The Good, The Dad, and the Ugly: Fathers’ Mental Health and Relationships through a Lifespan Development Lens
Presented by Dr. Daniel Singley and Dr. Jena King
1.5 CE Credits
Friday, September 5, 2025
12:00 PM - 1:30 PM Live on Zoom
COST:
SDPA Members: $25 Non Members: $35
Given the crucial role of caring and emotionally available fathers in fostering secure attachment, the presenters will address the general role of fathers’ mental health, experience of a caring type of masculinity, and how paternal depression relates to attachment, specifically examining the relationship between fathers’ depression and pre-adolescent attachment to their fathers. The presenters will describe a reconceptualization of contemporary “Dad 2.0” as reflecting an inflection point that may allow for more willingness on men’s part to enact more caring relationships in their lives.
In addition to research on theory giving foundational information regarding mental health in early fatherhood and the psychology of modern masculinities, the presenters review findings from a non-experimental study used quantitative methods—correlation, regression, and mediation analyses—to explore non-causal, cross-sectional hypotheses. 42 father-child dyads (children aged 9-12) were recruited for the study. Fathers completed a demographic questionnaire, the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-V, and a self-report measure. Children completed the Inventory of Parent and Peer Attachment and the Experience in close relationship scale-revised Child version to examine the impact of paternal depression on attachment. A significant relationship emerged between pre-adolescents' total attachment scores on the Experience in close relationship scale-revised Child version and their father's depression status. Specifically, when fathers had an episode of major depressive disorder during their child’s life, children felt less securely attached.
These findings contribute to the limited literature on pre-adolescent attachment in the context of paternal depression and aligns with previous research showing infants are less securely attached to depressed fathers (Sethna et al., 2015; Sethna et al., 2018). While infant attachment is predictive of later adolescent development, researchers have not widely studied attachment during pre-adolescence (Moretti & Peled, 2004). Furthermore, this presentation broadens the conceptualization of fathers as men who are able to develop caring identities in a variety of relationships including with their children, family members, and friends.
Learning Objectives:
Apply theoretical and empirical knowledge of relationship between paternal mental health and attachment across developmental stages to enhance clinical conceptualization and treatment planning.
Analyze and evaluate the influence of masculinity and family systems dynamics on fathers’ mental health and parenting practices in diverse contexts.
Demonstrate the ability to identify and utilize the paternal identity shift in early fatherhood to foster positive father engagement and normalize fathers as caring and emotionally engaged in various relational roles
Target audience: Licensed Psychologists, Psychology Graduate Students, Allied Mental Health Professionals
Conflicts of Interest: There are no conflicts of interest with any of the speakers.
Daniel Singley, PhD
Dr. Singley is a San Diego-based board certified psychologist and Director of The Center for Men’s Excellence. His research and practice focus on men’s mental health with a particular emphasis on reproductive psychology and the transition to fatherhood. Dr. Singley won the American Psychological Association’s 2017 Practitioner of the Year Award from the Division on Men & Masculinities. He is Past President of the APA’s Section on Positive Psychology and is currently the Past President of the APA’s Society for the Psychology of Men and Masculinities and the President’s Advisory Council for Postpartum Support International. He conducts trainings and presentations around the country to assist individuals and organizations to enhance their level of father inclusiveness and founded the grant-funded Basic Training for New Dads, Inc nonprofit just for dads in order to give new fathers the tools they need to be highly engaged with their infants as well as their partners.
Jena King, PhD
Dr. King is a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Center for Men’s Excellence in San Diego, California. Her research and clinical work have given her extensive experience in men’s issues and fathers’ mental health. Her research focuses on how fatherhood depression relates to father-child attachment. Dr. King’s passion for working with fathers and birthing people focuses in the areas of depression, anxiety, trauma, and anger management throughout the perinatal period as well as adolescence.
Conflicts of Interest: As an APA-approved sponsor of continuing education, San Diego Psychological Association is committed to the identification and resolution of potential conflicts of interest in the planning, promotion, delivery, and evaluation of continuing education. Please review the conflict of interest guideline below.
APA Guidelines Regarding Potential Conflicts of Interest Consistent with concepts outlined in the APA Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct, potential conflicts of interest occur when an individual assumes a professional role in the planning, promotion, delivery, or evaluation of continuing education where personal, professional, legal, financial, or other interests could reasonably be expected to impair his or her objectivity, competence, or effectiveness.
CE Grievance Procedure SDPA is fully committed to conducting all activities in strict conformance with the APAs Ethical Principles of Psychologists. SDPA will comply with all legal and ethical responsibilities to be non-discriminatory in promotional activities, program content and in the treatment of program participants. See CE Grievance Procedure. Attendance Policy: CE Credit and Certificates will not be issued to those who arrive later than 10 minutes or leave early from any course scheduled time. This policy is strictly enforced to ensure compliance with APA Guidelines.
Cancellation Policy: No refund will be given to any registered individual who is a no-show to a course. Any individual canceling within 72 hours of a course will be refunded 50% of the course fee.
American Psychological Association The San Diego Psychological Association (SDPA) is approved by the American Psychological Association (APA) to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. SDPA maintains responsibility for this program and its content.
LCSW, LFMT, LEP & LPCC In California, APA approved CE’s are valid for licensed psychologists, licensed school psychologists, LCSW, LMFT, LEP & LPCC licensees. Though APA is a national organization, the out of state licensee should check with their state governing board to make sure that APA approved CE'’s are valid in their state for their license.
See SDPA Website Continuing Education Policies.
SDPA 2025 Fall Conference
Navigating the Psychological Fallout of War & Conflict
APA CE Credits Pending Approval
October 3rd & 4th, 2025
October 3rd, 2025 8:00 AM - 5:45 PM
October 4th, 2025 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM Social Hour: 5:00 - 6:00 pm
Marina Village Conference Center
1936 Quivira Way
San Diego, CA 92109
San Diego is home to war refugees, veterans, service members, immigrants, and border patrol agents. People are feeling stressed, overwhelmed, and terrified by the geopolitical climate. Together, health and mental health providers will prepare for the psychological fallout of war and conflict on October 3rd and 4th, 2025 at Marina Village.
This conference will focus on:
Psychological and Nutritional Pathways to Resilience
Multimodal Group Treatment for Veterans
Clinical Care of Border Patrol Agents
Immigration and Mental Health
Healing Trans Military Trauma
Ethical Considerations in War
Trauma Informed Guilt Reduction
Registration is limited Due to venue limitations, participation in the conference is limited to 130 on a first-come first-serve basis. Make sure to register early to save your spot. All are welcome!
Day Of (1 Day)
Click here for Course Description
Conference Schedule
Day 1: October 3, 2025
7:30 - 8:00 AM Registration and Check-In (Continental Breakfast, Beverages)
8:00 - 8:15 AM Welcome Address, Nicole Karst, Psy.D.
8:15 - 9:15 AM Clinical Care of War Refugees, Mojgan Khademi, PsyD
9:15 AM - 12:15 PM Workshop 1: DBT, CBT, EFT for Vets, Bruce Liese, PhD, ABPP
12:15 - 1:30 PM Lunch, Visit Exhibitors and Posters
1:30 - 4:30 PM Immigration and Mental Health: A Culturally Informed Approach for Mental Health Clinicians, Mariela Shibley, PsyD
4:30 -4:45 PM Break(Refreshments/Visit Exhibitors/Posters)
4:45 - 5:45 PM Psychological Impact of Forced Resignations of Trans People in US Armed Forces, Sam Rodriguez, LCSW
Day 2: October 4, 2025
8:15 AM - 12:15 PM Workshop 3: Ethics, Glenn Lipson, PhD & David Leatherberry, JD
1:30 - 3:00 PM Clinical Interventions for Border Patrol Agents, Mark W. Marvin, Ph.D.
3:00 -3:30 PM Break(Refreshments/Visit Exhibitors/Posters)
3:30 - 5:00 PM American's Coping with Uncertainty
5:00 - 6:00 PM Social Hour (All Attendees, Presenters and Exhibitors Welcome!)
NOTE: This conference is designed to meet the educational needs of clinical psychologists. Participants can earn up to (APA CE Credits Pending Approval) CE credits for their attendance. It is our belief that this conference will be of interest to other types of mental health professionals as well, however, those practitioners need to check with their own licensing agencies re specific educational requirements. (See APA Statement below).
If you have any questions about the conference, please email sdpa@sdpsych.org.
APA Guidelines Regarding Potential Conflicts of Interest
Consistent with concepts outlined in the APA Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct, potential conflicts of interest occur when an individual assumes a professional role in the planning, promotion, delivery, or evaluation of continuing education where personal, professional, legal, financial, or other interests could reasonably be expected to impair his or her objectivity, competence, or effectiveness.
CE Grievance Procedure: SDPA is fully committed to conducting all activities in strict conformance with the APAs Ethical Principles of Psychologists. SDPA will comply with all legal and ethical responsibilities to be non-discriminatory in promotional activities, program content and in the treatment of program participants.
See CE Grievance Procedure.
Attendance Policy: CE Credit and Certificates will not be issued to those who arrive later than 10 minutes or leave early from any course scheduled time. This policy is strictly enforced to ensure compliance with APA Guidelines.
American Psychological AssociationThe San Diego Psychological Association (SDPA) is approved by the American Psychological Association (APA) to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. SDPA maintains responsibility for this program and its content.
LCSW, LFMT, LEP & LPCC
In California, APA approved CE’s are valid for licensed psychologists, licensed school psychologists, LCSW, LMFT, LEP & LPCC licensees. Though APA is a national organization, the out of state licensee should check with their state governing board to make sure that APA approved CE's are valid in their state for their license.
Contact Us:San Diego Psychological Association4699 Murphy Canyon Rd. Suite 105San Diego, CA 92123
Katherine ProsserOffice Manager Office (858) 277-1463 Fax (858) 277-1402 E-Mail sdpa@sdpsych.org
