The Association of Black Psychologists

What The Association of Black Psychologists does

The Association of Black Psychologists (ABPsi) is a 501(c)(3) professional membership association founded in 1968 and headquartered in Fort Washington, Maryland, serving Black psychologists, allied mental health practitioners, and students across the United States and through international chapters in South Africa, the United Kingdom, and Toronto. Its core products span credentialing (Certified African-centered Black Psychologist program and EPPP study materials), publishing (Journal of Black Psychology, in continuous publication since 1974, and PsychDiscourse), community-care programming (Sawubona Healing Circles), career services (Career Center, Jegnaship mentorship, Student Circle), training (ABPsi Global Institute), and an annual international convention, with a 1,400+ member base and a 6,000+ person engaged network supported by a 29-person staff.

Revenue is generated through a tiered individual membership model ($55 to $3,000), an institutional membership tier at $1,500 per year, certification and renewal fees (e.g., CABP at $350 plus $50), convention registration and sponsorships, publication royalties, and donations. Go-to-market is community-driven via chapters, student circles, the annual convention, and partnerships with aligned Black-health associations such as Black Psychiatrists of America and National Association of Black Social Workers, and with academic institutions including Morgan State University.

Operationally, the organization layers credentialing standards, peer-reviewed scholarship, and culturally rooted programming as a vertically integrated offering to its members; the ABPsi Global Institute and the Black Mental Health Workforce Report signal an ambition to convert community leadership into data-driven policy and training outputs, while the Sawubona Healing Circles extend programming into a fee-bearing community-care product.

Name

The Association of Black Psychologists

Legal name

The Association of Black Psychologists, Inc.

Website

https://abpsi.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1968

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Association of Black Psychologists is a 501(c)(3) professional membership association founded in 1968, serving 1,400+ Black psychologists, students, and allied practitioners through credentialing, the Journal of Black Psychology, training, mentorship, and an annual international convention.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Psychology Association

NAICS

Professional Organizations (81392), Business Associations (813910), Educational Services (611), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Racial & Ethnic Justice Organizations (BPAGAFAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Human Rights & Anti-Discrimination Organizations (BPAGAFAB), Behavioral Health & Counseling (Social Work, Psychology, Substance Use CE) (EDAAALAD)

Keywords

• Professional association services
• Mental health advocacy
• Cultural psychology education
• Psychology certification programs
• Scholarly publishing

Headquarters

HQ city

Ft. Washington, Maryland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership fees ranging from $55 for undergraduate students to $3,000 for lifetime membership, plus professional memberships at $250 annually and international memberships at $150
2. Convention and Events: Annual international convention registration fees, with reduced rates for members, plus sponsorship opportunities
3. Certification Programs: Certification in African/Black Psychology (CABP) with application fee ($50), initial certification ($350), and biennial renewal ($350)
4. Publications and Educational Resources: EPPP study materials at 50% discount for members, Journal of Black Psychology subscription, and online shop for merchandise
5. Sponsorships and Donations: Corporate sponsorships at various levels and individual donations supporting the mission and programs

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

ABPsi is a professional membership organization that advances African-centered psychology through scholarly publications (Journal of Black Psychology, PsychDiscourse), a proprietary Certification in African/Black Psychology (CABP), culturally grounded healing programs (Sawubona Healing Circles), consultation services for schools and organizations, and a virtual learning platform (ABPsi Global Institute). It serves Black psychologists, mental health professionals, students, and community members through membership, annual conventions, mentorship (Jegnaship), and advocacy for the liberation and well-being of African/Black communities.

Product overview

The Association of Black Psychologists (ABPsi) operates as a professional membership organization offering a portfolio of interconnected programs and services centered on African/Black Psychology. The core offerings include the Journal of Black Psychology (academic publication since 1974), PsychDiscourse (news journal), and the Certification in African/Black Psychology (CABP) program. Supporting programs include Sawubona Healing Circles (virtual healing spaces), School and Organization Consultation services, and the ABPsi Global Institute (educational platform with courses and webinars). Member resources encompass the Career Center, Black Wellness Directory, Student Circle (student membership), EPPP Study Materials, and Jegnaship mentorship. The organization also hosts an Annual International Convention and runs the Zola Mondays social media initiative. The product portfolio is designed to serve the mental health, education, and professional development needs of African/Black communities through culturally grounded psychological science and practice.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Journal of Black Psychology The leading academic journal devoted to the psychological study of Black populations, advancing scholarship grounded in lived Black realities for over 50 years. Published for psychologists, researchers, and academics focused on African/Black psychology.
• PsychDiscourse A platform for news, critical commentary, and updates on issues impacting African/Black communities. Provides timely discourse and thought leadership to the broader community.
• Certification in African/Black Psychology (CABP) A 5-module foundational certification program creating a standard of proficiency for African-centered psychology practice. Designed for psychologists, counselors, and mental health practitioners seeking formal credentialing in African/Black psychology.
• Sawubona Healing Circles Virtually delivered, culturally grounded healing spaces for individuals of African ancestry addressing racial trauma, societal stressors, and community challenges. Integrates ancestral wisdom with African-centered wellness strategies and communal accountability.
• School and Organization Consultation Comprehensive consultation and training services for schools and organizations to address and dismantle institutional racism through culturally grounded practices. Aimed at school districts, educational institutions, and organizations seeking expert guidance on African-centered wellness.
• ABPsi Global Institute A premier educational resource offering courses, workshops, webinars, and digital media dedicated to advancing the science of African/Black psychology. Designed for professionals, students, and community members seeking structured learning.
• ABPsi Career Center An online platform connecting members to meaningful, values-aligned career opportunities in psychology and mental health. Provides job listings and career resources to ABPsi members.
• Black Wellness Directory (Professional Service Directory) A searchable directory for accessing culturally grounded psychological services from ABPsi members. Enables consumers of mental health services to find African-centered providers.
• Student Circle A membership program for graduate and undergraduate psychology students on college campuses nationwide. Offers scholarship opportunities, leadership development, professional networks, student support, and scholarly writing opportunities.
• EPPP Study Materials Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology study materials offered at 50% discount for ABPsi members. Exam preparation resource for psychology licensure candidates.
• Jegnaship A mentorship program connecting student members with professional members through monthly correspondence, facilitating guidance and wisdom transfer from experienced African-centered psychology professionals to emerging practitioners.
• Annual International Convention The organization's annual flagship gathering featuring scholarly presentations, panels, workshops, cultural sessions, and networking opportunities for professionals and students in African/Black Psychology. Includes registration fees, sponsorships, and exhibition opportunities.

Quantifiable outcome

• 1,400+ members grown from handful of professionals since 1968
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Morgan State UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Host venue for the 57th Annual International Convention. Partnership leverages Morgan State University's legacy of academic excellence and HBCU prominence as the setting for ABPsi's premier annual gathering focused on 'The Illumination: Freeing the African Spirit.'
• Lord Baltimore HotelminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2026Convention hotel partner offering discounted rates for ABPsi convention attendees. Located in downtown Baltimore with group booking link provided for July 29-August 1, 2026 convention period.
• Sankofa Healing Institute (Dr. Shelly Harrell)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2026Marketplace partner featured at 57th Convention offering healing services aligned with ABPsi's mission of African-centered wellness and mental health support.
• Black Psychiatrists of AmericacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Collaborative partnership on the Black Mental Health Workforce Report, combining multidisciplinary expertise to address representation gaps in mental health professions. Partnership includes joint research efforts with researchers from both organizations contributing to the comprehensive report on the state of Black mental health workforce.
• National Association of Black Social WorkerscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Strategic alliance on the Black Mental Health Workforce Report bringing together psychology and social work perspectives to comprehensively address mental health workforce diversity and community needs.
• Black Psychiatrists of AmericacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Executive Director Napoleon Higgins, M.D. serves on the research team for the Black Mental Health Workforce Report, demonstrating collaborative approach to addressing systemic challenges in Black mental health representation.
• Black Mental Health Workforce Survey PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Collaborative research initiative including Black Psychiatrists of America, National Association of Black Social Workers, and individual researchers producing the first multidisciplinary and multigenerational report on the Black Mental Health Workforce.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Asian American Psychological Association: An identity-based professional psychology association serving Asian American psychologists and communities. Structurally analogous to ABPsi as a culturally specific psychology membership organization with advocacy, publications, and convention programs.
• Black Psychiatrists of America: An identity-based professional society for Black psychiatrists. BPA is a 2025 co-development partner with ABPsi on the Black Mental Health Workforce Report, directly comparable in mission, model, and membership demographic.
• National Association of Black Social Workers: NABSW is the closest organizational peer: an identity-based national professional association for Black social workers. ABPsi and NABSW are formal research partners on the 2025 Black Mental Health Workforce Report and serve overlapping practitioner populations.

Broad incumbents

• American Psychological Association: The national professional association representing psychologists in the US. ABPsi was founded in 1968 as a direct response to APA's perceived failures regarding race, making APA both the historical counterparty and the broader incumbent peer in psychological professional services.
• National Council for Mental Wellbeing: A large nonprofit membership organization for behavioral health and mental health providers across the US. Comparable to ABPsi as a professional association business model with education, certification, and advocacy programs, though broader in scope.
• National Association of School Psychologists: A large US professional association for school psychologists with continuing education, certification, publications, and conventions. Comparable on operating model and constituency overlap with ABPsi's school and organization consultation line of business.
• American Counseling Association: The largest US professional association for counselors, with parallel offerings to ABPsi including continuing education, certification, publications, and annual conventions serving mental health practitioners.
• Mental Health America: A national nonprofit addressing mental health through advocacy, education, and community-based programs. Comparable in non-profit scale, advocacy focus, and the certification/credentialing adjacent offerings serving the broader mental health workforce.

Emerging players

• Society of Indian Psychologists: A smaller identity-based psychology professional association serving American Indian, Alaska Native, and Indigenous psychologists. Comparable in mission and operating model to ABPsi at a smaller scale, providing a peer reference for identity-based professional psychology organizations.
• Hurdle (mental health platform): A venture-backed digital mental health platform focused on culturally competent care for Black communities. Targets overlapping practitioner and end-client populations as ABPsi's Black Wellness Directory and Sawubona Healing Circles, representing a for-profit competitive threat.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/TheABPsi
• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/AssociationofBlackPsychologistsABPSI
• Facebookfacebook.com/TheABPsi
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-association-of-black-psychologists
• Instagraminstagram.com/nationalabpsi

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles25 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about The Association of Black Psychologists