“If We Do Not Do it, Then Who Will?”

Abstract

In this interview, Payton describes a long and distinguished career encompassing research, academia, and counseling practice, ultimately as director of the Howard University Counseling Service (UCS), and public service with the Peace Corps, ultimately as its director. She served on American Psychological Association (APA) committees dealing with ethics, bias and sex role stereotyping in psychotherapy, women, gay concerns, and policy and planning, as well as on various journal editorial boards. Underlying this wide-ranging and multifaceted career was Payton’s lifelong commitment to equality, justice, and inclusion and her belief that all people are of equal worth. Within the field of counseling psychology, she provided strong leadership in the development of group counseling technique, especially for people of color. As director of UCS, she drew on her experience with an egalitarian Peace Corps in developing group counseling at Howard’s UCS, especially for people of color, believing that “we help each other” was the best model for teaching people to believe in themselves.