The Los Angeles County Psychological Association will hold its 38th annual convention on Saturday, May 2, at Hilton Woodland Hills, 6360 Canoga Ave., Woodland Hills.
Debra Kawahara, Ph.D., will give the keynote speech on “Leadership in Turbulent Times” from 9 to 11 a.m.
This workshop, which will include exercises for participants and a Q&A session, may be counted toward the Cultural Diversity and Social Justice requirement mandated every two years for license renewal.
Kawahara is the 2025 president of the American Psychological Association and the associate dean of academic affairs and distinguished professor at the California School of Professional Psychology, Alliant International University, where she assists in the management of over 20 programs in psychology and mental health across six campuses in California, as well as online programs.
Additionally, she has an independent practice where she sees individuals, couples, and families, and conducts trainings for organizations.
As the APA president, Kawahara aims to bring her campaign slogan, “Strength in Unity,” to fruition. She is the first Asian American woman and the first Japanese American to serve in this role.
“Because I believe an ethos of strengths-based unity provides us with an opportunity to continue to build inclusive structures within our communities, my action plan will be to amplify all our voices and create and support initiatives that illuminate all of our expertise and strengths in APA and psychology,” she said. “I want psychologists to feel that APA is a welcoming professional home that empowers all of its members.”
Known as a feminist and multicultural scholar, her work centers on intersectionality, women’s issues, Asian American mental health, leadership, Buddhist psychotherapy, and the application of feminist, multicultural and social justice principles. She is widely published and has presented at the state, national, and global levels.
Her most recent scholarship focuses on connecting the foundations of early Buddhism to current mindfulness and meditation practices used in psychotherapy, with a recently published book, “Buddhist Psychotherapy: Connecting Early Buddhism to Mindfulness and Western Psychotherapy,” co-written with Liang Tien and Venerable Dhammadinna.
Kawahara is a fellow of APA Divisions 12, 35, 45, and 55, and the Asian American Psychological Association. In recognition of her work, she was awarded an APA Presidential Citation and the Shining Star Award at the National Multicultural Conference and Summit. She also received Div. 45’s Distinguished Career Contributions for Service Award and Division 35’s Pioneer Award (Section 5, Asian Pacific Islander Women).
Her presentation will outline values, concepts, and behaviors from a transformational feminist leadership model that are important for successful and effective leaders in a global world. She will share examples of how these values and concepts are being used in her many leadership roles.
For more information on the convention: www.lacpa.org/assets/CEmaterials/Conventions/2026Convention/2026 Convention Brochure.pdf