The Psychology of Religion and Spirituality:
Division 36, Research, and Student Resources

By: [Your Name
Here]
WHAT IS DIVISION 36?
Div. 36
Mission Statement
DIVISION 36: SOCIETY FOR THE PSYCHOLOGY
OF RELIGION AND SPIRITUALITY
Mission Statement:
The Society for the Psychology of Religion and Spirituality is a division
of APA that . . .
 promotes psychology theory, research, and clinical practice to understand the significance of
religion and spirituality in people’s lives and in the discipline of psychology.
The Society . . .
 facilitates the interchange of ideas between science and clinical and applied practice, and
 seeks through its activities to increase public awareness of psychological dimensions of
religion and spirituality.
The Society . . .
 is nonsectarian and does not espouse or endorse any particular religion positions or beliefs.
 It welcomes psychologists and others around the world interested in the psychology of religion and
spirituality.
DIVISION 36 MEMBERS:
Clinicians,
researchers, &
more
DIVISION 36 MEMBERS: MENTAL HEALTH
DIVISION 36 MEMBERS: OTHER PSYCH
RESEARCH FIELDS
DIVISION 36 MEMBERS: OTHER FIELDS
WHY RESEARCH THE PSYCHOLOGY OF
RELIGION AND SPIRITUALITY?
Research
Relevance
THE PSYCHOLOGY OF RELIGION AND
SPIRITUALITY: RESEARCH RELEVANCE
[Insert your reasons here; see below for examples]
Religious and spiritual diversity
Multidimensionality and complexity of religiousness and spirituality
Religion and spirituality are integral to individuals’ lives and societies
Religion and spirituality can be a source or solution to problems
Clients are interested in integrating spirituality into treatment and/or
are concerned that clinicians will not be sensitive to their religious and
spiritual beliefs
Clinicians are reticent or feel unprepared to address spiritual and
religious matters in therapy
RESEARCH WITHIN DIVISION 36
[Your research
topic here]
RESEARCH WITHIN DIVISION 36
[insert research you or others conducted, see examples below]
Top 5 PRS Articles (i.e., most frequently downloaded in the last 3 months)
• Jackson, B. R., & Bergeman, C. S. (2011). How does religiosity enhance well-being?
The role of perceived control. Psychology of Religion and Spirituality, 3, 149 – 161.
• Bartz, J. D., (2009). Theistic existential psychotherapy. Psychology of Religion and
Spirituality, 1, 69 – 80.
• Leach, M. M., & Sato, T. (2013). A content analysis of the Psychology of Religion and
Spirituality journal: The initial four years. Psychology of Religion and Spirituality, 3,
61 – 68.
• Jankowski, P. J., & Sandage, S. J. (2011). Meditative prayer, hope, adult attachment,
and forgiveness: A proposed model. Psychology of Religion and Spirituality, 3, 115 –
131.
• Leonard, K. C., Cook, K. V., Boyatzis, C. J., Kimball, C. N., & Flanagan, K. S. (2013).
Parent-child dynamics and emerging adult religiosity: Attachment, parental beliefs,
and faith support. Psychology of Religion and Spirituality, 5, 5 – 14.
WHY GET INVOLVED IN DIVISION 36?:
Student Resources,
Opportunities, &
Benefits
DIV. 36 STUDENT RESOURCES, OPPORTUNITIES, & BENEFITS:
1.POWERPOINT TOOLKIT
This PowerPoint is available to you, our
student members, on the division’s website
and APA Communities page so you can . . .
 Have easy access to information regarding the division’s
student resources
 Use it to promote the division and the psych of religion
and spirituality field overall
 Modify it so you can inform others about your research
 Equip others in the field to promote the division and the
psych of religion and spirituality field by sharing this
information
DIV. 36 STUDENT RESOURCES, OPPORTUNITIES, & BENEFITS:
2. EVENTS
Annual Midyear Conference
Student Events
Informal mentoring events
Student research spotlight symposium
Free student breakfast
Poster sessions (with student poster awards)
DIV. 36 STUDENT RESOURCES, OPPORTUNITIES, & BENEFITS:
2. EVENTS
APA Convention
Student events
 Social Hour
 Speed Mentoring Session
 Student Research Spotlight Symposium
 Student Feedback and Resources Session
 Poster Session
Hospitality suite sessions
Division programming
Division social hours
DIV. 36 STUDENT RESOURCES, OPPORTUNITIES, & BENEFITS:
3. WEBSITE
Division 36 (division36.org) Student
Involvement Page:
DIV. 36 STUDENT RESOURCES, OPPORTUNITIES, & BENEFITS:
3. WEBSITE
Student Involvement Page:
How to join the students’ electronic mailing list
A few of the student opportunities at annual
conferences
APAGS co-reps’
contact Info
PowerPoint toolkit
DIV. 36 STUDENT RESOURCES, OPPORTUNITIES, & BENEFITS:
4. COMMUNICATION
Division’s Electronic Mailing Lists (or List
Serves)
Announcement
General
Student
Division 36 Facebook Pages
Div. 36’s APA Communities Page and
Just for Students Page
DIV. 36 STUDENT RESOURCES, OPPORTUNITIES, & BENEFITS:
5. NETWORKING & SUPPORT
Social Hours (Division & Student) at APA
Convention
Breakfast, Luncheons, & Reception at Midyear
Conference
Volunteer for the Hospitality Suite at APA
Convention
Student Events at APA and Midyear Conf.
Contact your APAGS Student Co-Reps
Coming soon: Student Campus Reps
DIV. 36 STUDENT RESOURCES, OPPORTUNITIES, & BENEFITS:
6. AWARDS
Student Research Awards
6 students/year
Deadline: Early June
Up to $700
Presentation of results
expected at APA or
Midyear
DIV. 36 STUDENT RESOURCES, OPPORTUNITIES, & BENEFITS:
6. AWARDS
Student Poster Awards
Midyear and (possibly) APA
Announced through the list serves, website,
and event chair e-mails
Includes:
 A ribbon to place on the poster during initial
presentation
 Announcement of the winning poster in the
newsletter and list serves
 Another item to put on your CV
DIV. 36 STUDENT RESOURCES, OPPORTUNITIES, & BENEFITS:
6. AWARDS
Student Research Spotlight Symposium
Midyear and (possibly) APA
Announced through the list serves, website,
and event chair e-mails
Includes:
 Approximately 4 students’ submissions chosen to
be part of a symposium highlighting the research
of student members
 Announcement of the chosen submission in the
newsletter and list serves
 Another item to put on your CV
DIV. 36 STUDENT RESOURCES, OPPORTUNITIES, & BENEFITS:
7. STUDENT INVOLVEMENT
Submit to be an APAGS Student Co-Rep
 Announced through list serves
Task Force for Student Involvement*
Student Campus Rep. Committee* (student
campus rep opportunities coming soon)
Use & Share the PowerPoint Toolkit
More opportunities are always being
developed!
*Contact your APAGS Student Co-Rep for more info
DIV. 36 STUDENT RESOURCES, OPPORTUNITIES, & BENEFITS:
8. PUBLICATIONS
Div. 36 newsletter
Announces and describes student awards
Division’s
event info
1
2
DIV. 36 STUDENT RESOURCES, OPPORTUNITIES, & BENEFITS:
8. PUBLICATIONS
Div. 36 newsletter
DIV. 36 STUDENT RESOURCES, OPPORTUNITIES, & BENEFITS:
8. PUBLICATIONS
Divion 36’s Journal: Psychology of
Religion and Spirituality
1
2
DIV. 36 STUDENT RESOURCES, OPPORTUNITIES, & BENEFITS:
8. PUBLICATIONS
Division 36’s Journal: Psychology of
Religion and Spirituality
DIV. 36 STUDENT RESOURCES, OPPORTUNITIES, & BENEFITS:
8. PUBLICATIONS
(NEW!) Spirituality in Clinical Practice journal
*Not a division journal but an APA journal edited by Lisa Miller,
Ph.D., (council member) and Len Sperry, Ph.D., (division member)
DIV. 36 STUDENT RESOURCES, OPPORTUNITIES, & BENEFITS:
9. REVIEWS
Religion in therapy, mental health, and
more:
APA Handbook of Psychology, Religion, and
Spirituality (2013).
 Vol 1.: Context, Theory, and Research
 Vol.2: An Applied Psychology of Religion and Spirituality
DIV. 36 STUDENT RESOURCES, OPPORTUNITIES, & BENEFITS:
9. REVIEWS
Graduate Programs on Religion:
* Updated Oct. 2013
DIV. 36 STUDENT RESOURCES, OPPORTUNITIES, & BENEFITS:
9. REVIEWS
Dr. Nielsen’s
website
 Teaching syllabi
 Programs and
Researchers
DIV. 36 STUDENT RESOURCES, OPPORTUNITIES, & BENEFITS:
9. REVIEWS
Coming Soon!
-List of Clinical Internship Sites with
some Focus in Psych of Religion and/or
Spirituality
DIV. 36 STUDENT RESOURCES, OPPORTUNITIES, & BENEFITS:
10. STUDENT MEMBERSHIP
$15 (Register through APA or the division)
Access to the division’s list serves and APA
communities page
Free subscription to the PRS journal and
newsletter
Participation in division events
Student research and poster awards
Mentoring and social networking
DIV. 36 STUDENT RESOURCES, OPPORTUNITIES, & BENEFITS:
11. COMING SOON!
The division’s student co-reps are always working
toward creating additional resources and
opportunities for students.
Join the listserves, Facebook groups, and the division’s
APA communities page for students so you can
(a) be the first to hear about new opportunities
and resources,
(b) get involved in the division, and
(c) let your co-reps know how they can help you
DIV. 36 STUDENT RESOURCES, OPPORTUNITIES, & BENEFITS:
HOW TO GET MORE INVOLVED
Please contact division 36’s student co-reps. Current co-reps are listed
on the website: http://www.apadivisions.org/division-36/leadership/
appointed/index.aspx