January 29, 2025

The American Group Psychotherapy Association (AGPA) leadership recognizes that systemic forces in our socio-cultural and ecological landscape directly impact our intrapersonal, interpersonal, and group experiences. One shockwave contributing to our current instability are the recent actions by the U.S. government to dismantle Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) mandates, policies, programs, remediation practices, and activities in contemporary society. AGPA recognizes that its members of color, queer, trans and gender diverse members, immigrant members, and members of other marginalized groups are disparately impacted by these efforts to dismantle DEIA. While we are all impacted by these attempts at retrenchment on DEIA programming, we are not impacted equally.

As leaders of AGPA, we emphatically reaffirm our unwavering commitment to integrating Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) through group therapy education, theory, and practice. AGPA remains steadfast in its mission to achieve excellence in training and research across all group modalities, both domestically and internationally, with the goal of supporting the creation of healthy, equitable, and inclusive groups, communities, institutions, and structures while challenging and interrogating paradigms and practices which cause harm. This commitment is rooted in our ethics and values, and therefore not subject to changes in political or cultural rhetoric. Nevertheless, we recognize the need to develop new programs and initiatives to support and remain responsive to our members directly and in their continued work with distressed, traumatized, and marginalized people.

We recognize that our collective goals and aspirations can only be realized by fostering an environment of equity, inclusivity and belonging, in which every member regardless of their identities feels valued and respected, and those with minoritized realities and positionalities are demonstrably welcomed and included. This commitment is evident in our efforts to reintroduce an online version of AGPA Connect offering increased access to all members, our value and integration of the SIGs’ (Special Interest Groups) involvement throughout the organization (particularly the International, RED, LGBTQIA+, HMI), free DEIA programming to support conference faculty development, as well as in the recent CE trainings we have conducted on Antisemitism and Islamophobia. Our Core Principles Course has also oriented itself significantly towards integrating matters of diversity and inclusivity as fundamental to education and training in group psychotherapy throughout Parts I and II and will continue to improve in this area as its Director collaborates directly with the DEI Task Force. Our dedication to DEIA initiatives is not simply an adjunct to our mission—it is central to it. We firmly believe true excellence can be achieved only when diverse perspectives and voices are heard and integrated into our standards, practices, and policies.

Accordingly, we will continue embodying an ever-present growth and justice-oriented mindset through our AGPA Connect faculty training to examine and integrate health equity and diversity consciousness into group and systems practice. This year’s required DEIA faculty training—a panel titled “Co-Facilitation in Group Therapy: Navigating Positionality, Power, and Emotional Labor”—exemplifies our commitment to addressing these critical issues. As we advance our DEIA efforts, let us remember that our work is pivotal in shaping the future of group psychotherapy and equitable systems. We remain dedicated to strengthening our groups by celebrating and protecting diversity in all its forms.

Furthermore, AGPA will remain staunch in its commitment to uphold and advance the psychological science supporting the benefits and necessity of diversity and equity within groups. We also stand by the humanitarian need for fostering community, building collective understanding, and honoring shared humanity.

Thank you for your ongoing efforts and dedication to uphold and advance these initiatives. Together, we will continue to build a more inclusive and equitable association for all.

In solidarity,

AGPA Leadership