subject: Apa Continuing Education - Attending Workshops [print this page] As part of their outreach to members of the association, the APA continuing education office is committed to offering workshops around the country. These workshops provide unique benefits for those who attend. Though they can be pricey to attend (particularly if you have to travel), the benefits may be worth it in many instances. On a yearly basis, they offer workshops in a number of different subject areas, one of which is bound to include your specialty. For those members looking to amass CE credits or just improve their understanding of the field, these meet-ups can be a great opportunity to do so.
Professional Development
As a psychologist, APA continuing education opportunities are a great way to enrich your understanding of your chosen field and move forward with a deeper knowledge that you can put into practice. Any psychologist that fails to keep learning will soon see his therapeutic practices grow stale, passed by others in the area who have continually strived to keep up with the science. You may not even realize how out of date your theories are unless you read the current literature and interact with others in the profession. A workshop is a great way to do both.
Networking
Many people get into the field of mental health believing that networking is something that salesmen do. Unfortunately, this simply isn't the case. To be successful in any field, networking needs to be part of your repertoire. The workshops can be a great way to accomplish this networking. Go into them with the intention of learning from the teachers, but keep in mind the importance of meeting others and making contacts. These contacts could very well be they key that opens up a new path in your career.
Influence
Without a doubt, meeting some of the top names in the field, asking them direct questions, and learning about them on a personal level is one of the primary benefits of a workshop. No matter how many books you read or how many credits you obtain, nothing can match the chance to pick someone's brain in person. Ideas flow like water in these circumstances, and many of the big names understand how vital it is for them to share their experience and accumulated knowledge with others in the field.
Continuing education doesn't, of course, stop at workshops. You can improve your learning through a host of methods, many of which don't need to include leaving the house. Books, seminars, online message boards, and more can all be used to contribute to your growth as a psychologist.
