Retirement Experiences of Psychologists and Lessons Learned 2026
Includes a Live Web Event on 11/19/2026 at 12:00 PM (EST)
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Timing: Live session is 60 minutes, starting at 12:00pm Eastern Time. Archived video will be available on this page after the live session.
Description
The perceptions and experiences of retirement by psychologists have not been given much attention in either study or theory.
The webinar summarizes cross-cutting observations of retirement stories collected by Rodney R. Baker and Patrick H. DeLeon from psychologists who described their retirement experiences in ten APA annual meeting symposia for different APA divisions.
In these and other retirement stories of psychologists, several observations stand out. Most psychologists give little thought to their retirement prior to some event that requires consideration such as health changes in self or a spouse or eligibility for retirement benefits. Most psychologists do not initially consider retirement a positive period in one’s life but rather suggest to some a lack of value or worth and no longer contributing to society. Many choose to define themselves as partially retired by “slowing” down and reducing time at work to do other things do so to avoid being thought of as retired.
The challenge and lessons learned described by many who told their retirement stories in the book becomes a need to be useful, relevant, or doing something of value to replace those attributes in the work environment. The stories further indicate the importance of “retiring to” something instead of “retiring from” something to provide a new perspective in examining and shifting life and work goals in later life.
The book co-authors acknowledge that they do not have answers to all retirement planning questions.
Continuing Education Information
This program is not offered for continuing education.
Disclosures
Patrick DeLeon, Thomas Grisso, and Melba Vasquez do not have any conflicts of interest to disclose.
Rodney Baker receives royalties for sales from the book on which today’s discussion is based.
Special Access to Retirement Experiences of Psychologists
The findings discussed will be largely based on the book Retirement Experiences of Psychologists edited by Drs. Baker and DeLeon.
The publisher has a promotional offer allowing anyone to download the first 30 pages of the book at no cost. Go to https://www.cambridgescholars.com/product/978-1-5275-6767-2 and click on "Read Sample" for free download of the first 30 pages of the book.
Source citation: Baker, R. R. & DeLeon, P. H. (Eds.). (2021). Retirement Experiences of Psychologists. Cambridge Scholars Publishing.
Rodney R. Baker, PhD
Rodney R. Baker, PhD, retired in 2004 as Mental Health Director and Chief of Psychology at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas. In retirement, he co-authored a history of VA psychology and edited and co-edited four books of career stories of VA psychology leaders in both a designated and later volunteer VA psychology historian role. He received the 2017 American Psychological Foundation Gold Medal Award for Life Achievement in the Practice of Psychology. He also writes novels and chooses other activities that interest him in retirement.
Patrick H. DeLeon, PhD, MPH, JD
Patrick H. DeLeon, PhD, MPH, JD, is a former president of the American Psychological Association, member of the National Academy of Medicine, and honorary fellow of several national nursing associations. Beginning with the first day of the Watergate hearings in 1973, he served on Capitol Hill for nearly four decades, retiring as chief of staff for U.S. Senator Daniel K. Inouye.
Thomas Grisso, PhD
Dr. Thomas Grisso is a clinical and forensic psychologist whose research, teaching and practice have promoted applications of psychology to law. His contributions have shaped national law and policy in several criminal and civil areas of mental health law, but especially juvenile law. His books focus on methods and standards for forensic mental health evaluations. He retired from University of Massachusetts Medical School 12 years ago after many years as Director of its Law and Psychiatry Program. He is currently a partner in an LLC company offering consulting to juvenile justice programs nationwide.
Melba Vasquez, PhD
Dr. Melba Vasquez is a psychologist with extensive leadership experience in psychology, particularly in the service of promoting the value of diversity in mental health professions. The author of numerous publications in the areas of ethics, multicultural psychology, psychology of women, counseling and psychotherapy, and leadership, her most recent publication, coauthored with Drs. Pope, Chavez-Duenas and Adames, is the 7th edition of Ethics in Psychotherapy & Counseling: A Practical guide. She is semi-retired, with a part-time practice, and serves as President of the American Psychological Foundation.
