Friends and colleagues of Kirk Schneider share testimonials and experiences in support of his presidential campaign.
“There are few times in history when we have the opportunity to make a substantial impact on our broader field. Now is one of those times. Kirk Schneider, former Journal of Humanistic Psychology (JHP) editor-in-chief, is a candidate for president of the American Psychological Association (APA). Kirk needs no introduction to this group; he is a longstanding and widely respected leader in humanistic-existential psychology. Kirk's crucial work as a scholar and a psychotherapist brings the human being front and center. We need this sort of work and leadership now more than ever in our troubled times, as we technologize approaches to society and our souls. It is also an extraordinarily rare moment, as we have not had the opportunity to elect an APA President who represents humanistic psychology since Maslow (52 years ago) and Frank Farley (26 years ago). Personally, Kirk has been a source of great wisdom and inspiration, and I am proud to endorse his candidacy.”
—Sarah Kamens, PhD, editor of the Journal of Humanistic Psychology
“Kirk Schneider is not only doing great work aimed at healing psychological and political divisiveness; he also lives his principles. Kirk provides a true example to learn from in terms of his ability to be deeply, humanistically present as he engages with others. We need more elders like him in these spiritually, existentially, and politically troubling times.”
—Micah Ingle, PhD, student in psychology at University of West Georgia
“I first learned about Dr. Schneider through my humanistic-existential readings for my doctorate program. Something about the way he writes, even for academia, resonates his soul and spirit through the pages. When I went to my first professional conference, I shyly tried to position myself in spaces where he was speaking, meeting, and convening. Seeing a person in my readings come to life before me was unbelievable. No matter where he was in the crowds of scholars, colleagues, and friends, you could just tell he was there. It was like a beacon of his goodness, his kindness, and his warmth, emanated from his presence. As his words on paper took meaning in those many rooms, I felt an inspiration to his way of being-in-the-world unlike any other; he believed in people, he believed in inner and external peace, he believed when people dared not, and he was unconditional. I finally got up the nerve to catch him as we were all leaving from the conference with a request to sign a JHP copy he edited, which I fatefully had in my hands to offer, and he graciously accepted it. What he wrote will remain with me and has moved me through my many iterations with Div. 32 and the APA from student to scholar to professional. He asked me to continue being a beacon of light in humanistic psychology. The very person who I felt glowed so warmly, saw a light in me. I've been with him since and have had the honor of sitting at dinner tables and board room tables together. When Kirk Schneider sees people, they really feel seen. He is an advocate and a warrior for the unseen. As an early career professional, a woman, and a person of color, I have felt that he sees the mosaic of all that makes me up, and lifts me with his positive regard, hopefulness, and engaging support. He has broadened the reach of his light to APA, and I believe that there is no better candidate to lead us through dark times, because Kirk Schneider sees our potential as an organization and a nation to shine brightly, and when he sees things, they really feel seen.”
—Roxanne Christensen, PsyD, Div. 32 secretary and communications chairperson; Aloe Integrative Psychology Group (Rochester Hills, Michigan)
“Kirk was my former educator, who demonstrated a compassionate and caring leadership whose purpose aims to empower individuals to reach their full potential.”
—Azeb Bhutia, PhD (Los Angeles Harbor College)
"I first met Kirk in 2002. Over the years, I have seen him in action in numerous capacities--collaborating on a book chapter, presenting and facilitating dialogues at conferences and workshops, conducting psychotherapy, serving as former editor of the Journal of Humanistic Psychology—and I regularly employ his writings in my teaching and scholarship. In all these capacities, Kirk embodies the essence of all that he stands for: unpolarized thinking, awe-based living, healing presence, genuine compassion, social justice, holism, and so on. Kirk has clearly articulated and demonstrated how these qualities can be practically applied both within APA and as a global society to promote sustainable transformation. His persistent effort to employ healing dialogue to overcome polarization and build bridges and his emphasis on the whole person in mental health care are essential to addressing the needs and challenges of our times."
—Andrew Bland, PhD
“Kirk Schneider embodies the spirit of a healing presence. Kirk's mentorship (at the Existential-Humanistic Institute) has supported me to pursue the depth and wonder of my calling as an existential psychologist.”
—Johnathon Neda, PsyD, Orange County Psychology
“While I have never met Dr. Schneider in person, he has been a very influential and positive force in my professional development, encouraging my work in his past role as editor in a journal where I submitted a manuscript for review. His thoughtful, patient, sensitive, and encouraging feedback meant a tremendous amount to me. Beyond his clear brilliance as a clinician and scholar he is such a decent, kind human that I can think of no other individual better qualified to lead APA forward in these uncertain times.”
—David Shumaker, PhD, associate professor, psychology, Suffolk University, Boston
“Kirk Schneider has been a consistent and dedicated contributor to humanistic psychology theory and practice for over three decades. I have known him as a Div. 32 colleague since the late ‘80s. As APA president, he would, I believe, offer fresh, ‘out of the box’ perspectives to the governance of APA and do so in a manner that honors the needs of both academics and practitioners. He understands and appreciates the needs and challenges of those in independent practice and would not lose sight of the support they need from APA in these chaotic and problematic times.”
—Steven J. Hendlin, PhD, APA fellow, Divs. 29, 32, and 42, private practice, Newport Beach, California
“It has been my pleasure to use his books in my class, Humanistic/Existential Models of Psychotherapy.”
—Philip Farber, PhD, professor emeritus, Florida Institute of Technology
“Kirk Schneider’s genuine commitment to social justice in psychology and public mental health is manifest. I know this to be true from my experiences as a graduate student working with him on the Div. 32 Executive Board, and because he has graciously offered his time and contributions to my research in psychotherapy. In these areas, not only has he consistently advocated for the role of psychology in healing the sociopolitical and environmental crises of our time, but he has humbly listened to all input about how to transform the field together.”
—Zenobia Morrill, PhD candidate, University of Massachusetts Boston, Society for Qualitative Inquiry in Psychology student board member, Div. 32 student board member
“I wholeheartedly endorse Dr. Kirk J. Schneider for 2020 American Psychological Association (APA) president. I have yet to met Dr. Schneider in person, but I am very familiar with his work, which, I have cited before, and am familiar with his commitment and dedication to the field of psychology and his passion for existential-humanistic and integrative psychology. Dr. Schneider will serve as an influential president for the APA as well as for the psychological community.”
—Steven Whitaker, PhD/I/O PSI-C, Inc.
“I have been behind you since the very beginning...and will continue to support you in any way I can.”
—Kenneth J Gergen, PhD, Taos Institute, Swarthmore College
“For too long, APA has not been led by a humanistic-existential psychologist. Kirk Schneider is passionately committed to introducing new thinking and practices into an organization that has drifted too far from William James, in the process becoming uninspiring to many psychologists, especially younger generations. Following in the footsteps of Jim and Elizabeth Bugental and Rollo May, Kirk has worked tirelessly in his prolific writings and talks to become the face of existential-humanistic psychology in the US and around the world. But APA has stagnated. We can change the face of APA if we elect Kirk as our next President. If not Kirk, who? If not now, when?”
—Robert Kramer, PhD, George Washington University
“Kirk is one of the kindest people I know. He is not only an excellent scholar but one who lives what he writes. He has my full support as the next APA president.”
—Mark C. Yang, PsyD
“Kirk would be wonderful, offering the fullest views of human potential, in a mind-body-spirit context, strong ethical outlooks on the world at present, and the courage to take necessary stands. He would also bring caring and empathy, awe, wonder, and aesthetic appreciation, along with humility and diverse ways of knowing, thus ensuring varied groups that they will be heard and honored, whatever their views. I believe he can advance new awareness and action among psychologists. Kirk has the ability to be heard verbally, in writing, and in working collaboratively with others and in many forums; he will help create community within APA and among diverse colleagues. I am definitely a supporter. Go, Kirk!”
—Ruth Richards, MD, PhD, Saybrook University and CIIS