Thomas Hadjistavropoulos, PhD, ABPP, FRSC

Hadjistavropoulos is professor of clinical psychology and research chair in aging and health at the University of Regina.

Briefly describe your background. What is your area of research? What is your most recent journal-editing experience?

I am a first‑generation Greek immigrant who moved to Canada at the age of 18. I completed my training at McGill University in Montreal and at the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon. I am currently professor of clinical psychology and research chair in aging and health at the University of Regina, where I teach in the Canadian Psychological Association–accredited clinical psychology graduate program with an emphasis on cognitive–behavioral therapy. My teaching responsibilities include, among other areas, the clinical supervision of doctoral trainees. My research focuses on pain in older adults, with attention to pain assessment in individuals living with severe dementia and significant communication limitations. I also have published extensively on professional ethics and standards.

I have served as editor‑in‑chief of Canadian Psychology/Psychologie canadienne and of Ethics and Behavior. I also have been associate editor of BMC Geriatrics, the Psychology Section editor of the Canadian Journal on Aging/La Revue canadienne du vieillissement, and a member of numerous editorial boards. You can find more about my work here.

Briefly, what are your main priorities? How will you grow readership? What type of scholarship will you promote in the journal? What kind of content are you hoping to attract?

My priorities center on strengthening the journal’s visibility, methodological rigor, and practical relevance. I aim to broaden the journal’s disciplinary diversity and global reach by encouraging submissions that address real‑world challenges in mental health practice, including technology integration, disparities in care access, practitioner burnout, and culturally responsive approaches. I am especially interested in attracting systematic review papers, practice‑focused research and innovative assessment and intervention work that directly supports clinicians. Also, proposed clinical approaches, recommendations, and practice frameworks outlined in unsolicited manuscripts should be grounded in appropriate methodological foundations. Manuscripts offering practice guidance should be supported by rigorous approaches (e.g., systematic reviews, formal consensus processes, or empirical evaluations) that establish the rationale, applicability, and limitations of any recommendations.

In addition, I am hoping to launch a “Distinguished Innovators in Psychological Practice” series featuring, perhaps annually, invited articles showcasing world‑renowned clinicians whose work has meaningfully shaped the field. My aim is to offer readers access to the perspectives, clinical wisdom, and evolving thinking of leaders whose influence crosses theoretical and practice boundaries. Over time, I hope this series becomes a defining feature of the journal.

Why is this journal important to the field? What is its relevance to society and public health?

By emphasizing the intersection of clinical research and practice, Practice Innovations follows a road less travelled in academic publishing. The journal provides a dedicated venue for high-quality scholarship that connects psychological science directly to the realities of clinical practice. The journal’s focus on applied, practice-oriented work ensures that psychological science remains connected to clinical service delivery and responsive to the broader societal issues (e.g., cyberbullying and public unrest) shaping mental health and related clinical practice.

Importantly, when manuscripts propose assessment approaches, treatment recommendations, clinical decision-making frameworks, or other forms of practice guidance, Practice Innovations expects those recommendations to be grounded in an appropriate methodological foundation, such as systematic reviews, empirical evaluation, formal consensus processes, or other rigorous approaches.

What challenges lie ahead for the field and the journal? What issues are important to address more broadly?

The field must address persistent inequities in access to mental health services, the need for culturally responsive practice, and the integration of digital technologies into clinical work. Practitioner burnout and stigma around seeking mental health support also remain pressing concerns. For the journal, a central challenge is increasing visibility and impact while maintaining a commitment to evidence-based work and methodological rigor and also staying true to its mission of relevancy. Journal visibility and influence also will be enhanced by achieving indexing in Web of Science and obtaining a Journal Impact Factor, which would increase the journal’s profile and potentially help attract more high-quality submissions. Maintaining a commitment to scholarship that bridges research and practice is essential to these efforts.

APA Journals is committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) in its practices and systems. How will this be reflected in the journal?

As we embark on our next chapter, EDI will continue to be a top priority for our editorial team. My immigrant background brings a heightened awareness of the barriers faced by underrepresented groups; the value of cross‑cultural understanding; and the need for clinical practice that is responsive to varied social, cultural, and geographic contexts. I am mindful that, as a southern European immigrant to Canada, my experience has included forms of privilege not afforded to many newcomers from other regions. This awareness compels me to use my position to support those who face exclusion, bias, or barriers tied to their identity.

With this commitment in mind, I approached the renewal of the journal’s editorial board by inviting members who reflect a wide range of perspectives, identities, and lived experiences. We also will continue to encourage submissions addressing the needs of underserved populations. Moreover, we hope to produce special issues that highlight culturally responsive practices and global perspectives. Ensuring that review processes are inclusive, respectful, and attentive to diverse methodological and theoretical traditions will remain a priority.

Explore APA Journals’ EDI initiatives.