Let’s be real: Learning vacations (AKA conferences) don’t actually feel like vacations, even though they take as much time and money. For most mental health professionals, the traditional conference model is logically difficult and time-consuming. That’s why today’s therapists are increasingly looking for options that fit into their everyday lives.
State licensing boards are increasingly recognizing that quality education can happen at home. Particularly after COVID, almost all boards accept online continuing education. Mental health professionals are choosing it because it makes sense for how we live and work today. Online continuing education continues to increase in popularity for several reasons:
- Eliminating the travel costs and time (read: reclaim your weekend)
- Reducing lost income from days you’re not seeing clients. Instead of carving out entire days, you can see clients between sessions.
- Ease of automated tracking and instant digital certification.
- Interactive formats and case studies (Thank goodness the days of grainy videos and boring PowerPoints are over!)
- Ability to be completed at any time, without advance scheduling.
- Access to interesting workshops and topics, not just what’s available in the geographic area.
Of course, there are downsides to consider. Online continuing education courses come with greater technical fatigue and a greater need for self-discipline. As a professional who has used online continuing education for numerous years, I’ve found a few tips that can help:
- Take handwritten notes to stay engaged and reduce multitasking
- Schedule time (such as between sessions) to be fully engaged
- Find 1-2 colleagues who are interested in taking the same course, so you can discuss what you learned and its practical applications
- Bridge the gap between learning and application by finding one specific intervention or technique that you can use with a client within the next week
Don’t forget to check accreditation status before you invest time and money. Only approved providers count toward licensing board requirements and finding out after the fact that a course doesn’t qualify is incredibly frustrating. Your state board website should list approved CE providers. Ready to upgrade your learning experience? Visit CEU Love. Built by mental health professionals for mental health professionals, we offer accredited, evidence-based courses that fit your schedule. Whether you need two credits or twenty, we help you grow as a clinician without the burnout.
