Mission
The Social Justice and Public Policy domain seeks to enhance members’ awareness of legislative and institutional changes that may impact the profession. This domain advocates for and supports efforts at a variety of system levels: legislative, governmental, and institutional.
It also supports advocacy issues pertinent to the field of psychotherapy – for example, changes in insurance reimbursement, decreased funding to graduate education programs, and proposed legislature. Further, the domain works to promote social justice, equality, and fairness for those populations with whom we work.
Domain Representatives
This section highlights the dedicated professionals who oversee and contribute to each specialized domain within the field of psychotherapy, ensuring continued growth, development, and innovation across various areas of practice.
Rosemary Adam-Terem, Ph.D.
Social Justice and Public Policy Domain Representative to the Board of Directors
Dr. Adam-Terem is a clinical psychologist in full-time independent practice in Honolulu, Hawai`i where she is involved with her local psychological association as the Chair of the Ethics and the Convention/Continuing Education Committees. She teaches psychotherapy classes occasionally in the Clinical Studies Program of the University of Hawai`i Psychology Department, and supervises practicum students placed in the community.
Within APA, Dr Adam-Terem is a member of Divisions 29 (of course!), 35 (Women), 42 (Independent Practice), 48 (Peace), and a member of the Divisions for Social Justice (Chair-elect). She has served on the Rural Health Committee as member and co-chair, and as a member of the Continuing Education Committee. She also served as Hawai`i’s representative to the Council of Representatives for one term.
This is the first year of her second term as the Domain Representative for Social Justice and Public Interest. She was also the chair of the Committee, a role now ably filled by Hiro Sasaki.
Dive Deeper into Social Justice and Public Policy in Psychotherapy
Latest Insights
Latest in Social Justice & Public Policy
A Call to Action: Decolonizing Clinical Practice
Theories and processes of psychology have largely been influenced by North American and European psychologists whose Western-oriented paradigms have not promoted inclusivity or recognized the strengths of ethnically diverse cultures. Western paradigms promote power, hierarchical order, and structural privilege to the detriment of the well-being and mental health of racially and ethnically diverse cultures (Goodman […]
August Alderman M.S. + 4 more
January 15, 2024
A Better World Is Possible
Though they may seem initially like an odd couple, psychology and abolition are inextricably linked. Abolition has meant many things throughout history, and in this paper, it is defined as the dismantling of the prison-industrial complex (PIC) and the creation of structures of accountability and care that are fundamentally non-punitive. Activist and organizer, Rachel Herzing, […]
Hannah Klukoff, B.A. + 1 more
December 1, 2020
Gay in OK
Be a blank slate, but also be an advocate. Wait, no, not like that. In graduate school, we are taught to hopefully become ethical, effective psychological practitioners. That model pretends that psychology exists in a bubble and is not subjected to the outside world’s judgments, prejudice, and ignorance; psychotherapy is often intended to empower people […]
Tye Stephens, MA
April 21, 2020
A Psychological Perspective on Collective Action and Healing
A Psychological Perspective on Collective Action and Healing The field of psychology has traditionally focused on promoting the well-being of individuals, couples, families, and even groups, but has focused less on promoting the well-being and healing of communities as a whole. There is much that psychology can offer to promote connection and health within communities […]
Rohini Gupta, Psy.D. + 1 more
March 8, 2020
Camino Profesional y Persona
There are many considerations that influence the decision to embark on a graduate education, including but not limited to values, career aspirations, family supports, timing, and finances. For students of color, this process often includes additional questions, such as, “Will there be other students who look like me or share similar backgrounds? How inclusive is […]
Elizabeth Rubio, M.A. + 1 more
November 12, 2019
“Let’s Talk on the Fourth Floor”
Our idea, which three of us came up with nearly simultaneously, was born out of good intentions. We noticed that our most vulnerable students were often reluctant to go to our university’s counseling center. Our idea was to bring psychotherapy services to the place where they felt most comfortable, the floor of the student union […]
Paul Kwon, Ph.D.
September 2, 2019
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