The IPA was first incorporated on August 2, 1936 under the name The Illinois Society of Consulting Psychologists. In 1942 the name was changed to the Illinois Association for Applied Psychology. On March 31, 1949 the name was again changed to its current title the Illinois Psychological Association (IPA). The IPA is a 501(C)6, an educational not-for-profit corporation.

The purpose of the IPA is to advance psychology as a science and a profession and as a means of promoting human welfare by the encouragement of psychology in all its branches; by the continualimprovement of the qualifications of psychologists through high standards of ethics, conduct, education and achievement; and by the increase and dissemination of psychological knowledge through meetings, professional contacts, reports, papers, discussion and publications.

The IPA is primarily driven by its volunteer leadership who fill nearly fifty positions. Although primarily established to support the field of psychology, the IPA has become involved in numerous activities that support the needs of the mentally ill both in Illinois and nationally. Its staff and leadership have served on various coalitions, task forces and summits that have made significant contributions to the welfare of the mentally ill. The IPA was a pioneer in the disaster mental health field when it partnered with the Red Cross in 1991 to provide mental health crisis intervention to victims of a devastating tornado that hit Plainfield, Illinois. Since that time, IPA members have traveled the country and the world providing Disaster Mental Health Services to people in need.

The IPA is the largest professional association of psychologists in Illinois and is affiliated with the 130,000 member American Psychological Association.

For more information, please visit http://www.illinoispsychology.org/