Dr Kalyani Gopal for APA President-Elect
Brief Biographical Sketch
APA’s mission has long been a guiding force in my own work as a culturally grounded clinician with lived experiences, researcher, and global advocate bringing marginalized communities and focus on intersectional identities to the forefront.
As an immigrant from India, I grew up immersed in a deeply multicultural environment, moving from state to state as the youngest daughter of an Indian Army officer. I was trained in both Eastern and Western psychological frameworks—earning my graduate degree and completing a rigorous internship at the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), followed by doctoral work at Vanderbilt University in the U.S. At Vanderbilt, I worked closely with marginalized African American youth in the juvenile justice system. That experience transformed my life’s work toward intersectionality, trauma recovery, and systems advocacy.
Over the past 35 years, I have worked at the nexus of culture, trauma, and inequality. My practice has spanned racial justice, foster care, human trafficking, and sexual assault. I have trained clinicians in Mongolia, created culturally grounded programs for Indian adoptees, developed tools to identify trafficking survivors in Ukraine, Bangladesh, and Myanmar, hosted four international conferences, ran a crisis hotline during COVID-19, and consulted on trauma systems across four continents.
But perhaps what grounds me most is the work I do today. Since 2020, I have led a therapeutic residential shelter in Indiana for women and children escaping sex trafficking and sexual violence. We have rehabilitated over 70 homeless families, with more waiting. This shelter is not just a program - it is a living model of a resilient community ecosystem, survivor-led healing, psychological resilience, and culturally responsive psychological care. We will soon expand to an 8-bedroom facility, thanks to our local Mayor and community leaders.
Throughout my career, I’ve worked to support the next generation of psychologists, particularly BIPOC, immigrant, and multilingual clinicians. I have mentored doctoral students, trained peer-survivors to become trauma coaches, authored a book and chapters about enculturation within the United States, and advocated for inclusive, anti-racist policies at the UN, where I serve as President of the Psychology Coalition (PCUN). As a past president of Division 12 and Illinois Psychological Association, I’ve pushed for bridging science and sociocultural justice, especially in national and global contexts often ignored by mainstream psychology.
My daughter, Dr Shifali Singh a licensed clinical psychologist and Assistant Professor, has always inspired my leadership in psychology. Now, with her own newborn daughter, they fuel my purpose to uplift women and humanity across generations.
If elected, I will champion a strong, inclusive APA: enhance a diverse pipeline of psychologists, build bridges to foster dialogue, promote psychological science, combat misinformation, and bring evidence-based care to the frontlines of social justice. From climate displacement to gender-based violence, I will ensure our field meets the moment with courage, strength, and compassion. I would be deeply honored to serve and shape APA/APASi’s future together.
With deep respect and in solidarity,
Kalyani Gopal, PhD, HSPP
Advocacy Champion for Human Rights
From her early days as a 18 year old collecting data on exploited female teens in jails in New Delhi, India, Dr Gopal has been immersed in human rights and the dignity of all people to live as free persons. In a career spanning 35 years, she has advocated for gender-based victims’ rights, women’s reproductive justice, refugees rehabilitation, anti-slavery efforts with male labor trafficking, and suicide prevention. She trained governments, Judges, FBI, clinicians across four continents on trauma responsive Interventions.
Powerful, innovative, and compassionate Leadership
Championing Resilience and Innovation
Building Clinical Practice
Reimagining Governance and Policy
Investing in Training
Developing Global Outreach
Growing Resilience
Elevating Social Justice
At this pivotal moment—marked by technological upheaval, political polarization, climate change, and a sweeping mental health crisis—psychological science has never been more essential. I understand the urgent need to balance academic excellence with greater accountability, application, accessibility, and inclusion across settings and communities.
I have held leadership roles in psychology at every level: globally as president of the Psychology Coalition at the United Nations, nationally as president of APA’s Division 12, and locally as president of the Illinois Psychological Association. As a leader, I have seen psychology shape policy, promote innovation, and foster global healing. This year, we proudly host the first Psychologists’ Youth Mental Health Global Summit at the UN.
If elected APA/APASi president-elect, I will champion resilience by bridging critical gaps across our field through four key priorities:
- Bringing psychological science to societal change—shaping mental health policy, addressing marginalized populations, advancing AI ethics, combating misinformation, and building climate resilience. I run a shelter for women survivors of sex trafficking, helping families rise from homelessness to restored dignity.
- Strengthening the future of psychology—advancing education, training, and research to keep our field competitive and impactful.
- Uniting diverse perspectives—fostering dialogue and connection in times of division.
- Expanding APA’s global reach—building international collaboration and global resilience.
This is a time for leadership that is bold yet steady, principled yet pragmatic.
I humbly ask for your support to BRIDGE science, justice, and global progress.
Dr. Gopal is an award-winning keynote, and international speaker and trainer on foster care and adoption, human trafficking, child sexual abuse, Autism Spectrum and neurodevelopmental disorders, and psychopathology. She received her doctorate in clinical psychology.
In-depth knowledge of SPTA, Divisions, APA, and Global Governance
Dr Gopal has extensive and in-depth experience of governance of Psychological Associations
2019: SPTA Level. President Illinois Psychological Association overseeing 30 board members, hosting association for APA Convention in Illinois
2022: National/Division Level, President, Division 12, Society of Clinical Psychology
2024/2025: Global Level. President, Psychology Coalition at the United Nations of which APA is part of the Coalition of European, Asian, African MENA, the Americas.
Clinical Practice, Research, academic & Global Focus
Expert Practice Management
Skills-Set
CLINICAL PRACTICE:
Managing a medium-sized private practice with four clinics full-time as an owner/administrator and clinician doing both psychotherapy, psychological evaluations, mentoring masters' and doctoral students, and teaching clinicians.
RESEARCH INTERESTS
Working with Dr Vincent Felitti on modifying the ACEs to address psychoecocultural adversities. Maternal and infant health, developmental lifespan, social justice.
ACADEMIC: Developed training curriculum for BA/BS program
Program development of competencies in trauma training
GLOBAL: Internationally sought out trainer on human trafficking and rehabilitation of survivors of gender-based violence.
Experienced Mental Health Clinician, Researcher, and Academic & Human Rights Champion
At this moment in history, we face profound challenges—technological upheaval, political polarization, climate change, and a mental health crisis that touches every community. Psychology has never been more needed, but it must also evolve. I understand the growing needs of psychologists across careers and settings. I recognize the importance of maintaining high academic standards while making our field more accessible and inclusive.
I have lived psychology at every level—globally as President of The Psychology Coalition of the United Nations, nationally as President of APA’s Division 12, and locally as President of the Illinois Psychological Association.
Education
Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee. Began Ph.D. (Psychology) 09/86 - 08/88
Alliant University, San Diego, California (Completed Ph.D., Clinical Psychology) 09/88 - 06/91
Additional Qualifications
B.A. (Psychology) Delhi University
M.A. (Clinical Psychology). Delhi University
M.Phil. (Medical and Social Psychology)
National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS)
Psychology Licenses
Licensed Clinical Psychologist # 20041200A. State of Indiana
Licensed Clinical Psychologist # 071-0005629. State of Illinois
Licensed Psychologist # PY 9303. State of Florida.
Certifications
Health Service Provider in Psychology (HSPP) State of Indiana
Credentialed: National Registry of Health Service Providers in Psychology
Diplomate, American Board of Psychological Specialties, Sexual Abuse (ABPS Diplomate)
Board-Certified, Founding Fellow, American Board of Advanced Practice Psychologists (FACAPP)
Collaborative Law Training, September 2013
Certified Divorce Mediation, October 2013
Charter-Listed Member, Prescribing Psychologists’ Register
Certified Addictions Specialist (Endorsement) CDVCIV
Certified Domestic Violence Counselor.
Empowering DEI
Championing multiculturalism
APA can champion research that reflects the rich tapestry of human experience. To encourage culturally sensitive and globally relevant science, APA needs to invest in community-based participatory research and support international collaborations that include researchers from the Global South where 85% of humanity lives. We must promote evidence-based research addressing cultural context, language, migration, systemic oppression, and historical trauma. APA should also expand mentorship for underrepresented scholars, requiring journals evaluate cultural relevance in peer review. By embedding cultural humility into our training, ethics, and grantmaking, APA ensures that psychological science not only is globally relevant but strengthens from it.
YouTube
About Dr. Gopal
Experienced Nonprofit Leader
Dr Gopal oversees operations of two private practices with four clinics in Indiana. Mid-America Psychological & Counseling Services, PC offers a wide range of health services to ensure that all of your healthcare needs are met.
She runs an award -winning NGO,SAFE Coalition for Human Rights and the clinical program of its flagship shelter "A Better Way Home."
ENDORSEMENTS
Thank you!
Division 12 Society of Clinical Psychology‘s Section on Clinical Psychology of Women
Endorsement Request
Respected Colleagues
I am writing to respectfully seek your endorsement for my candidacy as APA President-Elect. The understanding of culture, ethnicity, race, and the lived experiences of historically marginalized communities—has long been a guiding force in my own work as a clinician with lived experiences, researcher, and global advocate.
As an immigrant from India, I grew up immersed in a deeply multicultural environment, moving from state to state as the youngest daughter of an Indian Army officer. I was trained in both Eastern and Western psychological frameworks—earning my graduate degree and completing a rigorous internship at the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), followed by doctoral work at Vanderbilt University in the U.S. There, I encountered the realities of working with marginalized African American youth in the juvenile justice system—an experience that shifted my life’s work toward intersectionality, systems advocacy, and trauma recovery.
Over the past 35 years, I have worked at the nexus of culture, trauma, and inequality. My practice has spanned racial justice, foster care, human trafficking, and sexual assault. I have trained clinicians in Mongolia, created culturally grounded programs for Indian adoptees, developed tools to identify trafficking survivors in Ukraine, Bangladesh, and Myanmar, and consulted on trauma systems across four continents.
But perhaps what grounds me most is the work I do today. Since 2020, I have led a therapeutic residential shelter in Indiana for women and children escaping sex trafficking and sexual violence. We have rehabilitated 76 homeless families to date, with more waiting. This shelter is not just a program—it is a living model of community resilience, survivor-led healing, and culturally responsive psychological care. We will soon expand to an 8-bedroom facility, thanks to our local Mayor and community leaders.
Throughout my career, I’ve worked to support the next generation of psychologists—particularly BIPOC, immigrant, and multilingual clinicians. I have mentored doctoral students, trained peer-survivors to become trauma coaches, authored a book and chapter about enculturation within the United States, and advocated for inclusive, anti-racist policies at the UN, where I serve as President of the Psychology Coalition (PCUN). As a past president of Division 12 and a State Psychology Association, I’ve pushed for bridging science and sociocultural justice, especially in national and global contexts often ignored by mainstream psychology.
If elected APA President, I will champion priorities: building a diverse pipeline of psychologists, embedding anti-racism in all areas of our field, and supporting multicultural, community-based research that transforms lives. I would be deeply honored to speak with Executive Committee of your division or SPTA or Caucus and learn more about your current initiatives so I can represent your voice in shaping the future of APA/APASi.
With deep respect and in solidarity,
Kalyani Gopal, PhD, HSPP
APA Initiatives
Clinical Practice Issues
- Setting up a clinical practice
- Insurance Reimbursement
- Health Insurance
- Managing day to day clinical practice
- Management and Liability Issues
- Taking part in difficult conversations
Global Outreach
- International trainer and educator on the psychology of survivors
- Keynote address for the European Mental Health Summit in Paris
- Trained 15 Country Experts and 150,000 direct service providers
Reproductive Justice
Reproductive Justice
Dr. Gopal champions an evidence-based and holistic approach to healthcare, with respect of all cultures, considering all aspects of your health. She believes that mental, emotional, and physical health are interconnected and intersectional with housing, food insecurities, poverty, race and cultural beliefs as cornerstones of healing
Academic Training
Uplifting the Global South
Reproductive Justice
- Developed BA/BS Program for a private University in Indiana
- Taught "Psychology of Women" Undergraduate Class
- Conducting academic research on ACEs (Revision)
Uplifting the Global South
Uplifting the Global South
Uplifting the Global South
Our Themes
