The Platform.
Radically Well Together!
In our increasingly complex world, the realm of psychology plays a crucial role in offering insights and guidance on how we can enhance our lives and thrive collectively. The acronym VUCA, representing volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity, captures the intricate nature of our current times. Additionally, the concept of polycrisis, as discussed by French theorist Edgar Morin and popularized by Adam Tooze in a 2023 Financial Times article, underscores the multifaceted challenges of leadership amidst these circumstances.
Our world is currently grappling with simultaneous financial, health, education, and climate crises, coupled with the impact of geopolitical tensions. This has left us all dealing with psychosocial and emotional strains, leading to a state of collective unwellness.
As psychologists, we recognize that these challenging circumstances create vulnerabilities that often result in internal conflicts rather than a collective commitment to care and understanding. Crises tend to make us feel overwhelmed, hindering our ability to extend care to others. This is particularly perilous for those who are most vulnerable and in need of the insights provided by psychological science.
The field of psychology serves as a vital voice in addressing the global challenges we face and charting a course forward. Drawing from my experience as a psychologist and educator, I have witnessed the positive impact of making the gifts of our field accessible to diverse communities. It ensures that the benefits of psychological science reach those who might otherwise be excluded.
I proudly advocate for a platform of radical wellness. Despite recent associations of the term with political extremism, I choose this word for its historical roots. In the 17th and 18th centuries, "radical" referred to the actual and figurative roots of a thing, such as plants and trees. As someone deeply connected to nature, I am drawn to the idea of addressing the core issues that contribute to our collective unwellness.
Being radically well involves applying the clarity and consistency of scientific methods to understand the conditions of unwellness in our world. With the rich resources of our field – theories, frameworks, practices, and methodologies – we can courageously address inequitable, unfair, and oppressive conditions for some over others. Throughout my career, I have engaged in this work as a counseling psychologist, educator, leader in professional organizations, and in service to the American Psychological Association. I would be honored to continue this journey as its next president.
