Therapist Unlimited Blog

Based in Washington, DC, the American Psychological Association (APA) is a scientific and professional organization that represents psychology in the United States. With 150,000 members, APA is the largest association of psychologists worldwide.
The mission of the APA is to advance the creation, communication and application of psychological knowledge to benefit society and improve people?s lives.

APA Vision Statement
 

The American Psychological Association aspires to excel as a valuable, effective and influential organization advancing psychology as a science, serving as:A uniting force for the discipline;The major catalyst for the stimulation, growth and dissemination of psychological science and practice;The primary resource for all psychologists;The premier innovator in the education, development, and training of psychological scientists, practitioners and educators.
The leading advocate for psychological knowledge and practice informing policy makers and the public to improve public policy and daily living.
A principal leader and global partner promoting psychological knowledge and methods to facilitate the resolution of personal, societal and global challenges in diverse, multicultural and international contexts.
An effective champion of the application of psychology to promote human rights, health, well being and dignity.
Psychologists and students need support in a variety of ways. So APA offers a wide range of services that benefit both individuals and the field of psychology.

APA provides direct services to its members through insurance programs, financial services, education loans and student loan consolidation, discounts on computers and electronics, electronic payment processing, career services and many additional discounts on a wide range of products and consumer goods and services.
And APA protects you and your field through advocacy programs, information resources, and many other ways it supports psychology.
APA also strives to bring psychologists of similar interests together through its divisions, state and provincial associations, regional associations, and Annual Convention.
APA offers membership categories to include the wide range of people who dedicate themselves to psychology.
Whether you’re a doctoral degree holder, a psychology student, or a psychology teacher, you’ll find a membership category that’s right for you.
Doctoral degree holders can qualify for the APA Member category. Or if you live outside the U.S. or Canada, you can become an International Affiliate.
If you’re a student, APA has many options for you. Graduate and undergraduate students in psychology can become Student Affiliates. And if you’re in high school, there is an affiliate program just for you.
Those with 2-years of graduate school training can also become a part of APA as an Associate.
And recognizing the importance of early training to the profession, APA has an affiliate program for both High School and Community College teachers of psychology.

Those who wish to know more about the American Psychological Organization you can visit their website at http://www.apa.org/.

According to a latest medical study, the birth and demand for fertility services among couples in the United States of America is low due to the global economic recession.
In the data released by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, it discovered that 13 states in the US had a decrease in the number of recorded births in 2008 compared with 2007.
The statistical data released by the Georgia Hospital Association has shown that, there were 5,352 fewer recorded births in Georgia in 2008 than in 2007.
Based on the evaluation of Mark Perloe, a Georgia Reproductive Specialists the low birth could be attributed to the 20% decline in the number of people seeking infertility services.
Perloe said due to this low demand for fertility services, his company was forced to offer as much as 70 percent discount on select services of fertility.
Meanwhile,  Elisabeth Burgess, a Georgia State University sociology professor who focuses on families, explained, in times of economic downturns, different people react in different ways.

Due to the economic recession, the demand for birth and fertility services is low.

Burgess said for some people, family becomes more important, so they might decide to have a child.
The latest statistical data showed that one cycle of treatment could cost $15,000 or more, which some people pay for through credit, retirement savings or home equity loans.
Moreover, the Journal-Constitution reports that some people delay planned pregnancy because of concerns over job security, health insurance, income and the cost of raising a child.
The data gathered at the USDA show that the average middle-class family would pay $11,000 to raise a child in the first year, with the largest portion of that cost going to childcare.
It is said that with the rising cost of basic commodities during the recession, it would just be okay to slow down on birth and demand for fertility services to save cost.