Dr. Darnell A. Durrah

The American Psychological Association (APA) conducted its annual convention in Minneapolis, Minnesota from August 4 – 6. This was my first time attending in person and I am so glad I went. The purpose of a professional organizations annual convention and or conference is geared towards offering providers Continue Education Credits (CEUs) towards their license, providing updates on the latest clinical research to inform clinical practice, and or meet up with previous friends, colleagues along with many networking opportunities.

My reasoning for attending this year’s APA were both professional and personal. Professionally, as I continue to develop my identity as a licensed counseling psychologist, I believe it is important to engage with other licensed counseling/clinical psychologists to grow and learn from. I want to be the best clinician and leader I possibly can. Thus, being around other phenomenal clinicians and leaders at this year’s APA afforded me this opportunity. Personally, I needed a break for my normal day to day life. As a result, APA did not disappointment.

The APA convention reminded me of why back in 2008, I wanted to give up my career as a master level therapist in the prison system of five years, give up my small part-time business with 11 independent master level contractors, and a startup consulting business to obtain my PhD in counseling psychology. It reminded me, that this journey has and never will be about me. Instead, what I can do for others and the field of psychology. Since I was in middle school, I always wanted to do for others. These personal attributes were consistently on display from my grandfather, grandmother, and mother. Despite my mother being diagnosed with early onset dementia 2019, you will still find her trying do for others.

Advocating for those that could not advocate for themselves is what makes me a decent human and even a better licensed counseling psychologist. My high school football coach gave me my first opportunity of advocacy work when he and my peers selected me to be a captain on both junior and varsity football teams in high school. This continued in undergraduate, graduate and eventually in my doctoral studies by joining specific clubs, volunteering within the Veterans Affairs (VA) Hospital, gaining supervised clinical hours within systemically disadvantaged and or underserved communities that included juvenile and adult corrections, working with children in the foster care system, homeless populations, and even the military. Advocating for the voiceless has always been my professional and even personal why. One of the reasons that led my doctoral dissertation being a qualitative study, was to give the 12 participants a voice to current and future correctional and help seeking research. Again, the APA convention, was exactly what I needed.

Meanwhile, as I scan social media over the last few days and following the hash tag for the conference #APA2022, I found many posts, pictures, and stories of individuals who traveled from all over for APA. Many were reconnecting; however, I found myself connecting more than anything. Since graduating with my PhD on my mother’s birthday, December 15, 2013, I have not been as involved with APA as I could have been. I can think of a few reasons. One reason, I always thought my personality just did not belong within APA. Some would say that this is a form of imposter syndrome. More than anything, I tend to create relationships based off energy. Until this recent convention, I did not allow for that energy to be created. Energy formed relationships for me are usually built on transparency, and vulnerability, which leads to a more trusting relationship. I was not active in the graduate association of APA while in graduate school and I had never been to a convention. So, aside from following individuals on social media, which really is not real (#socialmediaisntREAL), I did not have many if any personal/professional connections. Not until this past weekend, did I allow myself the opportunity to develop those. I am so glad I did.

As I leave APA, I take away a wealth of knowledge, future possibilities, and a different understanding of APA. The macro system of APA is not where I yet want to be engaged. Rather, at the micro and mezzo levels. At this stage of my professional career ensuring I stay in engaged with those trusted individuals whose professional and personal values aligned with mine. Staying and remining connected with the APA divisions whose work is critical to mine and where I want to potentially contribute scholastically. Taking on a leadership role within the sections of the divisions I am a member to gain necessary experiences for eventually connecting and having influence at the macro level of this organization. Evenly important, is creating spaces for authentic, genuine, and transparent relationships to be formed with current graduate students, more recent early career psychologists (ECPs), fellow peers, and mentors to be able to share their story. As we all have one.

As I conclude this blog, I am just appreciative of all those I met over the past few days. For those of you I did not have the opportunity of meeting, I look forward to connecting with you on whichever medium is preferred for you until we can meet in Washington D.C. for APA 2023.

My final question to you all, was, how did APA help you rediscover and or confirm your why?