CPA is the national association for psychology, representing psychologists from across Canada. With over 6500 members (including more than 1800 student members), CPA is Canada's largest professional association for psychology.
CPA's mission is "
To improve the health and welfare of all Canadians; to promote excellence and innovation in psychological research, education, and practice; to promote the advancement, development, dissemination, and application of psychological knowledge; and to provide high-quality services to members."
Some of CPA's most important functions include (1) promoting a standard set of ethical principles that govern the work of Canadian psychologists (see the Canadian Code of Ethics for Psychologists), (2) providing accreditation for professional training programs in psychology, (3) publishing scientific journals to disseminate the latest findings from psychology researchers in Canada and beyond, (4) organizing an annual convention that brings together psychologists from across the country, (5) publishing psychology-related books through the recently launched CPA Press, (6) advocating for the psychological needs of Canadians, and 7) consulting to and working with stakeholders (e.g., government, other health disciplines and professions, consumers of health care) about needs, gaps and opportunities for Canada's health and mental health.
I encourage you to explore the website to learn more about CPA and its 31 specialized sections. Members of the public will find the Psychology Works Fact Sheets, which provide information about different types of psychological problems and the ways that psychological services can help.
Students will find links to universities that offer psychology programs. You will find information on our advocacy for increased research funding, psychological practice and public policy, our Canadian accreditation system for professional programs in psychology, our guidelines and standards, our ethics code, continuing education opportunities, our three CPA journals, member benefits, our conventions and other important material.
In the past year, the CPA Board of Directors voted to approve the formation of two new entities: a Practice Directorate and a Science Directorate.
The Practice Directorate was formed through a collaboration between CPA and the Council of Professional Associations of Psychologists (CPAP), a group that represents Canada's provincial and territorial psychology associations. Its function is to provide a wide range of services to support practicing psychologists, other psychology practitioners (e.g., psychological associates), and consumers who rely on psychological services.
The Practice Directorate will (1) advocate for legislation to enhance psychological services in Canada, (2) support the work of psychology practitioners, and (3) educate the public about the role of psychology for promoting both psychological and physical health.
The Science Directorate will provide similar services, but for psychological science. It will lobby government for increased funding for psychological research, promote and support the work of Canadian researchers in Psychology, and educate the public about important findings from psychological science.
Of course, science and practice are not independent enterprises. Psychology works best when research is informed by our everyday experiences (including those that arise in the context of clinical practice and training the next generation of psychologists), and best practices must be informed by research. The Science and Practice Directorates will work together to facilitate CPA's mission to promote excellence and innovation in psychological research, education, and practice.
It is a great privilege to serve as CPA President for 2009-2010. I hope you enjoy your visit to the CPA website, and invite you to share any comments or suggestions you may have about directions that CPA should consider taking. My e-mail address is
president@cpa.ca.
Martin M. Antony
CPA President
