The American Psychological Foundation, a private nonprofit dedicated to advancing psychology to benefit society and improve lives, is offering the Division 49 Group Psychotherapy Grant. This funding opportunity supports innovative research in group psychotherapy, specifically applied to small groups in naturalistic settings. The grant targets research that explores therapeutic approaches, their efficacy, and the impact of various individual and group-level variables on outcomes.
Eligible research includes studies on group therapy effectiveness for specific disorders, comparisons between group and individual therapy, the influence of personality or comorbidities, and the role of group climate. It may also extend to health-relevant support groups like those for smoking cessation or weight loss. The funding is intended to foster projects that contribute significantly to group psychology and psychotherapy.
Applicants must be affiliated with nonprofit, charitable, educational, or government institutions focused on education or science. They must demonstrate knowledge of group psychology or psychotherapy principles. The foundation encourages applications from individuals of diverse backgrounds and gives preference to early career psychologists and projects that integrate group psychotherapy into the research design.
Applications require a project proposal, timeline, detailed budget with justification, and a CV. All applications must be submitted through the GivingData portal. Evaluation criteria include alignment with program goals, originality, quality and impact of the proposed work, applicant’s qualifications, and effective use of resources. Applicants will not receive feedback on submissions.
The grant offers a single award of $2,250 and includes a three-year membership to Division 49. It is currently accepting applications with a submission deadline of June 5, 2025. While the application open date is not specified, the recurring nature of the grant suggests an expected cycle every June. The next internal check is recommended for May 1, 2026.
For questions, applicants should review the comprehensive application instructions in the GivingData portal or contact APF Programs at programs@ampsychfdn.org. The recent recipient of this grant was Dr. Olivia J. Derella from Montefiore Medical Center/Albert Einstein College of Medicine, recognized for her work adapting group therapy for postpartum populations.
Preference is given to early career psychologists and proposals integrating group psychotherapy.
