Greetings from the American Board of Serious Mental Illness Psychology (ABSMIP)!
We are one of the two new ABPP boards in the process of formal affiliation with ABPP. We are excited to be on the journey of ABPP affiliation because it will allow Psychologists with expertise in Serious Mental Illness (SMI) and Serious Emotional Disorders (SED) to demonstrate their skills and competencies. We have certified our founding members and are now able to accept applications from practitioners in the field.
The primary objective of ABSMIP is to establish and maintain a board certification process that recognizes, certifies, and promotes specialty-level standing in the practice of SMI Psychology. Specialty-level standing is conceptualized as higher than the basic level of competence certified by jurisdictional licensure, but within the reach of most practitioners of SMI Psychology, contingent on specialized education, training, and practice. Specialty services include a focus on Mental Health Recovery, Psychosocial Rehabilitation and other related practices for persons with SMI/SED.
If you are considering board certification through ABSMIP, there are multiple benefits. These include reducing the stigma/discrimination of persons with SMI/SED and increasing access to quality treatment for an underserved but increasingly recognized population. As Psychologists become board certified in SMI Psychology, this will expand other practitioners’ awareness of the field while offering a greater number of services to the community. This can also lead to increased funding and access to services for persons with SMI/SED. It allows you the opportunity to demonstrate your commitment to competency in SMI Psychology, and to be a role model for others. Please see the website about the Specialty Council for Serious Mental Illness (SMI) Psychology (www.psychtrainingsmi.com) for more information about promoting Mental Health Recovery/Psychosocial Rehabilitation, and many helpful resources related to SMI/SED.
Please consider applying! We are eager for you to contribute to the field of SMI Psychology and to help us meet our goal of becoming fully affiliated with ABPP, turning ABSMIP into the vibrant and productive board that we know it can be. See the Applicant Manual in our ABSMIP Document Library for details about the overall process and specific requirements. We aim to be as inclusive as possible, thus we encourage applications from qualified applicants of all races, ethnicities, languages, sexual orientations, genders, ages, ability status, SES, religion/spiritual orientations, and other dimensions of diversity.
And maybe you’d be willing to go even farther. Think about getting involved in the board after becoming certified. We will be looking for members to participate in various ways, including promoting the board, connecting with early career psychologists, and assuring that we are optimizing diversity in our membership, examination processes, and business practices. Please contact the ABSMIP Specialty Board Officers with any questions.
Bridget M. Hegeman, PhD ABSMIP
Board Certified (provisional) in SMI Psychology
President, ABSMIP