November 2024 | Newsletter Updates
E-Learning Center | Grand Rounds | Poster Proposals | Education & Training Webinar | Framework Ideas | C/TA Grant | Defining Personality Assessment | Psychoanalytic Assessment Webinar | Forensic Meet Up | Convention Scholarships | Workshop Notifications | EISJ Grant | Membership Renewals | Community Events & News | Job Postings
SPA Online E-Learning Center
NEW SPA MEMBER RESOURCE!!!
In case you missed it, we now have a new resource for you to use! Our SPA E-Learning Center has on-demand webinars and training. You will be able to access this free and paid content at anytime AND earn APA approved continuing education credits. Please keep in mind, this content is NOT live. See a full catalog of available content below.
Grand Rounds
November Grand Round
Personality Functioning, Problems in Living, and Personality Traits
November 6th | 12:00pm ET | 1 CE
Presenter: Dr. Christopher Hopwood
A significant portion of research has focused on narrow issues and appears to be driven in part by ideological differences between scholars who prefer Criterion A (personality functioning) or Criterion B (maladaptive traits). This webinar will talk about one perspective on how these issues trace to ambiguity about the concept of personality functioning as defined in the AMPD and its conceptual distinction from personality traits and problems in living. For more information and to register, click on the button below.
December Grand Round
The Science of Cognitive Assessment and Demographics: At the Intersections of Science, Practice, and Ethics
December 4th | 12:00pm ET | 1 CE
Presenter: Dr. Marc Norman
Assessment is a fundamental element in psychological practice, helping psychologists differentiate between normal and pathological characteristics. Accurate identification of cognitive or personality disorders is essential to developing effective, tailored treatment plans that address individual cognitive strengths and limitations. This workshop will explore key assessment techniques, ethical considerations in instrument selection, and the role of ethnoracial factors in assessment outcomes, ensuring psychologists make informed, effective, and responsible assessment choices.
Poster Proposals
Deadline is November 7th!
Submit your poster proposal for the 2025 SPA Convention.
Poster presenters will prepare a visual depiction of a research study, case analysis, or other type of material relevant to personality assessment, typically including descriptive text along with tables and/or figures. Poster sessions may be for a completed study or a proposed study, so no need to have your research complete to present. Posters are either presented on Thursday evening or Saturday evening. Click the button below to submit proposal.
Education & Training Interest Group Presents Webinar
Conducting Personality Assessment in Nontraditional Specialized Settings
November 12th | 7:00 - 9:00pm ET | 2 CEs
Presenter: Dr. Ron Stolberg
This presentation explores unconventional settings where personality assessments are commonly used—such as reality TV, professional sports, nuclear power, and federal security—yet lack formal training and guidelines. Attendees will gain insights into these unique contexts and a roadmap for conducting assessments in other nontraditional settings.
2025 Strategic Framework Ideas Deadline
November 15th
If you would like to access the full strategic framework, you can do so at the following link: SPA Strategic Framework.
Please share your suggested in the form below. We will accept suggestions until November 15th!
C/TA Interest Group Grant Deadline
November 18th
The SPA Collaborative/Therapeutic Assessment Interest Group is offering one student a $500.00, one time grant to support their efforts to research Collaborative/Therapeutic Assessment (C/TA).
Defining Personality Assessment Comments Deadline
November 18th
The SPA Board has created a Taskforce to define Personality Assessment. After thorough deliberation between the Taskforce and the SPA Board, a final draft of the definition is now available for your review and feedback.
Comments will be accepted until November 18th. Please click the button below to view the definition and to submit your comments.
Psychoanalytic Assessment Interest Group Presents Webinar
Assessing Unrepresented Self States: Differentiating Between Autism Spectrum and Schizotypal/Schizoid Experiences
November 18th | 6:30pm - 8:00pm ET | 1.5 CEs
Presenter: Dr. Sarah Hedlund
Psychological assessment referrals for Autism Spectrum Disorder have markedly increased recently. Some of these clients present with social communication difficulties while also presenting with feelings of deadness, an un-or underrepresented sense of self, and fragmented experiences of self and other, which raise questions regarding the differential diagnosis between autism and schizoid/schizotypal levels of personality functioning. This presentation will briefly review the literature pertaining to these levels of functioning and then will focus on a case, with ample opportunity for discussion.
Forensic Interest Group Social Meet Up
November 20th | 11:30am - 12:00 pm ET
Join the Forensic Interest Group Chairs to network and learn together. Bring your consultation questions, raw data, difficult situations or victories you’ve encountered in practice so that they can be shared amongst the group. If you have any topics or things you would want to share beforehand, please email them to info@personality.org.
SPA Convention Scholarships
Deadline is November 24th
Our three scholarships to monetarily assist in your attendance to our 2025 SPA Convention are now open. Each scholarship offers slightly different awards so make sure you read the details. You are able to apply to more than one scholarship, however, you will only be granted one scholarship. If you're planning to apply, please DO NOT register for the convention until notifications have been sent out in mid-December. Click the button below to learn more about each scholarship.
- Student Scholarship
- Diversity Scholarship
- Early Career Scholarship
EISJ Grant
Deadline is December 10th
The EISJ Grant is accepting applications. The grant can award anywhere between $500 to $10,000 to support research that advances equity, inclusion, and social justice. Submit your application below.
Membership Renewals
Deadline is December 31st
Renewal season has started back up again! Avoid a disruption in your membership and avoid all the additional reminders. Renew Today!
Community Events & News
- Training: A virtual training sequence for the Crisi Wartegg System (CWS) will begin in September! The CWS is an empirically validated and standardized methodology (administration, scoring, interpretation) for the clinical use of the Wartegg Drawing Completion Test (WDCT)—an easy, efficient, and non-overwhelming performance-based personality measure that can be completed in 5-10 minutes and is appropriate across the lifespan. The CWS is recognized as a valid performance-based personality test that can be used for certification in Therapeutic Assessment. The Level 1 workshop focuses on history and statistical foundations, reviews standardized administration procedures, and builds proficiency in the normative scoring system. Following completion of Level 1, clinicians are able to independently administer the test with clients but require consultation for accurate scoring and interpretation. Levels 2 and 3 of the training sequence are described within this flyer. Online registration can be made at: https://sc-cca-com.3dcartstores.com/.
- Survey on MMPI-3 and Forensic Assessment: We need your expertise for a research study on psychological assessment and MMPI interpretation. Your insights will help advance our understanding of how test scores are interpreted across different contexts.
It will take less than 5 minutes of your time to respond to a few brief questions. Your contribution is invaluable to our research efforts!
Plus, we're excited to announce that the survey is available in multiple languages to ensure inclusivity and accessibility.
Interested in participating? Click here to access the survey
Your participation will make a significant difference in shaping the future of psychological assessment. Thank you for your support! THANK YOU!- Emre Akca, Irena Boskovic, Luciano Giromini, Paul Ingram, Martin Sellbom, et al. - Training: You're invited to a 2-day (Helsinki) and 4 half-day (Zoom) Training and Update for CS Experts. The Rorschach Comprehensive System- Revised (CS-R) and Supplementary Scales training May 23-24 and October 10,17, 24 & November 7, 2024. Click here for more information.