can profoundly benefit individuals and society. I am deeply committed to Division 29’s priorities of advancing psychotherapy science and practice, increasing public engagement and advocacy, enhancing training and supervision, and supporting the professionals and organizations in our field. I believe I have the organizational skills and knowledge of the Division (e.g., through committee service) to complete the duties of Secretary effectively. Additionally, I have had the privilege of working with a broad range of researchers, administrators, and clinicians through my position in CCMH’s practice-research network and my clinical work in community mental health, private practice, and university counseling settings. I anticipate that my familiarity with these stakeholders will help me represent a diverse range of perspectives on the Division’s board. I would be thrilled to contribute to Division 29 as Secretary, and I appreciate your consideration!

CANDIDATES FOR DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL JUSTICE AND PUBLIC POLICY

Stephanie Winkeljohn Black, PhD

I am honored to be nominated for the Social Justice and Public Policy board position for the Society for the Advancement of Psychotherapy. I have been a member of Division 29 for several years, previously serving as Assistant Editor of the e‑Bulletin and now as a member of the Psychotherapy editorial board. With my commitment to psychotherapy research and training, I am excited to continue making Division 29 my professional home.

I am an early career counseling psychologist and associate professor at Penn State Harrisburg. My research and training focus on religious and spiritual identities in psychotherapy and on cultural responsiveness more broadly. I have published over 40 articles and chapters on multiculturalism, diversity, psychotherapy, and supervision.

My leadership experience across APA divisions has centered on communication, advocacy, and social justice. In Division 17, I co‑chaired the 2025 APA convention programming and contributed to the newsletter. In Division 36, I served as Communications Director and co‑chair of the Social Justice Task Force, where we facilitated member listening sessions on mentorship, access, and belonging, and developed recommendations for the executive committee. These roles have deepened my appreciation for the time, care, and collaboration required for effective service.

If elected, I look forward to working with members and the board to further integrate social justice and public policy into existing and emerging initiatives. I hope to support workshops, dialogue, continuing education, and other opportunities that help members engage these topics in their psychotherapy research and practice.

Andrés E. Pérez-Rojas, PhD

I am honored to be nominated for Director of the Public Interest and Social Justice domain for the Society for the Advancement of Psychotherapy. I am a counseling psychologist and Associate Professor at Indiana University Bloomington whose research focuses on culturally and structurally responsive psychotherapy. I currently serve the Society in various capacities, including as Associate Editor for our wonderful journal, Psychotherapy. I am grateful to call SAP my professional home.

For the past three years, I have served as Director of this domain. In this role, I have worked to ensure that the Society continues to engage issues of social justice and public policy relevant to psychotherapy—work that remains essential, even in a challenging social climate. During my term, we have sustained longstanding initiatives and launched new ones that advance our mission.

One ongoing project examines how therapists can effectively serve clients from low socioeconomic status backgrounds; it is nearing completion and will inform clinical practice, training, and research. More recently, we began developing a rubric to assess how well therapists incorporate social determinants of health and structural factors into case conceptualization, with applications for training and research. We also continue to collaborate across domains, including an upcoming webinar on Structural Stigma and Mental Health Disparities, co-sponsored with the Membership domain. 

If elected to continue in this role, I will further advance the integration of equity, diversity, inclusion, and social justice into all aspects of psychotherapy.

CANDIDATES FOR DIRECTOR OF INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

Dana Tzur Bitan, PhD

I am honored to offer my candidacy as the Director of International Affairs for Division 29 of the Society for the Advancement of Psychotherapy (SAP). Aligning with the main objectives of SAP, in recent years my scientific and clinical work has been focusing on strengthening the bridges between psychotherapy science, practice, and training through international, collaborative, and interdisciplinary perspectives. I am especially committed to integrating diverse scientific and clinical languages to facilitate a holistic understanding of the patient. To this effect, I have led an interdisciplinary research program integrating epidemiological, clinical, and translational approaches, published over 100 peer-reviewed articles, and have been assigned to leadership roles in the field of mental healthcare. These positions enabled me to appreciate the importance of close integration of research, clinical practice, and policy at both national and international levels. Within SAP, I currently co-chair the International Committee, where I have worked to expand SAP’s global reach and to foster meaningful engagement of international members. Over the past four years, I have been actively involved in building international visibility by organizing Division 29’s panels in international conferences, facilitating cross-national research collaborations, initiating and supporting peer-reviewed publications, and guest-editing a special issue focusing on psychotherapy around the world. If elected, I am committed to further strengthening SAP’s international presence, and further amplifying diverse voices to support scholars and clinicians interested in the mission of SAP. I believe such efforts would promote psychotherapy as a globally relevant, evidence-based, and socially responsive discipline, and would be honored to continue contributing to this mission.

Xu Li, PhD

My name is Xu Li and I’m currently an Associate Professor in the Counseling Psychology Division at Department of Educational Psychology, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. I am deeply honored to be considered as a candidate for the Director for International Affairs position for APA Division 29 Society for the Advancement of Psychotherapy (SAP).

As a researcher, I have focused on understanding what makes psychotherapy effective across cultural contexts and on advancing therapists’ multicultural competency. As a practitioner and trainer, I have worked with clients and trainees from diverse backgrounds internationally, which has strengthened my appreciation for both the challenges and the generative potential of cross-cultural psychotherapy.

During my current role as Director of International Affairs, I have translated these commitments into concrete initiatives that expand SAP’s global engagement. I have continued and strengthened key programs such as international research grants and social networking opportunities, supported international collaborative research projects, and developed partnerships with organizations such as Oriental Insight in China to organize workshops and presentations. I have also contributed to new membership recognition initiatives and supported steady growth in international membership.

Building on this work, I will continue to strengthen sustainable international partnerships, increase global accessibility of SAP resources, and further integrate international scholars and practitioners into SAP’s leadership, programming, and research. My goal is to ensure that international perspectives are meaningfully integrated into psychotherapy research, practice, and training within SAP, while expanding SAP’s global influence.