APA PRESS RELEASE

December 12, 2008
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PROMINENT PRACTITIONER CAROL D. GOODHEART ELECTED 2010 PRESIDENT OF AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION

WASHINGTON—Carol D. Goodheart, EdD, an independent practitioner in Princeton, N.J., has been elected president of the American Psychological Association for 2010.

A prominent health psychologist, she focuses in her own practice on mind-body health; helping individuals, couples and families diagnosed with chronic physical diseases; and disabilities. Among her areas of scholarship, Goodheart is the author and editor of numerous books and articles on psychology's role in health care.

“I am pleased and proud to serve psychology in this role,” said Goodheart. “I'm excited to work with APA toward my longtime goal of integrating the practice and scholarship of psychology.”

She has been integral in helping psychology respond to the evidence-based practice movement within APA and throughout the profession. She was chair of the APA Presidential Task Force on Evidence Based Practice, which developed guidelines for psychologists who want to better serve their clients. In all, she has more than two decades of experience in APA governance that include service on APA's Finance Committee and as treasurer. Goodheart has received many awards from APA divisions and state psychological associations, including the 2007 Distinguished Psychologist Award for Contributions to Psychology and Psychotherapy from APA's Division of Psychotherapy.

During her presidency, Goodheart plans to push for more collaboration among health professional groups in an effort to promote a healthier country. “I think psychology has a lot to offer in this area,” said Goodheart. “As active partners for more policy development, we can further integrate psychology and the health care system and I'm looking forward to enhancing those collaborations.”

As president, Goodheart says she will be eager to shine a spotlight on an often-overlooked population – caregivers. As baby boomers age, the number of people acting as caregivers is growing. “Whether it's professional caregivers or those who care for ailing spouses and parents, their health issues are in need of greater attention. There is a fine body of research out there that can be helpful in determining the needs of this giving population,” she added.

Goodheart describes her leadership style as all-inclusive. “I think in these difficult times, it's important to realize that leadership is about serving common goals. I hope to do my part in inspiring this level of shared commitment as APA's president.”

Goodheart serves as consulting editor of Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, published by APA. She has been a member of five APA presidential task forces, served as senior adviser to the Advisory Council on Genetics and was president of APA's largest division, Psychologists in Independent Practice. An APA fellow, Goodheart earned her doctorate in counseling psychology at Rutgers University. In addition to her practice, she is a clinical supervisor of doctoral students at the Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology of Rutgers University. Before becoming a psychologist, Goodheart trained as a nurse and worked in emergency medicine.

The American Psychological Association (APA), in Washington, DC, is the largest scientific and professional organization representing psychology in the United States and is the world's largest association of psychologists. APA's membership includes more than 148,000 researchers, educators, clinicians, consultants and students. Through its divisions in 54 subfields of psychology and affiliations with 60 state, territorial and Canadian provincial associations, APA works to advance psychology as a science, as a profession and as a means of promoting human welfare.