Welcome Letter from the Specialty Board President

Kevin D. Arnold, PhD, ABPP

Dear Colleagues:

Thank you for your interest in the newly-renamed American Board of Behavioral and Cognitive Psychology. We renamed it in order to emphasize our roots while acknowledging the multiplicity of theories, applications and interventions that have developed over the years. As a member specialty Board of ABPP, our goal is to certify psychological professionals as possessing specialty knowledge in Behavioral and Cognitive psychology. 

Board Certified Behavioral and Cognitive Psychologists are health service providers who possess specialized knowledge and experience. Psychologists who earn our certification have met our educational, training, and experience requirements. They have specialty level skills in areas such as assessment, intervention, consultation, awareness of the science base of the field, supervision, teaching, ethics, diversity issues, and interpersonal interactions. Behavioral and Cognitive psychologists engage in independent practice, community service, research, consultation/supervision, and education and/or training regarding a wide range of psychological and behavioral problems. They work with children, adolescents, adults, families and other populations. The distinct focus of the specialty is its heavy reliance on an empirical approach and its grounding in theories of learning, cognition and behavioral analysis. There are currently four sub-areas of Behavioral and Cognitive Psychology:  (a) applied behavior analysis, (b) behavior therapy, (c) cognitive-behavior therapy, and (c) cognitive therapy.

Board members and other certified psychologists want to help guide you through the process of earning the diploma. You can request a personal mentor who can serve as your guide by clicking on the FAQ and Candidate Mentoring link directly to the left. You may also contact our Coordinator of Consultation, Dr. Robert Klepac (bobappic@aol.com), to request a consultant/mentor.

We appreciate your interest in our specialty. Please contact me directly if I can be of service to you.  I can be reached at kda1757@gmail.com.

Kevin D. Arnold, PhD, ABPP
President, American Board of Behavioral and Cognitive Psychology