2026 Annual Spring Conference
April 10-11, 2026
Join us for our Annual Spring Convention! There will be opportunities to learn from nationally renowned speakers, connect with colleagues, and celebrate psychology in Louisiana.
Important Dates:
February 27: Call for Proposals Deadline
March 6: Early Bird Deadline
Keynote Speakers: Antonio E. Puente, PhD and Dimitrios Tsatiris, MD
LPA is thrilled to announce our 2026 Spring Conference Keynote Speakers!
Join us April 10–11 for two powerful keynote sessions:
- Friday, April 10: Professional Psychology Inside a Turbulent World with Antonio E. Puente, PhD
- Saturday, April 11: Why Is Happiness So Elusive? with Dimitrios Tsatiris, MD
From navigating today’s complex professional landscape to uncovering evidence-based strategies for lasting happiness, these inspiring talks offer insight, resilience, and actionable takeaways for both personal and professional growth.
Friday Keynote: Professional Psychology Inside a Turbulent World with Antonio E. Puente, PhD
Presentation Overview:
In today’s turbulent socio-historical, political, and economic climate, the practice of psychology has become increasingly complex and unpredictable. This keynote will examine the major forces shaping the profession, dissecting their impact on process, policy, and outcomes. Dr. Puente will outline practical professional and personal responses to these challenges while highlighting opportunities for resilience, adaptation, and growth within psychology.
Learning Objectives:
After this presentation, participants will be able to:
- Understand the emerging and evolving challenges affecting professional psychology.
- Appreciate the subtle complexities that involve their development, how they seep into policy and then reimbursement, and finally into our professional practices and personal lives.
- Address potential solutions to these challenges and reframe the situation for unexpected and vibrant professional and personal growth.
Antonio E. Puente, PhD
Dr. Puente was born in La Habana, Cuba, and emigrated to the United States in 1960. He earned his PhD from the University of Georgia and has taught at the University of North Carolina Wilmington since 1981, where he is a Professor of Psychology and the founding director of UNCW’s Centro Hispano. His teaching and scholarship focus on brain and behavior, clinical neuropsychology, and the history of psychology, with particular emphasis on the intersection of culture and neuropsychology.
A prolific scholar and leader in the field, Dr. Puente has authored 10 books, more than 90 book chapters, and over 120 scientific articles. He founded and edited Neuropsychology Review and the Journal of Interprofessional Education & Practice, as well as a major neuropsychology book series. In addition to his academic work, he maintains a private clinical neuropsychology practice and co-directs mental health services at the Cape Fear Clinic, a bilingual, multidisciplinary health center serving underserved communities.
Dr. Puente has held numerous national leadership roles, including President of the American Psychological Association, and has served as president of multiple APA divisions and professional organizations. He also spent more than two decades advising the American Medical Association on Current Procedural Terminology (CPT), including eight years as a member of the AMA CPT Panel.
Saturday Keynote: Why Is Happiness So Elusive? with Dimitrios Tsatiris, M.D.
Presentation Overview:
We live in a digital society obsessed with the pursuit of more. There is relentless pressure to do and become more. The prevailing message is that accumulating more wealth, status, power and stuff is the path to happiness. As a result, we blindly follow this socially-prescribed path assuming it leads to an increased level of happiness and well-being. Do these pursuits actually lead to happiness or do they make happiness more elusive? What is even happiness and how do we find it?
This evidence-based talk will integrate research from the fields of psychology, neuroscience, philosophy and social sciences to help you gain a deeper understanding of the concept of happiness. This presentation is filled with practical strategies of the body, mind and spirit to help you unlock more happiness in your daily life.
Regardless of where you stand in your personal and professional life, you will come out of this presentation with essential concepts and actionable insights that will be of great benefit to you and those around you.
Learning Objectives:
After this presentation, participants will be able to:
- Explore different definitions of happiness and their influence on how we perceive happiness.
- Share evidence showing the impact of social influences on the pursuit of happiness.
- Recognize the short and long-term impact of achievement on happiness.
- Identify cognitive errors associated with the pursuit of happiness.
- Present ten evidence-based practices of the body, mind and spirit to help you find more happiness in your present life.
Dimitrios Tsatiris, M.D.
Dr. Tsatiris is a practicing board-certified psychiatrist, book author, TEDx speaker and Clinical Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at Northeast Ohio Medical University. He studies and writes about the interface of mental health and achievement. His work has appeared in numerous outlets, including Psychology Today, Doximity, Health.com, The White Coat Investor, Thrive Global and NAMI among others. He is passionate about empowering people to live a fulfilling life by developing a healthy relationship with achievement. Through his work as a psychiatrist, writer and speaker, he seeks to fulfill this mission.
REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS
It is with great excitement that the Louisiana Psychological Association invites you to submit a proposal for this year’s 2026 Annual Spring Conference.
We invite clinicians, academicians, and researchers of all specialties to present a workshop, process group, or symposia session.
The submission deadline is February 27.
We are especially interested in topics related to: autism assessment, OCD, ethics/forensics, delivering care to under-resourced and historically excluded communities, and training future generations of scientist-practioners.
EXCITING NEWS! We are offering a $350 honorarium for each presentation at our upcoming Spring Conference, plus FREE conference attendance for all presenters!
Discounted Room Rates
We are offering discounted room rates for the 2026 Spring Conference at TownePlace Suites by Marriott New Orleans Downtown/Canal Street.
$174.00 USD per night
Last Day to Book: Monday, March 09, 2026
We look forward to welcoming you to an enriching event!
Conference Registration
Discounted Early Bird Rates available through March 6.
LPA MEMBERS – Please log in to your account to register with member pricing.
Cancellation/Refund Policy: Cancellations up to 72 hours prior to the beginning of the conference will be refunded in full. Please contact the LPA administrator for any unavoidable emergency that may arise within 72 hours prior to the event.
Volunteer Opportunities
LPA Conference Student Volunteer Application – Please fill out the volunteer application below. Volunteers will be chosen on a first-come, first-serve basis. We will need two volunteers each day who will receive free registration in exchange for volunteering.
Regular Pricing:
More information coming soon.
Early Bird Pricing:
More information coming soon.
Become a Convention Sponsor Today!
Connect directly with psychologists from diverse professional settings across Louisiana at our premier two-day spring conference. Your sponsorship creates a win-win relationship, increasing awareness of your organization while providing you with networking opportunities and multiple avenues of advertising. Showcase your services to mental health professionals who can refer clients and boost your business visibility within this influential community.
Become a Convention Exhibitor Today!
Promote your government or non-profit agency’s valuable services to psychologists who can benefit from awareness about what you offer their clients. Take advantage of our relatively low price point for exhibitors while connecting directly with mental health professionals during multiple scheduled breaks at our two-day spring conference. Build meaningful relationships with psychologists from hospitals, private practices, academic institutions, and various other settings across Louisiana.
