ABOUT LPA
The Lebanese Psychological Association (LPA) is a professional organization representing psychology in Lebanon. It is currently distinguished to be one of the oldest national psychological associations in Lebanon that was founded in 2004 by prominent psychologists such as Dr. Ahmad Oueini (from the Lebanese American University – LAU), Dr. Christine Sabieh (from Notre-Dame University – NDU), Dr. Daoud Tawil (from Haigazian University – HU), Dr. Ghassan Yacoub (from the Lebanese University – UL), Dr. Ketty Sarouphim (from the Lebanese American University – LAU), Dr. Leila Akoury Dirani (from Université St. Joseph – USJ), and Dr. Shahe Kazarian (from the American University of Beirut – AUB), who were brought together by Dr. Brigitte Khoury (from American University of Beirut Medical Center/Hospital – AUBMC) LPA’s first elected president.
LPA was officially established and registered at the ministry of interior in Lebanon in 2004.
Currently, the Lebanese Psychological Association (LPA) is governed by an elected executive board currently presided by Dr. Michel Nawfal.
The 2023 – 2026 board is composed of Dr. Michel Nawfal (President), Dr. Marc Barakat (Vice President), Dr. Carole Saade (Secretary General), Dr. Maral Boyadjian (Treasurer), Ms. Cecilia Doumit (Accountant), Dr. Aline Ghosn (Membership Officer), and Ms. Lana Toufaili (Public Relations Officer).
PS: It is important to note that the Lebanese Psychological Association (LPA) is NOT a licensing body. It is an association, not a syndicate ! It does NOT give the legal right to practice to any of its members. Not all members of the association are licensed to practice. LPA is an association, not a syndicate. The Lebanese Order of Psychologists also known as “LOPsy” is the ultimate regulating authority in Lebanon for the practice of clinical and educational psychologists as well as psychotherapists. To see the list of practitioners who are legally allowed to practice psychotherapy, clinical psychology and educational psychology, please visit the website of the Lebanese Order of Psychologists (LOPsy): https://www.lopsy.org
The Lebanese Psychological Association (LPA) is committed:
- To promote the practice, research and teaching of psychology in Lebanon
- To highlight the importance of the role of psychology in serving the Lebanese society, and the Arab region
- To establish a network of professionals in psychology for the purpose of exchanging expertise and promoting psychological research
- To work with local, regional, and international psychological associations and organizations
- To deepen society’s understanding and use of psychology
The LPA does not represent any particular school of thought in the field of psychology. It welcomes all psychologists from all approaches, specialties and fields. It includes clinical members as well as non-clinical ones.
Members of the Lebanese Psychological Association (LPA) include doctorate and masters level psychologists from any specialty (Category A1 membership), currently enrolled graduate students in any specialty in psychology (Category A2 membership), undergraduate psychology students (Category A3 membership), as well as non-psychologists who have an interest in the discipline of psychology (Category: Friends of LPA membership).
Today, LPA includes Lebanese as well as non-Lebanese members. It is not a condition to be a Lebanese citizen to be a member of the association. LPA members includes members from all nations irrespective of their citizenship and irrespective of where they live. It therefore includes members residing in Lebanon as well as overseas.
LPA includes specialty divisions that members can join (Clinical Psychology (D1), Educational Psychology (D2), Counseling Psychology (D3), Psychoanalytical Psychology (D4), Research Psychology & Academia (D5), Research Neuropsychology & Neurosciences (D6), Psychology of Sexuality & Gender Diversity (D7)). Those groups bring subspecialists together and allow them to share and discuss specific topics through various focused activities. More divisions will be established soon.
Since its establishment, the LPA has made stringent efforts to affiliate and develop relationships with renowned international associations. These efforts provide the LPA with opportunities for information exchange and discussions, and the recognition of LPA internationally as representing psychology in Lebanon. Through these affiliations, LPA can better work towards developing joint activities with international bodies and expertise in the field of psychology and allow the hosting of other associations in Beirut during our meetings. LPA members are also asked to be hosted at national, regional and international meetings
- Since 2012, LPA has been an adhering member of the International Union for Psychological Science (IUPsyS) https://www.iupsys.net
- In 2015 the LPA signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Psychological Society of South Africa (PsySSA). “PsySSA is the professional body representing psychology professionals in South Africa http://www.psyssa.com
- LPA was a founding member of the Arab Union for Psychological Science (AUPsyS) in 2015
- In 2016, the LPA signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the American Psychological Association http://www.apa.org
LPA COMMITTEES
Public Relations and Fundraising Committee
The primary aim of this committee includes organizing fundraising activities to help support the mission and activities of the LPA in addition to other public and media events to raise awareness about LPA.
Scientific Committee
The primary aim of this committee is organizing educational activities, yearly conferences, trainings and workshops for the LPA community and mental health professionals in Lebanon and the Middle East.
Licensing Committee
Since the establishment of LPA and after 15+ years of continuous efforts, LPA leaders and members played an instrumental role in establishing the licensing criteria for practice in Lebanon for clinical and educational psychologists, with the support of the Ministry of Public Health and the National Mental Health program. Several members such as Dr. Brigitte Khoury (LPA founding president) and Dr. Leila Dirani (LPA past president) were part of a ministerial commission to draft the licensing laws and guidelines for practice, and to implement the law once it was approved by the Lebanese parliament in December 2017.
LPA’s IMPORTANT MILESTONES
LPA’s founding president Dr. Brigitte Khoury, professor of psychology at the psychiatry department of the American University of Beirut has been elected as president-elect of the International Union of Psychological Science (IUPsyS) for the 2026 – 2030 mandate !
Dr. Brigitte Khoury is the first president-elect from the Middle East and the second woman to hold this esteemed position.
President of the Lebanese Psychological Association Dr. Michel Nawfal extends a trophy as a token of appreciation to the Office of International Affairs of the American Psychological Association APA at the 2023 convention in Washington DC for the continuous support and collaboration.
In 2016, the LPA signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the American Psychological Association.
“APA is the leading scientific and professional organization representing psychology in the United States, with more than 117,500 researchers, educators, clinicians, consultants and students as its members” ( www.apa.org )
In 2015 the LPA signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Psychological Society of South Africa (PsySSA). “PsySSA is the professional body representing psychology professionals in South Africa. It works towards advancing South African psychology as a science and profession of global stature and promotes psychological praxis as relevant, proactive and responsive to societal needs and well-being”. To know more about the PsySSA ( http://www.psyssa.com ).
The LPA also became a founding member of the Pan Arab Council for psychology.
(الاتحاد العربي للعلوم النفسية).