• Call for Symposia Guidelines

    Call for Symposia Guidelines

    GPA Annual Meeting

  • GPA is excited to offer innovating and varied programming for the 2026 annual meeting. Below is an explanation of the symposium format followed by guidelines for the application.

    Submissions will be presented in person at the GPA Annual Conference on April 23-26, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. We hope to represent a wide range of scientific methods, skill sets, and experiences. Anyone interested in presenting is encouraged to apply.

    Symposia sessions can be 1 or 2 hours (1 or 2 CE credits, respectively) and involve multiple speakers presenting information on a common theme or topic. Presentations can include but are not limited to review of data or clinical interventions, case studies, or contrasting viewpoints and debates. Symposia often will, but are not required to, include a moderator or discussant, who may be an expert in the field. This person can be in addition to the panel of presenters or one of the presenters. Overarching or unifying themes should be clearly discussed either by the presenters or the moderator.

    The symposium panel should anticipate and prepare for discussion and engagement. The aim of a symposium is to engage the audience while presenting novel or timely information. To that end, the symposium session is less of a paper-presentation session and should seek to engage the audience and other presenters in discussion and participation.

  • Application Process

  • We use an electronic application process. This application is not available to save and edit.

    Call for Programs Required Application Components:

    Prior to starting your application, we recommend you review a PDF copy of this application; you can review the entire application in advance here. You will need to upload multiple documents and this will help you to prepare what you need.

    Additionally you should have the following required components available and ready prior to filling out the form and completing submission:

    • Full CV for all presenters. We strongly encourage applicants to refer to the APA Guidance for preparing a CV demonstrating expertise. This resource can be found here: Curriculum Vitae Guidance for Establishing Expertise
    • Headshots for all presenters, if available
    • Diversity Statement. We strongly encourage applicants to refer to the APA Guidance for understanding and addressing diversity, which can be found here: Understanding and Addressing Diversity
    • Presenter Bios
    • Symposium description (100 words)
      • Detailed schedule for symposium, including each presenter’s contribution. 
      • 3 Learning Objectives. We request that you refer to APA Guidance for Writing Learning Objectives, which is available here.
      • Category of Education and Level of Workshop
      • Relationship to APA Ethics Code (for Ethics-related symposia)
      • Minimum of five current APA-style references

  • 1.  This is a peer-review process. The GPA Annual Meeting Program Planning Committee and the GPA CE Committee will jointly review all submissions. 

    2.  Applicants will be notified of a decision in November of each year for the following year's conference.

    3.  Presenters must have a doctoral level degree (does not have to be a PhD in Psychology) or equivalent and be presenting in their area of training that is relevant to psychology. If presenting with a psychology trainee (i.e.doctoral candidate), or a nondoctoral level provider, 50% or more of the workshop must be presented by the doctoral level professional and all presenters must demonstrate their expertise in the topic area regardless of degree. For help in preparing a vita demonstrating your expertise, see:  Curriculum Vitae Guidance for Establishing Expertise

    4.  Symposia presenters do not receive an honorarium.

    5.  CE workshop presenters will receive an honorarium of $100 per hour of CE, plus a $100 bonus for every 5 additional registrants brought in by presenter (GPA will provide a promo code).

    6.  Questions - Contact Continuing Education at ce@gapsychology.org


    Continuing Education APA Sponsor Requirements: As a reminder, the Georgia Psychological Association is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. The Georgia Psychological Association maintains responsibility for this program and its content.  As such, programs will be reviewed for appropriateness and quality by the GPA Continuing Education Committee, GPA Annual Meeting Program Committee and, when relevant, a representative from the academic community. 

  • Potential Topics

    The Continuing Education Directorate is specifically seeking proposals in the following areas, based on expressed member interest and the Conference theme.
    • POTENTIAL TOPICS OF INTEREST 

    • The Continuing Education Committee is specifically seeking proposals in the following areas, based on expressed member interest and the Annual Meeting theme.

      Please note that the topics below are general suggestions.  We are looking for the highest-quality, most relevant workshop topics for today’s psychologists.  Preference will be given to intermediate- and advanced-level workshops.

      Assessment Topics, including: Issues with Adults, Learning Disabilities, Custody Evaluations, Forensic Evaluations, Malingering, Cultural Identity and Acculturation Assessment, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Neuropsychological Evaluation, Neurodevelopmental Disorders, IQ Testing, NEPSY assessment, Use of Latest Instruments, Diagnosing Intellectual Disabilities

      Evidence-Based Practice Topics, including: Positive Psychology, CBT, Treatments for Anxiety and Depression, ACT, DBT, EMDR, Cognitive Processing Therapy, Prolonged Exposure, Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy, Mindfulness, Meditation, CBT-I, Compassion Focused Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Limitations of Evidence-based Therapies, Psychopharmacology, Experiential Psychotherapy

      Child and Family Topics, including: Childhood Trauma/PTSD, Couples Therapy, Couples Therapy after an Affair, LGBTQ+ Children and Adolescents, Transgendered Youth and Adults, Ethnic Diversity Issues for Children and Adolescents, Development of an Anti-Racist Identity, Internal Family Systems Work, Child Abuse, Collaborative Divorce, Parenting Plans, Treatment of ADHD, Pediatric Bipolar Disorder, Oppositional Defiant Disorder, Girls of Color in Education, Autism Treatment, Psychotherapy for Family Caregivers, Adolescent Mood Disorders, Issues related to College Students, Childhood Domestic Violence, Play Therapy, Parent Skills Training, Developmental Disabilities, Maternal Mortality Among Black Women

      Practice-Related Issues, including: HIPAA Compliance, Billing and Record Keeping, Aging and Retirement, Opening or Closing a Private Practice, Application of Telepsychology, Issues Related to Licensure for All Career Stages, Supervision, Building a Culturally-Sensitive and Inclusive Practice, Student/Training Issues, Dealing with an Impaired Colleague, Ethics and Technology in Practice, Insurance Issues, Electronic Health Records, Broadening the Scope of Work, Self-Care, Integrated Health Care

      Ethics Topics, including: Issues with Tele-mental Health, Supervision, Custody Evaluations, Geriatrics, Suicidality, APA Ethics Code

      Clinical Treatment Topics, including: Treatment of OCD, Bipolar Disorder, In-depth Veterans/Families Issues, Sensorimotor Psychotherapy,  Resilience, Use of Nontraditional Homework or Supplements to Psychotherapy, LGBTQ+ Issues (including among Racial and Ethnic Minorities), Cultural Diversity, Eating Disorders, Weight Loss, Spirituality, Complex Bereavement, Death and Dying, Substance Use Disorders, Suicide Prevention, Self-Injurious Behavior, PTSD, Psychopharmacology/Pediatric, Dementia, Factitious Disorder, Dissociative Disorders, Personality Disorders, Depression, Anxiety, Health Psychology, Pain Management, Violence Risk Assessment, Geriatrics, Severe Mental Illness, Neuropsychology

      Other Topics: Consultation/Supervision, I/O Workshops, Systems-based Workshops for Psychotherapy, Research Updates, Public Health Topics, Nontraditional/alternative careers for psychologists, Mentoring future scholars/clinicians

  • Presenter(s) Information

    Please be aware that since GPA provides post-doctoral CE for psychologists, we require that presenters have a doctoral degree. If a non-doctoral level individual is serving as a co-presenter (i.e. a doctoral intern/trainee, a masters-level colleague, etc.), they must demonstrate expertise in mental health and the topic of the workshop. Additionally, in cases where a non-doctoral level professional is presenting with a doctoral-level professional, 50% or more of the workshop must be presented by the doctoral-level professional.
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  • Symposium Information

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  • Please be aware that symposia designated as "Ethics" (those that offer ethics specialty hours) must demonstrate that 75% of the symposium will be comprised of material related to ethical content and/or the APA Ethics Code. Devotion of 75% of the symposium to ethics will be assessed and demonstrated by 75% of the learning objective indicating a focus on ethics, and as reflected by both the provided symposium schedule and references.

  • One learning objective per hour of content each hour is required, with a minimum of three learning objectives per symposium, regardless of length. Learning objectives must be measurable and observable behaviors; focused on the learner; use action verbs. USE the words list, describe, explain, assess, critique, demonstrate, discuss, apply, utilize, summarize. DON'T use the words know, understand, learn, become familiar with, learn, gain awareness, etc. as these cannot be observed and measured. For further information about learning objectives, please review: "APA Guidelines for Writing Learning Objectives". Applicants preparing ethics symposia (i.e. applying for ethics credit) need to make clear that at least75% of the symposium is devoted to ethical issues as reflected in the program’s stated learning objectives.

  • Please include a minimum of three recent (published within the last ten years) peer-reviewed journals, peer-reviewed articles, or edited scholarly books/chapters upon which your presentation is based. Use APA format. While resources such as unedited theoretical books, workbooks, and statistical/demographic reports can be included your workshop presentation (and we encourage you to do so), they do not count toward the three required peer-reviewed references for the purposes of this application. For ethics symposia, references should reflect that 75 % of content is ethics related. Each symposium should also include at least one reference related to relevance/application of the topic area to diversity, marginalized populations, or historically underprivileged groups

  • GPA is committed to promoting awareness of diversity in all forms and promoting multicultural competence among psychologists. A multiculturally competent approach to continuing education respects people’s complex identities. It acknowledges that there are no “one size fits all” remedies and considers that the specific needs of diverse groups often require modification in how we think about and treat the clients we serve. Please explain how the content of your symposium will consider and address at least one aspect of the general population’s diversity (e.g., differing ages, races, sexual orientations, religions, gender identities, cultures, abilities or socio-economic realities). In your statement of how you will directly address diversity in your symposium, include at least one scholarly reference related to the aspect of diversity that you will discuss. You may also discuss any limitations to the current body of knowledge with regard to diversity. This is required for ALL symposia. We strongly encourage applicants to refer to the APA's Guidance for Understanding and Addressing Diversity.

  • Review of Presenter Policies

    Please initial below each section indicating that you have read and understood each of the following polices:

  • AUDIO/VISUAL POLICY:

    For In Person events: Presenters will be provided with: LCD Projector/Screen, podium, and microphone. Presenters will need to provide their own laptops and presenter remotes (if needed). Mac users must bring their own Mac adapter for the LCD projector.

  • Recorded Webinar Test Questions Policy: Presenters of CE symposia that will be recorded for future use as an asynchronous webinar must submit Post Test questions to meet APA requirements. The questions are to ensure participation by the registrant and should be comprised of at least 6 multiple choice questions per CE hour. Presenters are required to submit the questions and test key at least two weeks prior to the recording date. 

    Recorded Webinar Release Form: Presenters will sign a release form with additional policies. The form will be sent by GPA staff.

  • Handouts and Slides Policy:

  • Presenters are required to provide handouts/slides (i.e. Power Point) for their symposium.  Presenters are required to include a list of references at the end of the presentation either in the PowerPoint or as a separate handout. You must include all references shared in the symposium. Handouts will be due by one month prior to the conference date. 

  • GPA's Anti-Plagiarism Policy:

  • In accordance with the APA Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct, GPA has a zero tolerance policy for plagiarism.  Symposia presenters are not permitted to present work (i.e. powerpoint slides, handout, etc.) that was created by another individual under the premise that it is the presenter’s own work.   Presenters are allowed and encouraged to cite relevant scholarly literature with appropriate citations noted.  Additionally, should the presenter choose to include materials (i.e. slides, handouts, etc.) that are the work of another individual, such as a colleague, the following criterion must be met:

    You must obtain permission from the original author to use materials.
    You must include a disclaimer at the beginning of the presentation; the disclaimer should clearly state that materials from another author are being used with permission as resources throughout portions of the workshop.
    Slides, handouts, materials, etc. that are the work of another individual shall be appropriately identified as such both in writing (i.e. author citation or slide credit on slide itself) and verbally during the course of the presentation.
    Work that has been created by an individual other than the presenter may not account for more than approximately 10% of the presentation.  

  • Accuracy and Utility:

  • During each CE presentation, include statements that describe the accuracy and utility of the materials presented, the empirical basis of such statements, the limitations of the content being taught, and the severe and the most common risks.

  • Conflict of Interest:

  • Please disclose any co-existing interests or commitments on the part of the presenter that may impact or potentially bias the content of the educational activity/session or would create a financial interest for the presenter. For examples of common areas in which disclosures are professionally appropriate, you can visit this link.

    GPA recognizes that not all co-existing relationships prohibit appropriate presentations but asks that all presenters take time to examine and share any potential conflicts on this form and at the beginning of their presentation.

    This is current best professional practice and required in APA Standards and Approval of Sponsors for Continuing Education, Standard G Promotion and Advertising of Program, Criteria 2,

    “Sponsors must make clearly evident to all potential participants, prior to registration, any known commercial support for CE programs or instructors. Any other relationships that could be reasonably construed as a conflict of interest also must be disclosed. If there is no conflict of interest or commercial support, then that should be clearly stated.”

  • Clear

  • The Georgia Psychological Association is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. The Georgia Psychological Association maintains responsibility for its program and content.

    For questions, contact Continuing Education at ce@apsychology.org

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