Early Career Psychologists

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Division 49 provides resources for early career psychologists interested in group psychology and group psychotherapy to assist with career development, financial planning, work/life balance, funding and grants.

Join Division 49

Joining Division 49 as an early career psychologist allows you a range of benefits as you begin your career focusing on group psychology or group psychotherapy. Through our division, you can find mentors in your field and network with other professionals as well as mentor students who are just entering this field of psychology.

Join Us

Leadership and Service

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Future leaders: Division 49 Institute

The Institute raises attention to the cultural, social, and political contexts that are a part of group psychology and group psychotherapy.

Participate in our committees

Interested in growing your leadership skills through involvement in Division 49? Committee participation is an excellent way to become connected to a vibrant network of people who are passionate about groups.

Write or edit for our newsletter

Become a guest editor, write reviews, edit a regular column or become involved with The Group Psychologist in other ways.

Become a journal reviewer

Division 49's academic journal, Group Dynamics: Theory, Research and Practice, deals with basic and applied topics in group research and application.

Awards and Funding

Division 49 Awards

The Society sponsors a number of awards, including many specifically for early career psychologists, such as the Dissertation of the Year Award.

APA Awards and Funding

APA offers many opportunities for and resources to find awards, grants and other funding specifically for early career psychologists.

Other Funding Resources

Federal Funding

Federal funding opportunities from the National Institute of Health (NIH), National Science Foundation (NSF) and others.

Data Management Plan Tool

An online tool providing help with the preparation of Data Management Plans for federal grants.

Grant Seeker’s Toolkit

The University of Tennessee Office of Research offers articles, guides and manuals for writing grants.

Community of Science

The community of science provides help finding general funding opportunities. (This service is owned by ProQuest and requires a Pivot account.)

Foundation Center

The Foundation Center provides help finding funding opportunities from foundations.

APA Funding Database

APA offers a searchable database of opportunities for grants, awards and funding.

Journals

Group Dynamics: Theory, Research and Practice

Division 49’s journal publishes original, empirical articles, theoretical analyses, literature reviews and brief reports dealing with basic and applied topics in the field of group research and application. The editors construe the phrase group dynamics in the broadest sense—the scientific study of all aspects of groups—and publish work by investigators in such fields as psychology, psychiatry, sociology, education, communication and business.

APA and Affiliated Journal Special Issues

Journals published by APA and affiliated with APA are academic resources providing the latest peer-reviewed research in a variety of fields and sub-fields within psychology and employing a range of methods, both quantitative and qualitative. Many journals publish special issues around specific topics or themes, and we invite you to explore some of these special issues that center around social psychology and group dynamics.

Starting Your Career


Academic Careers and Tenure

APA Career Development for Academic Careers

APA provides resources with specific guidance for individuals interested in academic careers, including discussions of postdoctoral work, curriculum vitae do’s and don’ts, interview tips and salary information.

The Chronicle of Higher Education

The Chronicle of Higher Education provides advice about issues frequently faced by students in higher education and professionals beginning academic careers. Whether you need general encouragement, writing advice or suggestions for navigating academia, these columns have informative tips and resources

Securing Tenure

In this academic climate, it can be a challenge to secure a tenure-track position. Universities may vary in their expectations and achieving tenure can be a competitive, long process that requires a plan. If you’re on the tenure track, this article gives four key tips to making sure you get the ultimate prize.

The Non-Tenure Track Position

Though you have likely been encouraged to search for a full-time, tenure-track assistant professor position, reports indicate that the largest increase in university faculty positions in recent years have been in full-time, non-tenure track positions.

Beyond a Psychology Department

The interdisciplinary nature of psychology makes individuals with doctoral degrees in psychology attractive as faculty members in a number of different academic settings.

Surviving and Thriving in Academia

This guide was written and reviewed by psychologists who have experienced or have close personal knowledge of the opportunities and special challenges academia poses for women and traditionally marginalized groups.

Training Opportunities

Division 49 maintains information about institutions, organized by region, that offer training in group psychology and group psychotherapy.

Work/Life Balance

APA Early Career Psychologist Resources

APA offers a range of resources for early career psychologists, including resources related to financial planning, the financial realities for psychology doctorates, debt management, loan repayment and work-life balance.

Self Care Presentation for Women (PDF, 179KB) opens in new window

Women early career psychologists can face specific challenges related to their many roles and the realities of juggling careers, family activities and community involvement. This presentation provides useful information and advice about self care specifically for women.

Self Care as an Ethical Imperative (PDF, 314KB) opens in new window

Self-care and nurturing your own psychological wellness can prevent burnout, vicarious traumatization and assist in maintaining professional competence. This presentation explains why self care is so important for those in the "caring professions," especially psychologists.

Making Work Your Family’s Ally

Work and family don't automatically have a negative impact on each other, say experts studying this area. It’s not job versus family. Work and family can benefit each other, psychological research shows.

Resources on Health and Emotional Wellness

Stress can take a toll on physical health, while physical challenges can bring new stress. By understanding how stress impacts health and steps we can take to stay emotionally balanced, we can lay the foundation for complete wellness. 

Resources on Family and Relationships

Relationships and families can present us with both joys and challenges. By strengthening our own emotional health, we can build better connections to the important people in our lives.

Resource Guides for Early Career Psychologists (PDF, 211KB) opens in new window

This thorough and comprehensive resource guide covers a range of topics relevant to early career psychologists, including academia, research, parenting, life issues and funding.

Clinical Practice


Guidelines and Print Resources

APA Professional Practice Guidelines

APA has approved as policy a variety of professional practice guidelines and related criteria in areas such as multicultural practice, child custody evaluations and treatment of gay, lesbian and bisexual clients.

The Theory and Practice of Group Psychotherapy

Yalom, I. D. & Leszcz, M. (2005). The theory and practice of group psychotherapy. (5th ed.). New York: Basic Books.

Handbook of Group Counseling and Psychotherapy

DeLucia-Waack, Gerrity, D. A., Kalodner, C. R., & Riva, M. T. (Eds.) (2003). Handbook of group counseling and psychotherapy. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.

Oxford Handbook of Group Counseling

Conyne, R. K. (Ed.) (2011). The Oxford handbook of group counseling. New York: Oxford University Press.

Group Therapy Workbook

Treadwell, T.; Dartnell, D.; Travaglini, L.; Staats, M. & Devinney, K. (2016). Group therapy workbook: Integrating cognitive behavioral therapy with psychodramatic theory and practice. Parker, Colorado: Outskirts Press Publishing.

Other Group Professional Associations

Association for Specialists in Group Work

The Association for Specialists in Group Workopens in new window provides resources for professionals to increase their knowledge and skills to practice group work. Some specific types of resources they provide are:

  • Best Practice Guidelines (PDF, 54KB)opens in new window: principles in planning, performing and processing group work
  • Training videos and books
  • The Journal for Specialists in Group Work
  • Diversity topics and principles for diversity
  • Opportunities for awards, grants and scholarships
  • Opportunities to volunteer and grow in leadership
  • Best practices
  • Training standards
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American Group Psychotherapy Association

The American Group Psychotherapy Associationopens in new window describes itself as “the voice of group therapy for mental health clinicians and the public-at-large, both nationally and internationally.” Some specific types of resources they provide are:

Last updated: October 2025Date created: 2012