I just returned from the annual APA convention in Chicago. While there, I went to a symposium in which one of the presenters explained that his involvement in various professional organizations was made up of small moments in time which led to significant outcomes that motivated his involvement. As I sat listening to him, I wondered when I might have little moments of my own, since I had been interested in getting involved as a means to impact change and give back. I soon realized that the experiences of which this man spoke had happened to me. I just never realized their significance. After reflecting on these moments, I solidified for myself how I feel about being involved in various professional organizations within the field of psychology. So, as I share this with you, I will likely use my own moments in time as an example; for I do not know how else to adequately convey my thoughts.

Graduate school was an adjustment. I felt intimidated by the people around me, as they seemed to have much more knowledge than me. Although I would never admit it aloud, I wondered if I had what it took to succeed. Part of my adjustment consisted of figuring out that graduate school is as much about learning how to be a well rounded professional as it is about taking classes.

This was my first moment in time. It afforded me a couple of lessons. Yes, graduate school is challenging. But, it is a place where you are expected to learn and grow. And, it is also a safe place in which you can revel in being a student. Here is a wonderful reason to be active in professional organizations as a student. You can access the same opportunities and experiences as full fledged professionals with the knowledge that veterans will support and even guide you through your first tentative steps in the field. You can learn how to navigate the inner workings of the professional community while learning everything else about the field. When you graduate, getting involved and finding peer support is not a new challenge but rather second nature. Additionally, you can become comfortable interacting with other professionals on a regular basis at a time when they expect that you are learning. This helped abate my fears. More and more, I realized that it was possible to be active in my profession while in school.

One of my professors, in particular, was actively involved in both my state psychological association as well as APA. He would speak about the organizations, informing me about the activities as well as the overall benefits of being a member. It is important to note that I respect this professor tremendously. As a result, I fully believed what he said about being involved in professional organizations. I even wrote a paper about the benefits of graduate student membership in professional psychological associations. I wrote about the reduced membership fees that made organizations accessible, opportunities to learn more about specialty areas, access to conferences and seminars, possible connections to practicing psychologists across the country, and increased opportunities for presentations and publications. Despite this knowledge, I continued to simply listen to him. I was still overwhelmed at the prospect of assuming a professional identity. I lingered on the sidelines.

My remaining moments in time all surrounded attending the APA convention. My friend and I had tentative plans to attend the convention together. But, she backed out saying that a professor of hers had said that it was too early in her career to attend. I went to my professor, presented this new idea, and asked for his thoughts on it. He opposed this position with such conviction that I again felt comfortable with the prospect of investing time and finances into attending. Still, my views were firmly based on my faith in my professor’s conviction and not on my own. Within two weeks, I had gathered a group of eight students from my program to go to the convention.

August came much faster than I had anticipated, and it was time to leave for the convention. Once the conference began, I experienced another moment in time. I realized that it was only by taking a leap of faith and jumping head first into the APA convention that I could discover the true value of being involved. Every thought I had about psychological associations to this point had been speculation. While at the convention, I had a one to one conversation with Albert Ellis. I met psychologists who I had seen in training videos. I went to social hours with rooms full of people who shared my specific interests. While at these events, I had conversations unlike any I had ever had prior. I engaged with practicing professionals who were living my dream and with that came a level of comfort, professionalism, and contentment that was unparalleled for me.

Overlapping during the time leading up to the convention, I decided it was important to me to have a better idea about what went on in local professional organizations. So, I attended my state psychological association’s executive council meeting. It so happened that this particular meeting was the last before breaking for the summer, so it was a fabulous first meeting to attend. There was a year in review presentation given by each committee chair, and many past presidents of the association were in attendance. This was also another moment in time. I gained invaluable insight into the actual role that professional organizations and their active members have in shaping the field and its future. I learned that my state association is actively involved in helping practitioners navigate and cope with managed healthcare. The organization advocates for issues such as prescriptive authority and mental health parity. There are numerous continuing education seminars as well as longer conventions and retreats sponsored by the group. While I am not in need of CE credit, many of the topics mentioned were still of interest to me. A monthly newsletter is published that keeps members up to date on issues on both the local and national levels. In addition, I had the opportunity to listen to this particular group of past presidents speak at the meeting. It was fascinating to have a tapestry of the history of the organization and the profession lay out before me.

I came to appreciate how much is involved in creating the professional atmosphere in which I strive to belong. I had always taken for granted that the circumstances of the profession were just what they were. I figured that the outcome of the battle for prescriptive authority or mental health parity was far beyond my control. I never imagined that by being active in the profession I could help shape it. I plan on psychology being my career. It gives me great comfort to know that by doing something as simple as being active within the profession I can impact the future of the field, thus impacting my own future. I have also learned that it is only beneficial to get involved now. There is no need to wait until I am a licensed professional to begin advocating for my field. I will only be more effective later, if I am active now.

All these experiences led me to my ultimate moment in time. Upon my return home, I realized that by taking this leap and attending the convention I gained a personal connection to and investment in my professional community. I no longer rely on my professor’s beliefs. I have my own. I know that I will continue to be involved. Maybe you do not have the encouragement from professors that I did, but that need not be an obstacle. Take someone or go it alone, but see for yourself what opportunities are available. Our involvement in professional organizations is the key to our profession’s success in the future. Whether you envisioned yourself as an active participant or not, now is a great time to get involved. Reap the benefits of membership while contributing to your future in psychology. I believe that if more people can find their moments in time and make the decision to be active in this profession then the profession and the individuals will benefit in ways that we can’t even imagine.

Return to Table of Contents