APA 2026 Main Stage

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

Becoming yourself has always been psychology's territory—we understand identity formation, the developmental tasks of adolescence, and how young people try on selves and consolidate who they are. But the entire infrastructure of that process has shifted. Previous generations experimented privately, failed quietly, and had do-overs. This generation performs every version of self publicly, permanently, algorithmically amplified, and sometimes to AI audiences. Psychology is leading through this unprecedented shift—not judging or panicking but working in real time alongside families to understand what's actually happening and what we can do about it.

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This critical conversation examines how AI is being applied in therapy, social relationships, and work through three different disciplinary lenses (clinical, social/developmental, and industrial/organizational psychology). Speakers will consider how insights from diverse fields can inform our understanding of the implications of AI use across psychological disciplines.

Speakers Include:

Linda Lin, PhD, Professor of Psychology, Emmanuel College
Clare M. Mehta, PhD, Professor of Psychology, Emmanuel College;Royal Holloway University of London
Mara L. Bolis, MBA, Harvard University

Led by members of the APA Ethics Committee, this session examines ethical considerations when AI systems are implemented in educational and organizational settings, focusing on informed consent challenges, data privacy protection, and the need to safeguard vulnerable populations during institutional AI adoption.

Speakers Include:

Nancy A. Haug, PhD, Palo Alto University
Cindy Juntunen, California State University, Monterey Bay
Chanda S. Sanders, PhD, Federal Aviation Administration
Lindsay Childress-Beatty, JD, Chief of Ethics, APA

Learn more about Ethics Committee Presents sessions.

The program will demonstrate how psychologists can use the underlying values expressed in the APA Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct to facilitate respectful and productive conversations that build bridges within our families, organizations, and communities. This session will include issues relevant to all psychologists.

Speakers Include:

Cynthia Kubu, MetroHealth System
Cheryl Maykel, Rivier University
Breeda McGrath, PhD, Pacific Oaks College
Chanda S. Sanders, PhD, Federal Aviation Administration

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Adulthood is genuinely, structurally hard right now. The relentless cognitive load of caregiving, work that never stops transforming, financial pressure, and relationships strained by impossible logistics—this isn't a personal failing; it’s the predictable result of how we've organized modern life. And these pressures aren't evenly distributed: race, class, caregiving burden, and access to resources all determine who bears the heaviest load. In this session, psychologists offer a genuine understanding of what chronic overwhelm does to people and practical frameworks for navigating impossible conditions without losing yourself in the process.

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The science of human behavior has much to say about AI — but what do the people building AI have to say about psychology? In this CEO Spotlight session, APA CEO Arthur C. Evans Jr., PhD, turns the conversation around, bringing together senior leaders from Anthropic, Google, Microsoft, and OpenAI for a candid fireside chat that puts psychology's most pressing questions directly to the executives shaping today's AI landscape. Beyond exploring what psychological science can offer the AI era, this session asks industry leaders to consider what it truly means to build technology that benefits society - and why that responsibility matters now. It's a rare, unscripted exchange between two increasingly intertwined fields and an opportunity to hear how the people at AI’s frontier think about trust, safety, and the science of people.

This critical conversation uses findings from an APA CODAPAR–funded interdivisional project on psychedelic-assisted therapies to explore how psychologists can responsibly engage with rapidly evolving psychedelic science. Brief presentations on research, clinical applications, and training needs will launch an interactive dialogue on ethics, equity, and practice guidance for frontline clinicians.

Speakers Include:

Cameron Alldredge, PhD, Baylor University
Joseph R. McCowan, PsyD, Fluence
J Kim Penberthy, PhD, University of Virginia School of Medicine
Jessica Punzo, PsyD, Past President - APA Division 56, APA Division 56 - Trauma Psychology
Mia Sarno, PsyD, Kadima Neuropsychiatry Institute

This session clarifies the distinction between mandatory ethical standards and value-based advocacy and moves beyond it by introducing the concept of “ethical praxis” as a model for integration in real-world practice.

Speakers Include:

Latoya C. Conner, PhD, American Psychological Association
Lindsay Childress-Beatty, JD, Chief of Ethics, APA
Nancy A. Haug, PhD, Palo Alto University
Cynthia Kubu, MetroHealth System
Katherine B. McGuire, MS, Chief Advocacy Officer, APA

Learn more about Ethics Committee Presents sessions.

People often assume aging brings compounding challenges — cognitive changes, physical decline, social isolation, loss of purpose, and anxiety about the end of life. Yet here's the paradox: research consistently shows that adults aged 65 and older report greater emotional well-being, clearer priorities, and deeper satisfaction than younger people. The brain doesn't only decline; it reorganizes. People don't lose all abilities; they refine. This session confronts the complexities and diversity of aging, exploring what it means to "age well," the barriers that make the aging experience more difficult for some, and what psychology knows about helping people navigate these decades of life while promoting dignity and well-being.