At first glance, it can be assumed that the education that psychologists receive at the university will be enough to conduct practice. But any profession requires a regular increase in the level of knowledge, especially since the relevance of the requirements for practitioners is constantly changing, and the methods are being improved and supplemented.

Usually, either the specialist himself or the employer offers to improve the qualification level. Let’s talk today about why there is a need for Continuing Education for Psychologists and how to do it. The article will also answer the question why an hour of conversation with a psychologist / psychotherapist is so expensive.

Why Are Good Psychologists Constantly Learning?

Indeed, why? Everything is simple!

Because psychology is the target of attention of scientists, the direction is constantly developing and being researched, new methods are emerging, and existing ones are being supplemented. Reading scientific literature, participating in conferences and seminars to exchange experiences with colleagues provide good knowledge, but do not immerse in a specific topic as deeply as Psychology CEUs does.

It is the advanced training courses that allow the psychologist to thoroughly master a specific narrowly focused method (for example, gelotology) or a new option for conducting consultations (for example, remote), to understand the techniques of helping various groups of the population (families, pregnant women, adolescents, the elderly) in a short time.

The qualification of a psychologist is important for an employer. A psychologist who does not polish his knowledge and skills, does not improve his competence for more than 5 years, may arouse suspicion and cast doubt on his professionalism.

For psychologists who work in the field of education, the obligation to undergo training every 3 years is completely spelled out.

What Are The Forms Of Education And How To Choose The Right One?

Training can be seminars, long or short courses. Usually, specialists who have already completed Continuing Education for Mental Health Professionals programs increase their qualification level. But if you have a psychological education, then you can immediately choose a refresher course.

On PC programs, students get acquainted with new achievements in psychology, with modern methods, or update their skills in already mastered areas.

Today, schools offer additional education in the following formats.

Full-time training format is chosen by psychologists and psychotherapists who have not practiced for a long time and set themselves the goal of restoring knowledge or improving it as well as specialists who have enough time, because face-to-face courses last about 2 months. A significant plus of this form of study is live communication with the teacher and colleagues.

Distance learning is chosen by disciplined psychologists who are able to master a large amount of information on their own and do not have the opportunity to attend courses in person for a long time.

The remote format gained immense popularity during the pandemic and continues to hold leadership positions among different groups of students due to its practicality and convenience. Its undeniable advantages – you can build your own schedule of classes, study from any city at any time of the day or night, choose inexpensive courses. Training takes place on a special online platform, and communication with teachers and students is done via chats.

How To Choose A Professional Development Program?

You should choose a course for Continuing Education for Mental Health Professionals  based on personal feelings and understanding in which particular area you lack knowledge or need to improve it. If you want to expand your client audience and work, for example, with difficult teenagers or with entire groups of people, this point should also be taken into account when choosing a program.

1.     Choose The Areas Of Psychology You Want To Study

• Narcology
• Clinical psychology
• Neuropsychology
• Systemic family psychotherapy
• Psychosomatics and others.

In the current situation, special attention should be paid to the topic of remote work with patients. The skills of planning and conducting consultations using online technologies are extremely relevant and in demand today.

2.     Think About The Audience You Would Like To Work With

• With older people
• With cancer patients and their relatives
• With athletes
• With people who have experienced trauma
• With children suffering from a variety of psychological disorders
• With patients subject to drug or alcohol addiction
• With difficult teenagers
• With women planning pregnancy, etc.

3.     Decide Which Techniques Will Diversify And Improve Your Practice

• Fairy tale therapy
• Art therapy
• Metaphorical associative cards
• Sand therapy
• Psychodrama
• Psychoanalysis
• Hypnosis
• Dance movement therapy and others.

What Will Be The Result?

In an age of stress, many people choose the profession of a psychologist, but really good specialists.

Why Should You Study?

• Be able to more effectively help clients in solving a wide variety of narrow problems
• For your own professional and personal growth
• To maintain a high level of competition in the labor market among colleagues
• To increase income.

Remember that psychology is not a hobby, but the medicine of the soul, so psychologists should be as responsible as possible and devote no less time to improving their knowledge than medical professionals.