Charles J. Gelso, PhD, Psychotherapy Research Grants

This program awards grants for research projects in the area of psychotherapy process and/or outcome.

Program goals

• advance understanding of psychotherapy process and/or psychotherapy outcome through support of empirical research

• encourage talented graduate students towards careers in psychotherapy research

• support psychologists engaged in quality psychotherapy research

Funding specifics

• three annual grants of $5,000 each, to be paid in one lump sum to the researcher, to the researcher’s university grants and contracts office, or to an incorporated company: Individuals who receive the funds could incur tax liabilities. A researcher can win only one of these grants (see the "Additional Information" section in "How to Apply").

• funds transfer: Funds must be transferred to the researcher, university grants and contracts office, or to an incorporated company by December 15 of the year in which the grant award notification is made. 

For more information, visit Society for the Advancement of Psychotherapyopens in new window.

All graduate students, predoctoral interns, postdoctoral fellows, and doctoral-level researchers with a promising or successful record of publication are eligible for the grant. The Research Committee reserves the right not to award a grant if there are insufficient submissions or submissions do not meet the criteria stated.

Eligibility requirements

• Demonstrated or burgeoning competence in the area of proposed work.

• IRB approval must be received from the principal investigator’s institution before funding can be awarded if human participants are involved.

• The same project/lab may not receive funding two years in a row.

• Applicant must be a member of Div. 29 (Society for the Advancement of Psychotherapy). Visit the Div. 29 websiteopens in new window to join.

Please view complete instruction and application forms on the Div. 29 (Society for the Advancement of Psychotherapy) websiteopens in new window.

Evaluation criteria

• conformance with goals listed in the description tab under "Program goals"

• magnitude of incremental contribution in topic area

• quality of proposed work

• applicant's competence to execute the project

• appropriate plan for data collection and completion of the project

Requirements for all proposals

• description of the proposed project to include title, goals, relevant background, target population, methods, anticipated outcomes and dissemination plans—not to exceed three single-spaced pages (1-inch margins, no smaller than 11-point font)

• CV of the principal investigator, not to exceed two single-spaced pages and should focus on research activities

• one 300-word biosketch that describes why your experiences and qualifications make you suited for successfully carrying out this research proposal

• timeline for execution (priority given to projects that can be completed within two years)

• full budget and justification (indirect costs not permitted), which should take up no more than one additional page (The budget should clearly indicate how the grant funds would be spent.)

• funds: Funds may be used to initiate a new project or to supplement additional funding. The research may be at any stage. In any case, justification must be provided for the request of the current grant funds. If the funds will supplement other funding or if the research is already in progress, please explain why the additional funds are needed (e.g., in order to add a new component to the study, add additional participants, etc.).

• additional materials: No additional materials are required for doctoral-level psychologists who are not postdoctoral fellows

• students, interns, fellows: Graduate students, predoctoral interns, and postdoctoral fellows should refer to the section immediately below for additional materials that are required.

Additional proposal requirements for graduate students, predoctoral interns and postdoctoral fellows

• Graduate students, predoctoral interns, and postdoctoral fellows should also submit the CV of the mentor who will supervise the work.

• Graduate students and predoctoral interns must also submit two letters of recommendation, one from the mentor who will be providing guidance during the completion of the project, and this letter must indicate the nature of the mentoring relationship.

• Postdoctoral fellows must submit one letter of recommendation from the mentor who will be providing guidance during the completion of the project, and this letter should indicate the nature of the mentoring relationship.

Additional information

• After the project is complete, a full accounting of the project’s income and expenses must be submitted within six months of completion.

• Grant funds that are not spent on the project within two years of receipt must be returned.

• When the resulting research is published, the grant must be acknowledged.

• All individuals who directly receive funds from Div. 29 (Society for the Advancement of Psychotherapy) will be required to complete an IRS W-9 form prior to the release of funds, and will be sent a 1099 after the end of the fiscal year (December 31).

Submission process and deadline

• All materials must be submitted electronically.

• All applicants must complete the grant application form in Microsoft Word or other text format.

• CV(s) may be submitted in text or PDF format. If submitting more than one CV, then all CVs must be included in one electronic document/file.

• Proposal and budget must be submitted in one file, with a cover sheet to include the name of the principal investigator and complete contact information (address, phone, fax, email).

• Submit all required materials for proposal to: Tracey A. Martin in the Div. 29 (Society for the Advancement of Psychotherapy) central office.

• You will receive an electronic confirmation of your submission within 24 hours. If you do not receive confirmation, your proposal was not received; please resubmit.

2017

Daniel W. M. Maitland

2016

Jennifer S. Cheavens

Ken Critchfield

Rayna D. Markin

2015

Samantha Bernecker

Stephanie Hoover

Joel M. Town

2014

Jamie D. Bedics

Casey O’Brien

2013

Jenelle Slavin-Mulford

2012

Marilyn Cornish

2011

Michael Constantino

2010

Stephanie Budge