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• To develop curricula and other resources for teaching, training and/or providing clinical supervision in cognitive-behavioral assessment and therapy
• To develop and promulgate training and educational standards (e. g., curricula, guidelines) in training programs in psychology, psychiatry and other medical specialties, social work, nursing, special education, and other relevant disciplines
• To examine the extent to which cognitive-behavioral training has been disseminated and implemented in appropriate training programs
• To acknowledge academic excellence in teaching, mentorship, and supervision
• To develop resources for those seeking training and mentorship in cognitive-behavioral theory and practice and those organizations that are developing or implementing training and competence standards

The Advanced Methodology and Statistics Seminars (AMASS) Committee is dedicated to enhancing researchers’ methodological and statistical competencies by organizing and delivering high-quality, accessible training opportunities. The committee works closely with the ABCT Board of Directors, relevant special interest groups, and experts in quantitative and qualitative methodologies to curate seminar content that reflects the latest advancements in research methods, data analysis, and computational tools.

AMASS identifies leading scholars and practitioners in advanced methods to serve as instructors, ensuring that seminar topics remain cutting-edge and relevant to behavioral and clinical science. The committee is responsible for structuring and scheduling seminar series, promoting accessibility through virtual and in-person formats, and expanding outreach to researchers at all career stages, particularly early-career scholars and those from historically underrepresented backgrounds.

Additionally, AMASS seeks to develop funding mechanisms and partnerships to support the long-term sustainability of the seminar series, including securing sponsorships and external funding to subsidize attendance costs. Success will be measured through participant engagement, feedback, and the impact of training on members’ research productivity and methodological skills.

• Work closely with other members of the Convention Committee monthly to plan the annual ABCT convention

• Develop and launch the 2025 seminar series with diverse topics covering advanced methodologies and statistical techniques.

• In consultation with other members of the Convention Committee, make final disposition decisions on AMASS submissions

• Expand accessibility by increasing virtual seminar offerings and developing an asynchronous content library.

• Identify funding opportunities through sponsorships, grants, and donor support to subsidize seminar costs.

• Enhance impact assessment by implementing post-seminar evaluations and tracking engagement metrics.

• Strengthen outreach and mentorship by engaging early-career researchers and fostering interdisciplinary collaboration.

• Review post-conference AMASS from conference attendees to inform future decisions about programming, solicitations for submissions, and final dispositions.

• Write an annual progress report and submit it to the Convention & Education Issues Coordinator for presentation to the Board of Directors

• Monitor and respond to emails via the AMASS ‘s ABCT email address

ABCT emphasizes the need to eliminate disparities in mental health care and positive outcomes among different populations, particularly marginalized or underserved groups. The BHE committee carries out ABCT’s commitment to ensure fair and just opportunity for all individuals to access mental health and substance use services without discrimination or barriers. The mandate of this committee is two-pronged, serving both internal and external constituents. BHEC will seek to:

• Identify health equity blind spots within existing ABCT Education and Programs
• Will make use of Member Demographic Data Collection and Analysis to mitigate inequities in the membership composition
• Will spearhead, facilitate or collaborate on behavioral health equity Program Development within ABCT
• Will work close with other ABCT groups to eliminate redundancies and silos in advancing the cause of health equity in the practice of cognitive behavioral therapy

Externally, BHEC will work to eliminate social determinants of health barriers by active Community Engagement with sister societies, community groups, patients, caregivers and families; and will take a leading role in working with like-minded organizations on Policy and Advocacy, as necessary.

The CDRI committee is responsible for several initiatives. First, the committee strives to increase awareness, promotion, utilization, participation, and accuracy of the Clinical Directory. The committee also promotes the clinical directory and resources on the ABCT website. We solicit and highlight monthly featured therapists and curate ABCT resources related to monthly mental health topics. We send out both monthly highlights to the ABCT community. Finally, we recognize and increase awareness of ABCT members who are Pioneers and Global Thought Leaders of the field, by soliciting videos, which are housed on the ABCT website.

• Increase participation, awareness, promotion, utilization, and accuracy of the Clinical Directory for both members and the public

• Increase the number of members who participate in the expanded listing of the Clinical Directory

• Ensure BIPOC and other underrepresented populations are being included and reflected in all our work

• Continue to interview and highlight Global Thought Leaders and Pioneers in the field

• Continue to feature at least one “Featured Therapist” per month

• Continue to disseminate ABCT mental health resources monthly via Monthly Mental Health Topics and update resources/fact sheets as needed

• Recruit and onboard new committee members.

• Refine committee policies and procedures, including policies about membership cycles, transition plans, and roles.

The Continuing Education (CE) Committee assists with the development of ABCT continuing education learning events. The committee’s efforts are largely centered on planning monthly CE-eligible webinars. The CE Committee identifies, recruits, and coordinates directly with webinar speakers. Committee members serve as moderators in live webinars to manage attendee questions and to facilitate guided and insightful discussion with the speaker at the end of the presentation. Moderators also assist with the organization of required CE documentation from the speaker, as outlined by the governing bodies that recognize ABCT as an approved continuing education provider.

The CE Committee chair meets monthly with ABCT CE leadership members (e.g. several ABCT central office staff, board liaison, board coordinator, and CE outreach coordinator) to obtain guidance on webinar planning, promotion, and marketing strategies. Key metrics of the committee’s success include but are not limited to: 1) revenue generated from registration for live and recorded webinars, 2) review of ABCT member webinar evaluation/feedback, and 3) advancement of ABCT initiatives in the dissemination of research and clinical knowledge of evidence-based interventions.

• Work closely with membership services and marketing to improve webinar marketing strategies for 2025

• Create an aggregated list of psychology CE licensure requirements by state to guide a revised “search” function on ABCT webinar catalog page, so that users can search for webinars in line with required CE content areas

• Increase registrants for both live and recorded events

• Ensure speaker/content compliance with CE approval providers in the promotion and delivery of webinars

• Work with the Convention and Continuing Education Coordinator to ensure that CE and Convention offerings are complementary.

• Collaborate with ABCT publications and relevant committees to complete required CE documentation to pilot 1-2 (CE eligible) podcast episodes

• Review feedback from webinar attendees and the annual Convention to inform future decisions about programming

The Fellows Committee continues to seek to increase the diversity of those ABCT members who apply to become Fellows in the Association. The Committee has been particularly interested in reaching those members who are in fields other than psychology. Fellow status can be awarded to those with any terminal degree and professional certification in the mental health field who have demonstrated outstanding and sustained contributions to cognitive and behavior therapy, although the largest percentage of Fellows identify professionally as psychologists.

We also seek for diversity in membership of the committee along a lot of dimensions. We consider the usual race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, etc. diversity, but also consider profession, area of expertise in relation to our paths to Fellow status, and career status. For example we would like the committee to consist of mid-career as well as senior Fellows, and that there be representation from those practicing in clinical, in traditional research/academic roles, and for those involved in advocacy and justice work; all of which are areas for which one can apply to become a Fellow with outstanding and sustained contributions in areas that have not traditionally been represented on the Committee. Furthermore, we seek both US and Canadian members on the committee and also better representation from disciplines other than psychology.

The Fellows Committee has reached out to SIG leaders who have asked for some form of mentoring of those who would like to become Fellows. While a formal mentoring program is not yet on the radar for the Committee, the Committee is working with SIG leaders to develop a panel question/answer session for the ABCT convention in New Orleans in November, 2025.

Finally, there are several members of the Committee whose terms will be up in 2025. While it is allowed, and encouraged for current members to seek a second term, the committee is currently seeking to replace four members of the Fellows Committee.

The Fundraising and Development Committee assists the ABCT Board of Directors, CEO, and Senior Development Manager in fundraising efforts by ensuring that fundraising goals are met through their active participation in identifying and soliciting private support (individuals, foundations, and corporations), cultivating new donors, and current donor stewardship.

The Fundraising and Development Committee identifies and solicits donor financial support from individuals, corporations, and foundations, while also seeking support opportunities from the health care industry – including sponsorships and promotions, and grant funding or co-funding. The FDC raises unrestricted funds for the ABCT research program to offer early or mid-career Bridge Grants or Seed Grants to fund research proposals that address behavioral health care, public health policy, and workforce development in cognitive behavioral therapy. 

The FDC also raises unrestricted funds for mentored research training awards to support early-career investigators and clinical and postdoctoral fellows. Key metrics of the success of the committee will be measuring funds raised, establishing and growing a robust donor list, ABCT membership and community impact, and advancing ABCT programs and initiatives on equity in behavioral health.

The History Council is dedicated to preserving, documenting, and promoting the historical heritage of the ABCT and its members.

The ABCT History Council will serve to preserve the history of the organization and create a bridge between past, current and future members.  Key activities of the Council may include:

• Research and Documentation by facilitating the collection, cataloging, and preservation of historical records, artifacts, and narratives related to the association's founding, evolution, and impact
• Education and Outreach by developing educational programs, workshops, and resources that highlight significant historical events, figures, and milestones, fostering a greater understanding of the evolution of the organization
• Exhibits and Events by organizing exhibitions, lectures, and commemorative events that celebrate ABCT history and engage members and the public in meaningful ways
• Collaboration by partnering with local historians, museums, and educational institutions to expand ABCT’s reach and enhance the organization’s historical initiatives
• Community Engagement by encouraging member participation in history-related projects and initiatives, fostering a sense of pride and connection to the association’s heritage

The Institutes Committee is chaired by an individual who serves a three-year term. The Chair oversees the review of Institute submissions for the annual ABCT convention. In addition to reviewing submissions, the Chair also undertakes duties related to Institutes programming and conference planning throughout the year. The success of the committee is defined by its ability to review submissions, solicit additional submissions when necessary to ensure a diverse representation of clinical areas, make final decisions on acceptance, and analyze post-conference feedback to guide future programming. These objectives, along with other performance benchmarks, are outlined in greater detail below.

• Collaborate with other members of the Convention Committee to plan the annual ABCT convention.

• Review and assess Institutes submissions.

• Solicit additional submissions, as needed, to ensure a comprehensive range of clinical topics.

• In consultation with the Convention Committee, make final decisions on Institutes submissions.

• Review post-conference feedback from attendees to inform future programming decisions, submission solicitations, and acceptance criteria.

• Prepare and submit an annual progress report to the Convention & Education Issues Coordinator for presentation to the Board of Directors.

• Monitor and respond to inquiries via the Institutes@abct.org email address.

The Local Arrangements Committee Chair is charged with the planning and execution of local logistics for the ABCT annual convention. The primary responsibility of the Local Arrangements Committee Chair is to create a welcoming and informative experience for all attendees by highlighting the best of the local area. Additionally, the Local Arrangements Committee Chair is tasked with publicizing the convention to non-ABCT members, including local educational institutions, hospitals, and mental health centers. To assist with these endeavors, the Local Arrangements Committee Chair is responsible for recruiting and managing a team of dedicated volunteers.

Other responsibilities include organizing and staffing the local arrangements table at the annual convention, assisting with the Saturday night party at the annual convention, creating content for the Behavior Therapist (tBT) newsletter and ABCT website, developing a local restaurant and attraction guide, and coordinating kosher meals. Finally, the Local Arrangements Committee Chair is responsible for assisting with ABCT’s day of service, a volunteer opportunity during the annual convention allowing attendees to contribute to the local community. The Local Arrangements Committee chair serves a 3-year term and is expected to comply with ABCT’s policies and procedures, including the conflict-of-interest policy.

• Recruit and mange a team of dedicated volunteers to assist with planning and execution of local arrangement logistics.

• Assist with publicizing the convention to non-ABCT members including local educational institutions, hospitals, and mental health centers.

• Collaborate with the Social Networking Media Committee to develop and post engaging content on ABCT social media platforms.

• Develop a local attraction and restaurant guide to include kosher establishments.

• Write an article for tBT highlighting local attractions, transportation, weather, and food.

• Ensure content from tBT is available on ABCT website.

• Organize and staff the local arrangements table at the annual convention.

• Assist with planning special events (e.g., the Saturday night party) at the annual convention.

The role of the Master Clinician Seminar (MCS) Chair is to cultivate, solicit, screen, and select offerings in institutes for the Annual Convention. Master Clinician Seminars feature highly experienced clinicians sharing their expertise and advanced clinical techniques with other practitioners, typically through case presentations, in-depth discussions, and practical demonstrations, allowing attendees to learn from the best practices and insights of recognized leaders in their field, often focusing on complex cases or specialized areas of practice. Thus, the Chair will work closely with the entire convention planning group, including the ABCT President, Central Office, and other session Chairs, to help shape the convention.

• Work closely with other members of the Convention Committee monthly to plan the annual ABCT convention

• Review and assess MCS submissions

• In consultation with other members of the Convention Committee, make final disposition decisions on MCS submissions

• Solicit additional submissions, as needed, to ensure a comprehensive range of clinical topics

• Review post-conference MCS from conference attendees to inform future decisions about programming, solicitations for submissions, and final dispositions.

• Write an annual progress report and submit it to the Convention & Education Issues Coordinator for presentation to the Board of Directors

• Monitor and respond to emails via the masterclinicianseminars@abct.org email address (Chair)

The Membership Committee is responsible for recruiting and retaining Full Members, Associate Members, and New Professional Members. It collaborates with other ABCT committees that serve membership needs (e.g., SIGs). The Membership Committee sponsors a panel at the annual convention focused on a professional topic of interest to members. The Ambassador Program is a subcommittee that helps members stay connected by disseminating information about upcoming events, the convention, and resources available on the ABCT website.

● Plan a panel for the 2025 convention (working title: “Science Advocacy: How to Advance Psychology Within Your Work Setting”)

● Form a subcommittee to support mentorship programs already active within ABCT (e.g., SIGs)

● Identify speaker(s) for a webinar on transitioning from MSW to doctoral-level psychology

● Collaborate with Central Office on a retention survey of lapsed members

● Collaborate with Central Office on the development of flyers/brochures to recruit new members

● Recruit and support a new Ambassador Chair

The Public Education and Media Dissemination (PEMD) Committee is looking for contributors for our Briefing Book initiative. This project provides journalists and members of the public with accessible & evidence-based information.

• Our first Briefing Book on Suicide is available here.
• Our Gun Violence Briefing Book.
• Access more Briefing Books here.

Why does ABCT publish briefing books?

• Much of the cutting edge science in our field is locked behind a paywall, meaning journalists often don’t have access to the most up-to-date information.
• If you’ve been looking for a chance to contribute to public education and science communication, this is it!

We need contributors to help bring these books to fruition.

• Contributors write 1500-2000 words on a subtopic of their choosing
• One time contributors, as well as contributors interested in joining the committee long term are welcome.

If you have expertise in the areas of gun violence, peer victimization or bullying and would be interested in this project, or would like to learn more, please reach out to PEMD chair, Erin Kang (kange@montclair.edu) for more information.

• Develop resources for those who conduct research in behavioral and cognitive principles and practices
• Serve as a liaison between the ABCT and agencies that set the agenda and provide funding for activities relevant to mission and behavioral values
• Collecting and disseminating research resources
• Find a Researcher Directory
• Graduate Student Research Grant (GSRG)
  • Advertise and review the GSRG annually (applications are due in March)
  • Merit and need-based award that provides up to $1,000 to facilitate and support graduate student research
  • Provide funding for doctoral student research that demonstrates a clear financial need in order for the project to succeed
  • For more details and to apply, please visit the ABCT Awards page (go to the “Open Student Awards” tab). For a list of past award winners, click here.
• Spotlight on a Researcher
  • Select and interview researchers for our Spotlight on a Researcher feature 3 times per year (in addition to profiling the GSRG winner)
  • Research should fall into one of three categories: (1) early career researcher, (2) mid-career researcher, (3) researcher who does work focused on reducing health disparities and/or the mental health of marginalized groups
  • For a list of past featured researchers and to nominate yourself or another researcher, click here.

The Research and Professional Development (RPD) Committee is chaired by an individual who serves a three-year term. The Chair oversees the review of RPD submissions for the annual ABCT convention. In addition, the Chair completes duties relevant to RPD programming specifically, and conference planning generally, throughout the year. The success of the committee is defined by its ability to review submissions, solicit additional submissions when necessary to ensure a diverse representation of clinical areas, make final decisions on acceptance, and analyze post-conference feedback to guide future programming. These objectives, along with other performance benchmarks, are outlined in greater detail below.

• Work closely with other members of the Convention Committee on an at-least-monthly basis to plan the annual ABCT convention.

• Review and rate RPD submissions.

• Solicit RPD submissions as necessary to round out Convention Programming.

• In consultation with other members of the Convention Committee, make final disposition decisions on RPD submissions.

• Review post-conference RPD feedback from conference attendees to inform future decisions about programming, solicitations for submissions, and final dispositions.

• Write an annual progress report and submit it to the Convention & Education Issues Coordinator for presentation to the Board of Directors.

• Monitor and respond to emails via the researchandprofessionaldevelopment@abct.org email address (Chair)

The Self-Help Book Recommendations Committee aims to provide the public with a resource for quality self-help books, while also supporting and facilitating ABCT’s strategic planning objectives of disseminating information to professionals and educating the public. Practically, that means each committee member agrees to review 2-3 self-help books per year. This entails undertaking a detailed reading of a selected book (that the author or publisher mails to you) to identify whether the book presents an evidence-based intervention based in CBT principles.

There is a standardized review form to help guide the kinds of things to look for within the book. At the end of their review, the reviewer recommends the book be accepted or rejected for inclusion in the Self-Help Book directory on the ABCT website. Recommendations for acceptance go to the ABCT Board of Directors for final approval. The book is added to the site once that approval is obtained.

Importantly, we do not accept books “by default” (e.g., from big names in the field). Instead, we strive to undertake thorough and detailed reviews, and that means rejecting titles that do not meet our review standards.

The ABCT Student Membership Committee (SMC) advocates for the interests of ABCT student members and prospective members at all levels of training, including undergraduate, post-baccalaureate, graduate, and postdoctoral. Our committee aims to provide valuable information about training and professional development, from building a competitive graduate application portfolio to maintaining work-life balance and achieving success throughout training. We also identify and promote opportunities for students to engage more deeply with ABCT, helping them establish it as their professional home as they enter the mental health field.

• Recruit new committee members and get them involved in our initiatives, with a particular focus on undergraduate and graduate student members.

• Highlight the work of productive ABCT members and their labs, with new feature articles being published on the ABCT website approximately every two months. These showcase the diverse foci and contributions of members across the organization.

• Sponsor two panel discussions at the annual convention, one focused on getting into graduate programs and the other focused on a topic of current interest to students.

• Disseminate information about professional development topics via webisodes, articles, and other resources targeted to ABCT student members and potential members.

• Collaborate with ABCT Student SIG to develop tools and facilitate programming of interest to student members at the undergraduate training level and beyond.

The Web Committee manages all aspects of the website, from receiving and reviewing content and feedback submitted by members to determining structural, design, or formatting changes. Our goal is to create and maintain a website that is timely, easily accessible, and full of helpful resources for ABCT members, the research and clinical community at large, and the public. We work closely with the special interests groups to highlight important announcements and upcoming events, and we also have regular contact with ABCT leadership to ensure that ABCT’s mission and goals are expressed throughout the site.

The Workshops Committee consists of a Chair and a group of 3 to 5 Reviewers, each of whom sits on the Committee for a three-year term. The Chair and Reviewers work together to review Workshop and Mini Workshop submissions to the annual ABCT convention. The Chair completes additional duties relevant to Workshop programming specifically, and conference planning generally, throughout the year. Key metrics of the success of the committee will be establishing and maintaining a committee of reviewers for Workshop and Mini Workshop conference submissions; assigning and reviewing submissions based on areas of expertise; determining final dispositions; and reviewing post-conference feedback to inform future (Mini) Workshop programming decisions. These and other benchmarks are described in more detail below.

• Work closely with other members of the Convention Committee on an at-least-monthly basis to plan the annual ABCT convention (Chair)

• Form or maintain a group of 3 to 5 reviewers – representing a range of experience, expertise, work settings, and career stages – for Workshops and Mini Workshops submissions to the annual ABCT convention (Chair)

• Review and rate Workshops and Mini Workshops submissions, based on areas of expertise (Reviewers and Chair)

• Suggest/determine the appropriate format for Workshops and Mini Workshops submissions, which may differ from the format listed on the submission (Chair)

• In consultation with other members of the Convention Committee, make final disposition decisions on Workshops and Mini Workshops submissions (Chair)

• Determine the appropriate course of action for low-enrollment Workshops (Chair)

• Review post-conference Workshop and Mini Workshop feedback from conference attendees to inform future decisions about programming, solicitations for submissions, and final dispositions (Chair)

• Write an annual progress report and submit it to the Convention & Education Issues Coordinator for presentation to the Board of Directors (Chair)

• Monitor and respond to emails via the workshops@abct.org email address (Chair)