About Us
Our Purpose
MAPA is here to advance psychology as a science, as a profession, and as a means of promoting human welfare through organized professional meetings, continuing education activities, affiliations with our state and other psychological associations with similar objectives and aims, and through the building of professional and collegial relationships between and among the Association’s members.
Our Story
MAPA was originally called the Memphis Psychological Association and was founded at a meeting at Memphis State University on January 30, 1976. Fifty-seven Psychologists attended this first meeting and elected Sam Morgan, PhD as their President.
The speaker that day was Dr. Jerry Boone, president elect of the Tennessee Psychological Association and the Academic Vice President of Memphis State University. He gave information and history about the previous organization which had been called West Tennessee Psychological Association, founded in the early 1960’s, and then discussed the need for the creation of this new organization. Dr. Michael Lupfer was elected as the second President and at the January 18, 1977 meeting the name was changed to the Memphis Area Psychological Association. Other Presidents from the past include: Dr. Robert Bloom, Dr. Louis Bueno, Dr. Leon Lebovitz, Dr. Ted May, Dr. Mitt Addington, Dr. Allen Battle, Dr. Howard Jacobson, and Dr. Russ Bolyard. We welcome anyone who has more information about our organization or our past presidents to provide it to us and we will add it here.
PAST MAPA PRESIDENTS
2017 Chrisann Schiro-Geist
2009 Dale Kelman, Ph.D.
Our Board of Directors
Chris Ferrand
President
Christopher Ferrand, Psy.D., LCP-HSP is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist who works for Christ Community Health Services (CCHS) in Memphis, TN. Dr. Ferrand works as a primary care psychologist, working within the Primary Care Behavioral Health (PCBH) model of behavioral health service delivery. He has worked at CCHS Frayser clinic since October of 2016. In addition to providing patient care, he supervises Behavioral Health Consultants at CCHS Orange Mound and Raleigh clinics, as well as predoctoral interns and practicum students. He also services as Director of Behavioral Health Education, where he manages CCHS’s education program, and is responsible to manage APA approved sponsor status and adherence to APA standards for CE events. The mission for this program is to offer high quality continuing education at an affordable rate to mental health providers in Memphis and surrounding regions.
Dr. Ferrand is most passionate about Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), process-based therapy, brief interventions, working with patients experiencing suicidal ideation, and access to care issues (particularly, those who are uninsured, or those with insurance who cannot afford co-pays and/or superbills).
KT Heistand
Member at Large
Eli Reich
Past President
Kyong Han
Treasurer
Amy Balentine
Past President
Amy Balentine has been a licensed clinical psychologist in Memphis since 2004. She is the owner of Memphis Center for Mindful Living, LLC, where she practices psychotherapy with all ages and teaches mindfulness meditation classes. She also speaks publicly on mindfulness as well as other topics. She is on the board of the Secular Buddhist Association. She lives with her husband, two sons, and a dog.