Michael Changaris, PsyD
for CPA
President-Elect

We are at a pivotal moment for psychology in California. Our communities face rising mental health needs, our profession is under pressure, and our association must be a beacon for advocacy, equity, and professional growth.

I’m honored to run for President-Elect of the California Psychological Association (CPA). My vision is simple:

  • Grow a stronger, more representative CPA.

  • Lead boldly in policy and advocacy.

  • Invest in the next generation of psychologists.


Together, we can ensure that psychology thrives — in California and across the nation.

Service, Equity, Courage, Collaboration — Leadership Centered in Care.

Three-Point Core Vision

Build a Bigger, More Representative CPA

CPA can serve and connect more of California’s 30,000+ psychologists by engaging members across career stages, settings, and identities. With fewer than 15% currently represented, there is tremendous room to grow our community.

Expanding membership means extending the table, amplifying our collective voice, and ensuring our association reflects the full diversity of our profession.

Let’s grow together and make sure CPA has the power and the weight of the full psychology community behind us. Let’s make the table longer while we grow our impact.

Protect Psychology and Lead for Change

California’s hard-won mental health and equity advances are under unprecedented attack. Universities face $765 million in deferred state funding, while new federal loan caps slash graduate borrowing to $100,000—far below the cost of doctoral psychology programs—jeopardizing the pipeline of future psychologists. At the same time, federal proposals to cut Medicaid by $1 trillion over 10 years threaten care for millions of Californians. Attacking equity is not just a budget issue—it is an attack on the very heart of psychology.

CPA must be a proactive force in Sacramento and a strong national partner with APA to protect care, training, and the communities we serve.

Invest in the Future: Community & Students

The next generation of psychologists deserves support and growing as they enter the field from high-impact mentors, being empowered, and included in leadership at every level.

Expanding Integrated Behavioral Health, where it aligns with CPA’s mission, ensures psychologists remain leaders in whole-person, equity-driven care.

Supporting clinician-led, equity-focused research bridges science and practice, fueling innovation that shapes both state and national conversations.

About Dr. Changaris - Community Centered Leadership

  • Wright Institute’s Integrated Health Psychology Training Program — developed an APA-accredited pipeline serving over 100 health psychology trainees. Developed Reentry Peer lead group program. Lead team that addressed challenges related to opiate epidemic. Developed and lead Implicit Bias and Community Responsive initiatives for county medical system.

  • Trained over 800 employees, medical providers and other leaders in trauma-informed care and evidenced based tools to reduce implicit bias.
    Co-developed suicide prevention protocols used in multiple counties.

  • Co-founded REMEDY, a peer-led reentry care model adopted county wide.

    Led countywide opioid policy that reduced prescribing by 17% overall and over 60% in high-risk populations.

  • Adjunct faculty at the Wright Institute and University of San Francisco, teaching psychopharmacology, health psychology, and motivational interviewing.

  • Bridging psychology, medicine, academia, and policy to improve health outcomes.

    • CPA Board Member & Committee Leader (Research Committee, Health Psychology Committee, CPA PAC Board).

    • Founder of Field Notes: Research in Action, a statewide publication showcasing clinician-led research.

    • Mentor and builder of leadership pipelines for students and early-career psychologists.

Leading is Listening

Schedule a Conversation or Dialogue with you or your Community.

As someone deeply committed to this state, to service, and to growing the impact of psychology together, I believe it is vital that we connect, dialogue, and build stronger partnerships. Please consider reaching out if you would like to talk with me about how CPA can better support you, your students, or your work, and be a stronger partner to the psychology community.

I am happy to host a town hall, meet one-on-one, or speak to your class of students—via Zoom or, when possible, in person. We know that conversation changes lives. Let’s have the important conversations that allow us to lead together.

Book an appointment or reach out here to explore speaking engagements, dialogue, or other ways we can connect.