Beginning during the Summer of 2020, The New Global Professional School of Psychology (PSP) has brought together, under the auspices of Ash Point Publishing, three publishing centers that address the application of professional psychology wisdom and practices in three different ways.
The Publishing Centers
These three publishing centers complement PSP’s already established and highly successful Library of Professional Psychology. One of these publications centers has been in operation for many years (having been established in California during the 1970s and having published numerous books over the past four decades). The other two publishing ventures are newly established.
Following are the three publishing centers under Ash Point Publishing.
The Professional Psychology Press
This newly-founded publishing center will serve as the corner-stone of Ash Point Publishing and will be the source of most publications emanating from Ash Point. The books published by this press will focus on three major areas: (1) health psychology, (2) organizational psychology and (3) clinical psychology. These books will provide guidance in the application of psychological principles and practices to contemporary problems as a personal, group and organizational level.
Founded many years ago, this publishing center focuses on Postsecondary Education and is operated in conjunction with the Postsecondary Education division of PSP (operating through the Postsecondary Portal website). Books generally concern the application of psychological principles and practices to such initiatives as professional development curriculum development and assessment (at the level of student, department and institution).
This newly established press will focus on the application of psychological perspectives and practices to broad societal issues. Initial publications will focus on the current conditions of complexity, unpredictability, turbulence and profound contradictions that challenge us in our personal, organizational and communal life. Atlantic Soundings Press is also focused on the tangible consequences of engaging the challenging conditions–with the press being started in conjunction with the focus at PSP on the interplay between public policy and professional psychology.
The “Living” Book
Editorial Vision of Ash Point Publishing
The Static Book
Traditionally books were published in print form and distributed, read and archived without any changes ever being made (or even possible given its printed form). Even with the introduction of digital publications, it was assumed that the “printed” word remains unchanged. A mechanistic/closed system perspective on publication.
The Living Book
Digital publishing allows for the creation of publications that are growing, changing, dialogic in nature and format. An organic/open system perspective on publication.
Level One: the publication can include both written words and video recordings (through use of Vimeo and other modes of digital storage). The reader is introduced to the author “talking” about their work, as well as (potentially) other people commenting on the work (via video recording) in the midst of the written document.
Level Two: the publication is changing, with the author(s) including new material, based on comments regarding earlier versions and their own reflection on the work. The work is always “in progress.” The video recordings influence the ongoing work.
Level Three: the publication is set within a broader dialogic framework, with brief digital presentations by the author and/or question/answer/commentary sessions being part of what the “reader” purchases (subscribes to). In a more expansive format, the “book” can be incorporated in a workshop program or even complete certification/academic credit-generating program. Content from the digital presentations/dialogues being incorporated in the publication: there is full integration of the printed word and the enacted (and recorded) dialogue.
Many of the publications associated with Ash Point Publishing are aligned with this vision of the “Living Book.”