Training for Therapists: Webinars, Courses, Certifications, and CEs

You have probably noticed that time and energy are your most important, and most limited, resources as a therapist. Most of us start with boundless energy in this profession, and then we learn that this energy fades—even though the love and passion for the work do not. As long as we respect our time and energy, we can maintain this love of the work, but otherwise, we suffer from burnout (you can read our Burnout handbook here).

For many therapists, one of the biggest investments they make in terms of time and energy is in training. The training we choose as therapists can impact every area of our personal and professional lives and is also tied into our clinical outcomes. But clinical trainings can have a less-than-cheery side. Trainings can cost tens of thousands of dollars, take months or years to complete, and aren’t necessarily associated with a viable business model.

How Do You Choose the Right Training for Therapists?

There are a LOT of trainings for therapists out there. And a LOT of them are great trainings. But, that doesn’t mean they are all great trainings or certifications for YOU!

Here are some questions you should ask yourself before you spend another hour on training (even if you’ve already enrolled).

Question #1: What kind of training do I REALLY need right now?

We know this can be a hard question to answer, but it is incredibly powerful. We are honored that thousands of therapists have let us into their lives and their businesses to share what is happening behind the scenes. Often, we talk to therapists who are struggling financially but spending thousands of dollars on clinical trainings. They have a belief that these trainings or certifications will lead to major financial shifts—but this is often not the case. If you are struggling to get paid, not sure how much to charge, and your phone isn’t ringing, BUT you are getting good clinical outcomes with your clients right now, you probably need to focus on your business foundations rather than your clinical foundations.

Certifications and trainings are very seldom magic bullets for your marketing. Why? Because you still need to be findable, and be able to clearly communicate what you do for potential clients. Most clinical trainings don’t teach you how to market or charge for this great new clinical intervention or theory. They focus more on how to do the work once clients are in the room.

Here are 10 signs that what you REALLY need is business training this year, NOT clinical training:

1. You often don’t collect your full fee.

2. You are overworked and seeing more clients than you have energy for.

3. You take anyone and everyone who calls even if you don’t feel like it is a good clinical fit.

4. You are struggling and fearful financially.

5. You have a full-time job and a part-time practice you are straddling.

6. You have started a new clinical training but you don’t actually have clients with whom you can implement these new techniques.

7. You aren’t sure what is or isn’t working in your clinical work right now—you’ve never tracked your clinical outcomes.

Question #2: If I DO need clinical training, what SPECIFICALLY do I need help with?

Above, we mentioned tracking your clinical outcomes. Really great therapists don’t just take lots of hours of trainings. In fact, according to research by Scott Miller, the hours of training are NOT associated with exemplary outcomes. What IS associated with Supershrinks (therapists who get great outcomes consistently) is the tracking of outcomes and USING that data to seek out training to improve in those specific areas that need attention. If you aren’t sure where to start with that, we have a free 3-CE-eligible training that will give you a script to implement with clients today so you can get clear about what is and isn’t working and where to focus your training hours. You can click here to get started. Let’s get SUPER specific on where you need help, based on data and feedback.

Question #3: Do I Need More Clinical Training, or Do I Need to Be More Selective?

If you take everyone who calls you on the phone, there is no end to the training you need. In fact, it is impossible to be really great at every issue that clients could struggle with. In graduate school, we learned about scope of practice and scope of competence. While yes, we all have a great basis of knowledge as general therapists, we all have only so much time and energy.

We can’t be great at everything, and we don’t need to be. But, we do need to be great at knowing those limitations and referring out. It is perfectly OK to not be passionate about family therapy and to refer out. It is OK to not be a couple’s therapy expert or not be great with narcissism. The clearer you are about who you naturally do great work with and who you DELIGHT in working with, the more you can focus your time, energy, and training in that area with those specialties.

Question #4: Is what I need more training or do I need clinical consultation?

Many therapists stay engaged in clinical trainings each year because it is their way of staying connected with other therapists and getting some feedback on their work. Guess what? You don’t need to enroll in a training for therapists to get what you need! You might just get MORE of what you need (for a smaller investment) by participating in individual or group peer consultation. Here are some signs that what you really need is clinical consultation:

1. You truly wonder if you are doing the right things with individual clients.

2. You have a wide base of knowledge and you have really specific questions about how to actually implement and do the work.

3. At the end of sessions, you feel unsure about how to proceed with the client.

4. You feel like an impostor or uncertain if you are selecting the proper interventions with a client.

5. You already have two (or more) clinical trainings you are struggling to keep up with.

6. You don’t have at least 3 therapists you could easily call any time if you needed some peer consultation.

7. You feel isolated and lonely clinically.

Time for action

Do you have some clarity about what type of trainings for therapists you need this year? Here are some free resources for you, now that you know what you need:

• Free CEs for counselors, therapists, and psychologists (NBCC, APA, and NASW!)

• Free business, marketing, and private practice trainings for therapists.

• Clinical consultation for therapists

Ultimately, this is about building your confidence and doing what is right for you, your clients, and your private practice. Comment below with what you have decided your next step of action to be.