A message from the editors

In his first column as President Louis Hoffman speaks about his agenda of promoting a deep diversity in humanistic psychology. From Louis' perspective diversity is more than demographics. He maintains that there are some common micro-aggression's in humanistic psychology that need to be recognized and addressed. In addition to his critique of humanistic psychology, Louis proposes a vision of how humanistic psychology can become a leading force in diversity

Nathaniel Granger, Jr. is a co-chair of the newly formed diversity task force of Division 32. In his article, Nathanial elaborates on the issue of multicultural microaggressions and applies this perspective to the development of the therapeutic alliance. He gives examples of microaggressions in therapeutic practice and outlines an approach to combating them.

David Elkins has been a leader in the DSM 5 reform movement and provides a detailed, inside view of how this historic movement has evolved since the spring of 2011. While the division sponsored DSM petition and the program at the APA convention have been culminating moments of the reform efforts so far, Dave also provides a vision towards the future including a multidisciplinary international summit.

Diagnosing depression: a multicultural view of the DSM is a summary of a hospitality suite panel chaired by David St. John with four graduate students in Orlando. The common thread among the presentations was the need for a more holistic approach to diagnosis that appreciates strengths, weaknesses and a contextualized view of the unique individual.

In his Humanitas column, Ed Mendelowitz meditates on the contradictions that attend epistemological hegemony and the limitations of the overly zealous, monolithic and doctrinaire. Ed’s lyrical musings, perspectivised from the literature of the humanities offers a unique vantage point to appreciate the themes of the division’s APA convention programming for 2012 and 2013.

This issue also contains a call for proposals forCommunity indifference: cultivating a home for love and justice in an indifferent world.This is Division 32’s Sixth Annual Conference and will be held in Santa Barbara, Calif., from Feb. 28 to March 3, 2013. Proposals are due Nov. 2, 2012

The announcement for nominations to the Division 32 Board also appears in this issue. Nominations are invited for president-elect, council representative, treasurer and members-at-large. Any member may nominate a colleague or themselves. The deadline for nominations is Dec. 1, 2012.

Finally the proposal deadline for the 2013 APA Annual Convention is approaching, Nov. 16, 2012. This issue contains the division’s call for papers with a theme of “Multiple Voices, Multiple Stories, Multiple Selves: Human Diversity and the Humanistic Vision.”