Our Mission
Advance the mental health and well-being of Asian American communities through research, professional practice, education, and policy.
Science
Explore advances in research and science of Asian American psychology and mental health with new theories and frameworks for understanding the Asian American experience and cutting-edge research using qualitative and quantitative methodologies. Be part of this cutting edge work by connecting with other researchers in this field and exchanging ideas. Visit this section to read the latest empirical studies in our peer-reviewed journal, Asian American Journal of Psychology.
Practice
Learn prevention and treatment strategies and engage in conversations on how to best work with Asian American communities. Our goal is to promote culturally competent, evidence-based and practionners experience in mental health services that meet the needs our diverse Asian American populations. This section is designed for AAPA members to exchange current and new practices in mental health in working with Asian American communities that can be used in community mental health agencies, hospitals, college centers, schools, government agencies, private practice and more.
Education
Provide training and education for the next generation of Asian American psychologists and mental health providers and researchers. Take advantage of all the opportunities available to AAPA members, including our scholarships, awards, online forums, mentorship programs, leadership development program, and annual conventions.
Policy
Advocate for the welfare and well being of Asian Americans at all levels of government through community-engaged scholarship and practice and and partnerships with other organizations to ensure the visibility and rights of Asian Americans. Visit this section to learn what issues AAPA and members are currently advocating on, and new policies and legislations that effect Asian American psychology as well as general psychology and mental health advocacy.
President’s Message
I am grateful for the opportunity to serve as the 22nd President of the Asian American Psychological Association (AAPA), alongside Vice President Dr. Nellie Tran and past-president Dr. Helen Hsu. I am honored to serve under a legacy of great AAPA presidents and alongside several amazing leaders who comprise our current AAPA Executive Committee!
Founded in 1972 by a group of Asian American psychologists and other mental health professionals in the San Francisco Bay Area, the mission of the Asian American Psychological Association is to advance the mental health and well-being of Asian American communities through research, professional practice, education, and policy.
AAPA is an intersectional community composed of multi-disciplinary professionals, educators, researchers, clinicians, advocates, students, and allies. We are not only psychologists and psychology professors, but also social workers, marital and family therapists, public health professionals and other disciplines who are committed to Asian American mental health and well-being. We are a community of US born, immigrants, refugees, mixed heritage, or from dozens of varied Asian, Native and Pacific Islander heritages, of every sexual orientation and gender expression and varied socioeconomic and disability status.
A majority of our rapidly growing community is comprised of graduate students, and early career rising leaders. We are a proud member of the Council of National Psychology Associations for the Advancement of Ethnic Minority Interests (CNPAAEMI) Leadership Development Institute. AAPA also maintains its own Leadership Fellows Program and facilitates a Student Leadership Institute retreat which provides mentoring and access to historically underrepresented talent.
I invite you to learn more about our organization by following us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, exploring our divisions on Women, South Asian Americans, Students, Filipinx Americans, LGBTQQ, Practice and Asian Americans with Multiple Heritages, as well as our Education and Policy Committees. I welcome you to attend our annual convention which offers the opportunity connect and learn with other members. We have a plethora of resources such as factsheets and guides developed by our members. We proudly publish the Asian American Journal of Psychology.
I am most proud of the connections made through AAPA and our collaborations with communities such as other Ethnic Minority Psychological Associations and programs such as the American Psychological Association’s Minority Fellowship program. Several can attest to the power of some of many of those relationships as they have withstood time, distance, and numerous other factors.
Join our community if you are looking for a professional home committed to advancing and promoting, learning and teaching, mentoring and networking about mental health in the AAPI communities!
Recent News / View All
AAJP June 2021 Article Spotlight: Joel Wong and Keiko McCullough wrote “The Intersectional Prototypicality Model: Understanding the Discriminatory Experiences of Asian American Women and Men”
Manish Agarwal | AAJP, Announcements | No CommentsThis June’s Asian American Journal of Psychology’s feature article is written by Joel Wong and Keiko McCullough, who provided information about their research and writing the article below. Check out…
2021 ANNUAL CONVENTION (Virtual) Expanding Our Banyan Tree: Unity, Inclusivity, and Intersectionality in Scholarship Proposal deadline June 14th, 2021 at 11:59 pm PST Proposal submission information at this link. Submit…
Statement in Support of Naomi Osaka & Mental Health Advocacy in the Workplace
Admin AAPA | Announcements, News, Press Release, Statements | No Commentssee .pdf version here Date: June 3, 2021 We, the Asian American Psychological Association, write this statement in adamant support of Naomi Osaka’s decision to not appear before international media…