A Review of

Bringing Psychotherapy Research to Life: Legacies from the Society of Psychotherapy Research

Editors: Louis G. Castonguay, J. Christopher Muran, Lynne Angus, Jeffrey A. Hayes, Nicholas Ladany, and Timothy Anderson

Review by Donald K. Freedheim, PhD

Louis Castonguay and his team of editors (six all together) have undertaken a gigantic task in organizing this biography of renowned psychotherapy researchers, the veritable “hall of fame” of the Society of Psychotherapy Research (SPR).

Sixty authors were enlisted to chronicle the works of 28 national and international researchers who have been responsible for the major directions and the majority of the studies in the field over the last half century.   From personal experience I know that editing such a volume is no ‘walk in the park,’ and having five co-editors does not simplify the effort.  Each author was given a standard format to follow in writing the brief—but not insufficient—biographies.  The information to be gathered included personal history, early influences, theoretical foundations, major accomplishments, students, and collaborative efforts.  Although various authors emphasized different aspects of the outline, for the most part, the chapters reflect a balanced mix of interesting and useful information.

The book begins with a helpful overview that lays out the very logical organization of the text.   First, the foundations for the scientific study of psychotherapy are represented by the works of Carl Rogers, Jerome Frank, Lester Luborsky,  Hans Strupp, and Aaron Beck[1].  All but the latter are now deceased, Luborsky, most recently.

After the foundations are explored, sections are divided by the following questions:

Does therapy work?  Answered by four outcome researchers: Irene Elkin, Ken Howard, Allen Bergin, and Klaus Grawe, also recently deceased.  How does it work?  Fifteen researchers are referenced here, with topics divided by therapist’s contributions, client contributions, relationship variables, etc.  And lastly, What works for whom?  Sol Garfield (deceased), Larry Beutler, Sid Blatt, and William Piper are covered in this section.

The common threads that run through the biographies are predictable: academically oriented families—with a few exceptions, notably Bill Piper and Larry Beutler, who was a cowboy in his early years—varied interests before psychology (music for Irene Elkin and Lorna Benjamin, engineering for Les Greenberg), talented students with endless intellectual curiosity.  But it is interesting to note the varied backgrounds of the researchers from cultural environments to religious differences.  Several were in families that fled the European holocaust.

The volume concludes with an ample six-author summary which rounds out the coverage of therapeutic approaches and research centers and looks into future directions.

Despite the necessary brevity of the chapters, each includes extensive references, listing the major publications of the researchers. It might be pointed out that despite the separate chapters for each researcher, many have collaborated with each other through the years and some are part of large collaborative studies.  This is both a source of elucidation and confusion.  At times this reviewer wished for a chart indicating the interactions of the theoretical perspectives, research methodologies, etc. to clarify the relationships among the various researchers.  It might be helpful to design a sociogram, which would provide an interesting picture of the clusters that emerge within the ‘families’ of researchers.

In reading through the methodologies of the researchers, one is struck by not only the complexities of the researchers’ tasks, but the increasingly sophisticated techniques that are being employed to record and analyze the data.  From self-report and observational methods to computing hundreds of data points, researchers have improved the reliability of findings.  So, too, sample sizes have grown (e.g., Piper directs a large coalition of international researchers).  And findings are subjected to more and more rigorous scrutiny.

An added question to the ones above might be, “Who is this book for?”

Certainly it is for the archives and members of the Society for Psychotherapy Research.  The work is a great historical document for the Society and stands as a tribute to the founders of SPR.

Beyond SPR, advanced students and potential researchers seeking an overview of the field would be enlightened, if not amazed, by the persistent attempts to unravel the mysteries of the psychotherapeutic process.  Unlike many remedies that seek to heal physical ills, understanding the complex interactions of therapy presents almost insurmountable challenges.  There is no question that somehow much of therapy is successful with many patients.  Yet even when it “works” we often don’t know how that happens in any real operational sense.  Teasing out the therapist, client, problem variables of the equation, much less the interactions among them, is a daunting task.

Castonguay, et al. have brought to life the pioneers of the psychotherapy research enterprise, as well as many contemporary researchers who have waded into the troubled waters of investigating this elusive phenomena we call ‘psychotherapy.’  The book is a benchmark that serves as a perfect springboard for future decades of the ongoing study of psychotherapy.

By Christopher E. Overtree:

When I went to college, all students were required to have a voicemail account, enabling college administrators to send campus wide messages.  Voicemail served an important social purpose too; we checked hourly to see whether we would be enjoying burritos at the Wa Wa or foot-longs at Hoagie Haven.  But, we had a choice about whether we wanted email, and without realizing what I was doing, I selected one.  Thus begins my story of the race for information, constant availability, and the battle for privacy amidst a world of transparency.  Sometimes I wish I had that choice back.

But there was no one to email back then, unless I wanted to shoot some computer jock a note about “how cool this is” or a message to Steve Jobs reserving a Newton.  Now I am plugged in, and my suspicion is that you are too.  If not, you are probably told you are hard to reach, asked for your email rather you’re your name, or have been told that your family’s photos are on Facebook rather than in an album.  It’s been a bumpy ride.

For psychotherapists, this has created unique challenges.  Our profession understands the role that self-disclosure can play in therapy.  But in the Internet age, self-disclosure happens to us as information is gradually absorbed by the searchable Internet.  We used to think we could opt out, but now realize that it is often better to manage our information than to keep it hidden.  In my view the question is not whether psychotherapists should embrace technology, but rather, how should this be done.  Our economy frequently asks what jobs and services can be moved to the Internet.  My plumber recently ordered parts for my washing machine on his Blackberry.  But what about psychotherapy?

As this question brings positive and negative associations to your mind, ponder additionally where discussions about our field are taking place.  Where is the dialogue about modern psychotherapy happening?  Where do early career psychologists and psychology students find their information, their mentors, and their outlets for dialogue?  Where do critics post their harangues?  Where is the role of psychotherapy, its utility, its billability, and its very livelihood being discussed?  Why the Internet of course!  Shouldn’t the Division of Psychotherapy have a loud voice amidst the cacophony?  Our own www.divisionofpsychotherapy.org is this opportunity.

Taking over as the Internet Editor for the Division of Psychotherapy was like knocking down the top floor of a skyscraper and rebuilding the penthouse.  Obviously, any discussion of the future of our website begins with gratitude to Abe Wolf, past President and first Internet Editor who built things from the ground up and gave the Division such an outstanding online presence.  New changes are not referendums on how things used to be done, but rather opportunities for the evolution of ideas and possibilities.  But rebuilding the penthouse is no small task, and requires us to ponder its design, its selling points, and how it will stand out in the very crowded web.

The New Web

The new web is not a place where paper documents are scanned and stored.  It is not a redundant back-up of printed content, nor is it a secondary source of information.  The new web is a primary source, the place where more and more original content is created, displayed and made searchable.  Printed documents have become secondary sources because their information is anchored to their publication date.  Sad, but true, your morning Times is already out-of-date when it arrives at your doorstep.

The new web is also extremely interactive, not static.  It is an interconnected network of information that evolves in response to its users.  In essence, the web is a wiki, which represents the collective wisdom (and interests) of the global online community.  A website that does not adapt to user interactions, or update its content in real time, comes to resemble the dusty leaves of a silk plant; attractive maybe, but certainly not alive.

In 2004, Google began an experiment in which flu-related search terms were used to map flu activity in different regions of the United States.  By aggregating the data, essentially a collection of users searching flu symptoms and remedies, Google was able to map flu outbreaks roughly two weeks before the CDC.  The power of their algorithm was in the interactions between users and the web, not in the web itself.  This success reminds us that the web is a primary source, an interactive endeavor, and one that relies on its users to establish its relevance.

Division 29’s growth and influence in the field of psychotherapy is intimately tied to its web presence, perhaps as much as its publications and activities.  Our website is a portal for our members, but also for the public, policy makers, our critics and supporters.  Our website has the opportunity to play a valuable role in the dissemination of information about psychotherapy, establishing Division 29’s leadership in the field.

If you google the word, “psychotherapy,” our website comes up third in the hit list (Wikipedia is number one).  However, if you google the phrase, “psychotherapy bylaws,” we shoot to the number one spot.  This says a lot about how our website has been used in the past, but also gives us a clear picture of our future direction.  A focus on documenting Division activities can shift to one that plays a vital role in the exchange of information about psychotherapy.  It can be a resource for early career psychologists and students seeking colleagues and information.  It can be a tool for leadership.

Our New Website

Our new website looks very different from the old, and is built on a different set of design principles which bring unique strengths and weaknesses.  The website was built using WordPress, an Open Source, self-hosting blogging tool used by millions of sites to display everything from pictures of puppies engaging in humorous antics to international corporations reporting news and earnings.  Our site has a custom-built exterior, backed by a powerful infrastructure that is very stable and feature-rich.  For those of you not familiar with the Open Source movement, it is based on the notion of collectively authored software platforms with code made available to the public for editing, troubleshooting, and the incorporation of new features.  Open Source software is often more stable, adaptable, and typically faster than commercial platforms, and in case you still need to be convinced, is available free.  Our choice of WordPress thus represents a shrewd financial decision as well as a statement of support for Internet freedom and transparency.  It also brings some excellent features.

Now first and foremost, forget what you know about “blogging,” as our site does not operate like some of the blogs you may have come to enjoy or despise.  A blog-style website simply means a design that highlights and organizes new material as “posts,” placed at center stage to get the viewer’s attention.  Posts can be articles, commentaries, announcements, book reviews, or even pictures from social events.  Each post is optimized for keyword search, grouped into categories for easy sorting, and also “tagged” with specific keywords that tell readers which topics occur most often (check out the Tag Cloud on the homepage which graphically represents hot topics).  So new posts get highlighted on the homepage, categorized and tagged.  As a post ages, it fades into the background, but is always ready to be called up by a targeted keyword or category search.  A post can be authored by anyone, and readers can respond with comments that are monitored to prevent spam.

Our homepage does lots of other things too.  Using widgets, we can display many other items including reminders, hyperlinks, Really Simple Syndication (RSS) feeds to display content from other sites, slide-shows and much more.  Currently, we are highlighting the Division’s 40^th Anniversary celebration, Jeffrey Magnavita’s “Re-envisioning the Division” slide show, an events calendar, and an RSS feed coming right from our Psychotherapy Journal showing the latest articles.

Across the top of every page is a selection of static pages, where the informational content of a traditional website is located.  These pages are updated less frequently, and are designed to contain information regarding governance activities.  New and emerging content will always be showcased on the homepage, but the backbone of the Division’s structure is contained in these permanent pages.

One of the best features of the new website is the ability to add users with different privileges, enabling them to create their own content, manage their own posts, and make changes to the site.  One excellent example of this is Jeffrey Barnett’s Ask the Ethicist column, which accepts questions on ethics in psychotherapy, and receives responses directly from Dr. Barnett.  Whenever Dr. Barnett responds to a question, readers see a new post highlighted on the home page.  A description of the Ask the Ethicist column, a place to post your own questions, and a link to view the archives can be found under the Continuing Education tab.  We hope that other Division 29 members will author their own columns, and there are currently plans for an Early Career Psychologist mentoring column, a Technology column, and a column for student members.

What is Different About the New Website

One of the major changes for the new website is its focus.  As was mentioned above, much of the previous content was “Division-only” business and paperwork.  While the new website still attempts to document these activities, it is not quite as useful for archiving documents given its focus on emerging content.  While members will still be able to find these documents, users will find this material well organized, but in the background.  There will be fewer PDF files, and more content is viewable directly on the page to improve access.

One of the other shifts our website is making is to be more attractive to web-surfers, particularly members of the public, policy makers, students and non-members with an interest in psychotherapy.  We hope to increase membership by expanding our reach throughout the Internet and by providing content that is useful to anyone interested in learning more about our field.

A Few Other Division 29 Internet Resources

For a while there, we watched, wallets in hand, as companies fought the format battle.  Vinyl to 8-track to cassettes to CD’s to MP3’s and back to vinyl.  VHS to DVD to Blueray to 3D ESPN.  But the ubiquitous role of information and the ability of computer code to adapt to any device has slowed these battles, and allowed us to focus on the point of all these formats and devices, the enjoyment and sharing of content.  Our online presence is also designed to be adaptable to emerging communication trends.  Rather than a one-size-fits all approach, we hope that our Division can be flexible, garnering followers in different venues or devices.  Can you believe I can edit our Division’s website from my iPhone?  Actually, I could if my fingers were smaller, but I promise you it is possible!

One such example is the Division’s new Facebook Page.  Facebook makes room for businesses and educational organizations, allowing them to post information and relying on fans to propagate this information by forwarding or reposting items of interest.  On our own homepage, you will see an invitation to become a Fan of the Division’s Facebook page.  New posts on the Division website are automatically reposted on Facebook, connecting them to the vast social network of our fans.  For those of you who are not Facebook users yet (or will never be), it is important to understand that developing a web presence means adaptability.  Our Facebook page reaches an entirely different type of user, one that is generally younger and more apt to follow web trends.  Our Facebook page also helps us to benefit from the logarithmic effect of passing information socially as posts are automatically shared with friends once, twice and thrice removed.  Facebook is also a great place for members of the Division to share interesting pieces of information that would not necessarily warrant rent space on our own homepage.  Shrewd followers of Division 29 will Find Us On Facebook!  At press time, we have 47 fans, with a hope that when article hits mailboxes, we will see a spike.  I’ll be watching.

You may also notice that the electronic version of our Psychotherapy Bulletin is viewable directly on our website, as well as available for download as a PDF file.  This is made possible by a document-hosting site, known as Scribd (pronounced scribe-d).  Scribd focuses primarily on complete documents and online publications, but also has a social networking component.  Scribd users can choose to subscribe to our publications, receiving notifications when new ones arrive.

Finally, if you saw the photos from the 40^th Anniversary celebration on the website, these were hosted on our Picasa page which displays photos for public, private, or by-invitation-only viewing.  This is a popular photo-sharing site, making it easy to upload photos from events, or to establish an archive of our Division’s history.

The Role of Online Publishing

I read an analysis recently on the environmental impact of manufacturing and delivering an Amazon Kindle. The conclusion was that the deleterious environmental consequences of purchasing a Kindle were outweighed in a single year by the reduction in paper use and waste in the print industry.  This is an impressive triumph for a new electronic device, which typically places increased pressure on the environment.  The proliferation of information devices such as the Kindle, iPhone and Blackberry, and new generation tablet computers such as the iPad tell us to expect considerably more growth in the online readership of our Psychotherapy Journal and Psychotherapy Bulletin.

As such, it makes sense that we discuss the optimal means for adapting publications to the online environment, and that we encourage members to select electronic versions instead of print.  As is the case with our website, it is the content that is most important.  Our strategy is to promote broad appeal, across many devices and formats.  We hope that future publications will be compelling enough and improved enough by electronic dissemination, that members will choose to view documents electronically.  More importantly, choosing to reduce paper use and publication cost is an opportunity for us to Go Green, bringing the Division more inline with modern conservation standards for educational and business organizations.  As if the above were not enough, we also hope members will choose to opt-out of receiving print documents in order to free up financial resources for improving the benefits of membership in new and exciting ways.

Future Possibilities

There are innumerable opportunities provided by the Internet to strengthen the Division of Psychotherapy.  Future growth may see the development of a presence on YouTube or possibly other areas more specifically geared to the field of psychotherapy.  As the Internet is a highly interactive environment, wholly dependent on the contributions of its users for growth, I hope the Division of Psychotherapy’s website will be equally participatory and members will feel comfortable coming forward with new ideas for content or strategies for broader dissemination. I will be placing an electronic, hyperlinked copy of this article on our website with a place for comments, questions or suggestions.  I hope readers of this article will share their reactions and ideas for the growth of Division 29’s online presence.

CHARLES J. GELSO, PH.D., PSYCHOTHERAPY RESEARCH GRANT

Division 29 created the annual Charles J. Gelso, Ph.D., Psychotherapy Research Grant to provide annual grants (up to $2000) supporting the advancement of research on psychotherapy process or psychotherapy outcome. Grant eligibility rotates biannually between graduate students/predoctoral interns and doctoral level psychologists/postdoctoral fellows.

The grant program was established in honor of Charles J. Gelso, Ph.D., who has made major contributions to theory and empirical research related to the psychotherapy relationship, including the working alliance, transference, countertransference, and the real relationship. In addition, his research has brought about important advances in our understanding of the research training environment in graduate education, as well as in the application of psychoanalytic concepts to short-term and long-term psychotherapy. He received his M.S. from Florida State University in 1964 and his Ph.D. from Ohio State University in 1970, and is a professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Maryland, College Park. He has mentored many new investigators in the area of psychotherapy research.

The Publication Board of the APA Division of Psychotherapy is seeking nominations (including self-nominations) for the position of Editor of the Psychotherapy Bulletin.  Candidates should be available to assume the title of Incoming Editor January 1, 2011, for a three-year term. During the first year of the term, the incoming editor will work with the incumbent editor.

The Psychotherapy Bulletin is an official publication of the Division of Psychotherapy.  It serves as the primary communication with Division 29 members and publishes archival material and official notices from the Division of Psychotherapy.  The Bulletin also serves as an outlet for timely information and discussions on theory, practice, training, and research in psychotherapy.

Prerequisites: Be a member or fellow of the APA Division of Psychotherapy

An earned doctoral degree in psychology

Support the mission of the APA Division of Psychotherapy

Responsibilities: The editor of the Psychotherapy Bulletin is responsible for its content and production.  Since the editor will work in collaboration with the Internet editor, a strong background in the use of technology and a vision for expanding the Bulletin’s presence in the online environment are important. The editor maintains regular communication with the Division’s Central Office, Board of Directors, and contributing editors. The editor is responsible for managing the page ceiling and for providing reports to the Publication Board as requested. The editor must be a conscientious manager, determine budgets, and administer funds for his or her office.  As an ex officio member of the Publication Board, the editor attends the scheduled meetings and conference calls of the Division’s Publications Board.  An editorial term is three years.

Oversight: The Editor of the Psychotherapy Bulletin reports to the Division of Psychotherapy’s Board of Directors through the Publication Board.

Nominations: To be considered for the position, please send a letter of interest and a copy of your curriculum vitae no later than April 15, 2010 to: Jean Carter, PhD, Publications Board, c/o Washington Psychological Center, PC, 5225 Wisconsin Avenue, NW, Suite 513, Washington DC  20015 or electronically to jcarterphd@gmail.com.  Inquiries about the position should be addressed to Dr. Jean Carter (202 244-3505 or jcarterphd@gmail.com) and/or to the incumbent editor, Dr. Jennifer Cornish (303 871-4734 or jcornish@du.edu).

Canter (1993) a History of the Division of Psychotherapy

References 2009 #1

The journal was established in 1964 and has been published ever since.

BYLAWS

ARTICLE XIV
(FROM BYLAWS ARTICLE XIV E) The editors of the Division’s publications shall be appointed for fixed terms of five (5) years for the editor of the Journal ….appointments shall be made upon recommendation of the Publications Board, with the concurrence of the President and the Executive Committee, and ratification by a majority vote of the Board of Directors…..Journal editor shall serve as member of the Board of Directors, ex officio and without vote…….. Editors shall be eligible to succeed themselves.

DUTIES/PROCEDURES
• The editor and associate editors of Psychotherapy accept or reject manuscripts submitted for publication; this usually requires detailed communications with authors.
• The editor is responsible for tracking manuscripts, coordinating  editorial reviews, and responding to authors in ways  that will regularly  provide accepted manuscripts to the publisher, where copyediting is done according to the journal schedule.
• The editor selects and communicates with the Editorial Board.
• The editor selects one or more associate editors
• The editor is responsible for managing the journal’s page ceiling and for   providing reports as required.
• The editor uses the APA electronic manuscript tracking/review system.
• The editor coordinates continuing education questions in the journal; The Editor’s office is responsible to collect items from authors and then send these items to the Continuing Education Chair.  The Chair selects items for inclusion in the journal from among those sent to him or her.
•   As an ex officio member of the Publication Board and the Board of
Directors, the editor attends those meetings of the Division of
Psychotherapy.
•  The duties and procedures are further detailed in the Call for Nominations: Editor of Psychotherapy, and in the contract entered into by the Editor and the Division.   Both documents are attached below

POLICIES

Journal General Policies

8-9-89:   Qualification Requirements for Journal Editor shall include
(1) Past editing experience
(2)  Experience as a reviewer
(3)  Published professional articles
8-15-97     Continuing Education credit is to be provided for Home Study of the journal.
8-15-97:   4 CE credits for Home Study per journal issue to be offered at the cost of $29 to Division members and $40 to nonmembers.  The test may be retaken for a partial fee.
Current Policy:   The editor and editorial assistants will request from each Journal article author multiple-choice questions and correct answers to be submitted for an article when it is accepted for publication.   The questions are reviewed and final selection is made by the Continuing Education Chair.  Members are charged $34 per test, and nonmembers are charged $40 per test.
According to APA, we must have at least 6-8 questions per article in order for our tests to qualify for CE home study.  A total of 28-33 questions must be on the test.   The CE Chair will select what he considers the best questions for each article to form the CE Home Study test.  A score of 75% or higher is required to pass.  The test may be retaken for a partial fee.
8-27-01:  BOD voted to accept in principle the latest proposal of the APA to have APA publish the Division’s journal, Psychotherapy.  A 10 year contract was signed in 2001.

2-21-02:  BOD voted to establish a new award for the best empirical research article published in Psychotherapy journal.  This award is the responsibility of the Committee on Research.

2003:  Publication of the journal, Psychotherapy was transferred to the APA, which will digitize past issues

Reprint Policies: The Journal often receives requests for permission to reprint articles, tables, or other data from its issues.  For any issues published after the Division’s contract with APA was executed (post 2001), the requestor should be directed to APA, since they own the copyrights for those issues.  For any issues published prior to 2001, the Division retains copyright.  Policy established by the Journal office states:
1.  For course/classroom use, permission is granted at no charge for one article, provided:
a.  that the permission of the author is obtained
b.  that full credit is given to the Psychotherapy Bulletin, including: author, title of both article and publication, volume and issue number, page rage and publisher.

2.  For other use, such as that requested for use in a book, video, internet publication or other money-making venture, the Division shall charge $10 per page, and the Division reserves all rights, and reserves the right to refuse anyone reprint permission.

Journal Financial Policies

8-08-90:   When a Search Committee interviews candidates for Journal editor, reimbursement is to be provided for one or two nights lodging and one or two days per diem.  No transportation reimbursement is to be provided when the meeting is held at the time of the APA Convention; otherwise, transportation is reimbursed.

The Journal Editor is reimbursed for attending meetings at the same rate as other governing board members, or as approved by the Board.  Reimbursement is to be made on the Division’s reimbursement form, with original receipts provided (This policy is also stated on the reimbursement form).

TIMELINES
The APA has established deadlines for receipt of manuscripts to appear in each issue. The deadlines for the March, June, September, and December issues each year are approximately the middle of December, March, June, and September, respectively.  Each issue of the Journal appears toward the end of the month in which it is scheduled to appear.

CENTRAL OFFICE
Central Office duties as they relate to the Journal are limited to Continuing Education only.
•    Central Office works with the Continuing Education chair to ensure that the requisite number of CE questions is included in the journal edition.
•    All completed CE tests are sent to Central Office to be graded.
•    Upon successful completion of the CE tests, Central Office mails completed CE certificates to the applicants.
•    Should an applicant fail the test, Central Office notifies the person in writing and provides the procedures for retaking the test.
•    Central Office accounts for all journal CE income, and provides any necessary reports to the APA CE office, the CE Chair and the Journal editor.
•    Should a member, or student affiliate, not receive a specific issue of the journal to which he is entitled, he is referred to the APA Journal Office to acquire a back issue.

Journal Editors
Former journal editors may be found in the Division 29 archives.

Journal Special Issues
A listing of all previous special issues may be found in the Division 29 archives
(The following two documents, the Call for Nominations for Journal Editor, and the contract with the current Journal editor, are provided for reference)

Call for Nominations: Editor of Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy: Theory, Research, Practice, Training is the official journal of the APA Division of Psychotherapy. The peer-reviewed journal is published quarterly by the Educational Publishing Foundation of the American Psychological Association.  Psychotherapy publishes research studies, theoretical contributions, clinical articles, and book reviews across the spectrum of theoretical orientations.  The journal – and the Division of Psychotherapy – seek to promote the integration of theory, research, practice, and training.

Prerequisites:        Be a member or fellow of the APA Division of Psychotherapy
An earned doctoral degree in psychology
Support the mission of the APA Division of Psychotherapy

Qualifications:    The candidate must have expertise in the coverage area of the journal.  The editor must be scholarly and knowledgeable as well as sensitive to activity in the field. The editor must be a conscientious manager, create and sustain an editorial office, determine budgets, and administer funds for his or her office.

Responsibilities:        The editor of Psychotherapy accepts or rejects manuscripts submitted for publication; this usually requires detailed communications with authors.  The editor is responsible for tracking manuscripts, coordinating editorial reviews, and responding to authors in ways that will regularly provide accepted manuscripts to the publisher, where copy-editing is done according to the journal schedule.  The editor selects and communicates with the Editorial Board.  The editor is responsible for managing the journal’s page ceiling and for providing reports as required. The editor uses the APA electronic manuscript tracking/review system.  The editor coordinates continuing education questions in the journal, with oversight of the Continuing Education Chair.  As an ex officio member of the Publication Board and the Board of Directors, the editor attends the governance meetings of the Division of Psychotherapy.

Time Commitment:    Editing Psychotherapy requires a major commitment of time.  The candidate should be prepared to devote up to12 hours a week editing the journal over a 5-year period.  The actual time spent may be more at the beginning of the editorship, but once routines are established, the editorial time could decrease.  In view of the time commitment, it may be necessary for the candidate to negotiate with his or her institution for release time.

Honorarium:    The editor receives an honorarium each year his or her name appears on the masthead.  An editorial term is five years. The honorarium for 2003 is $14,000. (No honorarium but some office expenses are paid for the incoming year.)

Office Expenses:        The publisher reimburses the editor’s office expenses within established guidelines, which are based on the number of original manuscript submissions. Currently, the annual amount for clerical office support is $20,000.  The use of APA’s electronic manuscript tracking/review system, which handles at least one-third of routine correspondence, reduces the amount of clerical support required.

Availability:    Candidates should be available to assume the title of Incoming Editor January 1, 2004.  The candidate is active in advance of the official five-year term processing and editing manuscripts for the first year of publication.  The last year of the term can be relatively inactive.

Oversight:    The Editor of Psychotherapy reports to the Division of Psychotherapy’s Board of Directors through the Publication Board.

Search Committee:    Jean Carter, PhD, Lillian Comas-Diaz, PhD, Raymond DiGiuseppe, PhD, Susan McDaniel, PhD, John C. Norcross, PhD (chair), Alice Rubinstein, EdD, and George Stricker, PhD.

Search Process:    Our screening of nominees will identify those who appear best to meet the criteria for editor.  These criteria include evidence of the candidate’s scientific and scholarly excellence, broad perspective, good judgment, communications skills, and management skills appropriate to an editor.  Three finalists will be asked to become candidates for the position.  They will be asked to prepare a statement (2 to 4 pages) on the journal changes and improvements they would foresee.  We will also request at that time a several references who can speak to qualities relevant to the editorship.  We will contact some of these people as well as others of our own choosing.  The three finalists will probably be interviewed in person at the 2003 APA convention in Toronto.  The Publication Board will then recommend a person for ratification by the Division 29 Board of Directors.

Nominations:    To be considered for the position, please send a letter of initial interest and a copy of your curriculum vitae no later than April15, 2003 to:
John C. Norcross, PhD
Chair, Publication Board
Department of Psychology
University of Scranton
Scranton, PA 18510-4596
Inquiries about the position should be addressed to Dr. John Norcross (570-941-7638; norcross@scranton.edu) and/or to the incumbent editor,
Dr. Wade Silverman (305-669-6757; whsilvermn@aol.com).

CONTRACT

August 26, 2003

Conditions of Agreement between the APA Division of Psychotherapy and
Charles Gelso, PhD

Charles J. Gelso, PhD
Department of Psychology
University of Maryland
College Park, MD  20742

Dear Dr. Gelso:

The following confirms the conditions of your appointment as Editor of Psychotherapy beginning with Volume 42 and all issues of volume years 2005 through 2009.

1. APPOINTMENT. Your appointment is an official action of APA Division of Psychotherapy (29) and requires no further confirmation within the APA governance structure. This agreement is in effect for the period of your term as Incoming Editor and Editor unless Division 29 and you agree otherwise in writing.

Psychotherapy is an official publication of Division 29 of the American Psychological Association and is owned and published by Division 29. Editors are appointed by the Division and serve at its pleasure as stipulated in its bylaws. Editors are provided with resources for manuscript review and selection and have wide authority in selecting and shaping the content of the journal — consistent with the approved coverage statement.  Ultimate editorial direction and publishing authority, however, belongs to the Division, and the journal is considered an instrument of service to the science and to the profession of psychology.

2. DIVISION 29 MEMBERSHIP.  It is understood that you are and will remain a member of Division 29 of APA in good standing during your term of office. As such, you will be entitled to all the benefits of membership as well as all the responsibilities that entails.

3.    TERMS OF OFFICE.  Effective January 1, 2004, your title is Incoming Editor and you will begin to receive manuscripts. You will assume the title of Editor on January 1, 2005. Your term as Editor will continue through December 31, 2009, unless otherwise agreed to in writing or unless terminated under provisions of paragraph 13 of this agreement.

4.    MANAGEMENT OF THE JOURNAL. You are expected to observe general policies and practices, currently in effect or as subsequently amended that have been approved by the Division. These would include the Editor’s Handbook: Operating Procedures and Policies for EPF Publications and the APA Publication Manual. The implementation of these policies and practices requires efficient management of the journal (e.g., in terms of maintaining editorial controls over lag times, rejection rates, page usage, and office expense budgets).

As a Division-owned publication, all journal records are ultimately the property of the Division. Generally speaking, the Editor will only need to provide reports to the Division.  However, when a matter relevant to the journal or to matters of Division policy arises, the Editor will be expected to provide manuscripts, reviews, letters, or any other records and files for examination and discussion. The Editor is expected to hold on to files for one year after final action or publication.

5. JOURNAL COVERAGE.  The area of coverage of the journal you edit, as approved by the Division, will be stated on the inside front cover in each issue of the journal. Any changes in these statements, or the policies they reflect, whether such change originates with the Editor or within the Division, must be approved in writing by the Division before they are announced.

6. RECEIPT OF MANUSCRIPTS. You will receive and begin the review of submitted manuscripts effective on or about January 1, 2004. You must provide to the Publisher, three months in advance, any new instructions to authors so that they may appear in an appropriate issue of the journal. Additional lead-time will be necessary if these instructions appear to modify policy (see paragraph 4).

7.    MANUSCRIPTS. As Editor, you have complete authority to accept or reject manuscripts.  Your decisions in this area are not generally subject to review by any officer or employee of the Division. However, should serious or recurrent complaints surface about editorial procedures, then these would be considered by the Division’s Publications Board.

8.    ASSOCIATE EDITORS. At the present time the Division has established one or two Associate Editor position(s) for the journal you will edit. Should the number of manuscripts submitted to the journal begin to approach levels set forth in Publisher Agreement, you may propose to the Division that the number of Associate Editors for the journal be increased. Once positions are established, you may discontinue the Associate Editor position as appropriate to the operation of the journal, but should you desire to again share the responsibility for editorial decisions during your Editorship, you must request the Division to re-establish such Associate Editorships. All requests should be directed to the Division through the Publication Board.

Associate Editors are recognized by the Division upon receipt of a signed agreement between the Division, the journal Editor, and the Associate Editor. A sample letter of agreement is included as Appendix 14 of the Editor’s Handbook.

9. JOURNAL PRODUCTION.  Journal production is the responsibility of the Publisher. This responsibility includes but is not limited to copy editing (correcting punctuation, spelling, reference style, format, etc.), typography, cover design, front matter elements and arrangement, length of issues, and production schedules. The Publisher will not modify substantive content and will consult with the Editor on matters of mutual concern.

10. BUDGET.  As editor you will receive approximately $20,000 per year beginning in 2005 from for editorial operations. You will also receive startup funds in 2004 of $13,000 to assist you in your incoming year. You are responsible for the running of your editorial office, including the purchase of equipment and supplies, staff payments and tax reporting, from those funds. All other business affairs, including but not limited to the approval of annual budgets, are the responsibility of the Division, specifically its Publication Board. Proposals for budget increases must be submitted at least one year in advance to the Division for discussion and negotiation with the Executive Committee, the membership, and/or the Publisher.

11. HONORARIUM.  The payment of an honorarium to Editors is not to be regarded as compensation for their services but rather as a means that may permit them greater freedom in their professional activities.  In partial recognition of the valuable service you will give as Editor, the Publisher and/or Division provides an annual honorarium, currently $12,000 (plus a total of $2,000 for associate editor). Honoraria are paid in the year in which your name appears on the masthead as Editor; your first honorarium will be paid in 2005.

12. ANNUAL REPORT.  You are expected to submit to the Division and to APA an annual written report of your editorial activities for each year or portion of a year you hold the titles of Incoming Editor and Editor. This report is due in February for the activity of the preceding year. Your first report will be due in 2005.  In December of each year, the APA Journals Office will send you instructions for preparing your annual report for APA.

In addition, the editor will be required to make reports to the Division of Psychotherapy at each EC and/or Board of Directors meeting.  The reports should include number of submissions, number of manuscripts accepted/rejected, publication schedule, and other pertinent developments.

13.    TERMINATION. It is expected that you will complete the term as stated, but circumstances could require an incomplete term. Accordingly, notwithstanding the other provisions stated in the Editor’s Handbook: Operating Procedures and Policies for EPF Publications, this agreement may be terminated early as follows:
(a)    by your written notice 12 months prior to termination;
(b)    by mutual agreement between you and the Division with less than 12 months notice;
(c)    by the Division’s written notice. (Normally, at least 12 months notice will be given. However, an Editor’s ceasing to be a Division member or substantial deviation from the terms of this agreement or other operational circumstances could necessitate a shorter term.);
(d)    by either Division or Editor for Editor disability that precludes performance of editorial duties for a prolonged period.

14. ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This Agreement is entire and all negotiations and understandings have been merged herein.  This Agreement may be amended only in writing executed by you and the Division.

The individuals executing the agreement on behalf of Division 29 warrant and represent that they are duly authorized agents of the Division.
Patricia Bricklin, PhD
2003 President, Division 29
John C. Norcross, PhD
2003 Chair, Publications Board
Charles Gelso, PhD
Appointed Editor

DUTIES/PROCEDURES                       

• The editor and associate editors of Psychotherapy accepts or rejects manuscripts submitted for publication; this usually requires detailed communications with authors. 

• The editor is responsible for tracking manuscripts, coordinating  editorial reviews, and responding to authors in ways  that will regularly  provide accepted manuscripts to the publisher, where copyediting is done according to the journal schedule.  

• The editor selects and communicates with the Editorial Board. 

-  • The editor selects one or more associate editors

• The editor is responsible for managing the journal’s page ceiling and for   providing reports as required. 

• The editor uses the APA electronic manuscript tracking/review system.  

• The editor coordinates continuing education questions in the journal; The Editor’s office is responsible to collect items from authors and then send these items to however, the Continuing Education Chair.  The Chair selects items for inclusion in the journal from among those sent to him or her. works with the authors to devise questions, and ensures compliance with APA’s CE standards for home study.

 •   As an ex officio member of the Publication Board and the Board of 

Directors, the editor attends those meetings of the Division of 

Psychotherapy. 

Responsibilities:         The editor of Psychotherapy accepts or rejects manuscripts submitted for publication; this usually requires detailed communications with authors.  The editor is responsible for tracking manuscripts, coordinating editorial reviews, and responding to authors in ways that will regularly provide accepted manuscripts to the publisher, where copy-editing is done according to the journal schedule.  The editor selects and communicates with the Editorial Board.  The editor is responsible for managing the journal’s page ceiling and for providing reports as required. The editor uses the APA electronic manuscript tracking/review system.  The editor coordinates continuing education questions in the journal, with oversight of the Continuing Education Chair.  As an ex officio member of the Publication Board and the Board of Directors, the editor attends the governance meetings of the Division of Psychotherapy. 

Office Expenses:        The publisher reimburses the editor’s office expenses within established guidelines, which are based on the number of original manuscript submissions. Currently, the annual amount for clerical office support is $20,000.  The use of APA’s electronic manuscript tracking/review system, which handles at least one-third of routine correspondence, reduces the amount of clerical support required.

Search Committee:    Jean Carter, PhD, Lillian Comas-Diaz, PhD, Raymond DiGiuseppe, PhD, Susan McDaniel, PhD, John C. Norcross, PhD (chair), Alice Rubinstein, EdD, and George Stricker, PhD. 

Full Page (8.5″ x 5.75″ ) $300 per issue

Half Page (4.25″ x 5.75″) $200 per issue

Quarter Page (4.25″ x 3″) $100 per issue

Please contact Ms. Tracey Martin, Division 29 Administrative Officer,
at 602-363-9211 or assnmgmt1@cox.net
for additional information about advertising in the Bulletin.

Send your camera ready advertisement, along with a check made payable to “Division 29,” to:

Division of Psychotherapy (29)
6557 E. Riverdale
Mesa, Arizona 85215

Deadlines for Submission

February 1 for Spring Issue

May 1 for Summer Issue

July 1 for Fall Issue

November 1 for Winter Issue

All APA Divisions and subsidiaries (task forces, standing and ad hoc committees, liaisons, representative roles) materials will be published at no charge as space allows.

Psychotherapy Bulletin is the official newsletter of Division 29 (Psychotherapy) of the American Psychological Association. Published four times each year (spring, summer, fall, winter), Psychotherapy Bulletin is designed to:

1) Inform the membership of Division 29 about relevant events, awards, and professional opportunities;

2) Provide articles and commentary regarding the range of issues that are of interest to psychotherapy theorists, researchers, practitioners, and trainers;

3) Establish a forum for students and new members to offer their contributions; and,

4) Facilitate opportunities for dialogue and collaboration among the diverse members of our association.

Contributors are invited to send articles (up to 2,500 words), interviews, commentaries, letters to the editor, and announcements to Jenny Cornish, Ph.D., ABPP, Editor, Psychotherapy Bulletin.

All submissions for Psychotherapy Bulletin should be sent electronically to jcornish@du.edu; please ensure that articles conform to APA Publication style.

Formatting

1.  Format should be block style with one space between paragraphs.  No indented paragraphs.

2.  Single spaced

3.  No page numbering

4.  No headers or footers, unless footnotes

5.  References should be single spaced, in approved APA-style format

6.  Photos should be submitted as separate JPEG, TIFF, GIFF, or BITMAP files, not imbedded in other documents.

Deadlines for submission are as follows:

Winter (#1) Issue: February 1^st

Spring (#2) Issue: May 1^st

Summer (#3) Issue: August 1^st

Fall (#4) Issue: November 1^st

Other inquiries regarding Psychotherapy Bulletin (e.g., advertising) or Division 29 should be directed to:

Tracey Martin
Division 29 Central Office
6557 E. Riverdale St., Mesa, Arizona 85215
e: assnmgmt1@cox.net
v: 602-363-9211