As anyone involved in the field can tell you, counseling continuing
education is vital to grow a base of knowledge that can help patients
and move you beyond the basics. Having a thriving and successful
practice in any endeavor means learning on a continual basis.
The entire
industry grows as a result of having professionals who have moved
beyond what they learned in their original schooling and have taken the
opportunity to intensify their education with classes, workshops, and
networking. Those states and private organizations that make no
requirements of their counselors as it pertains to furthering their
knowledge do not only their professionals a disservice, but their
patients as well.
In most states, counseling continuing education is more than a
suggestion; it is a requirement. This is not true in all states,
however. Even in some states where there are no requirements, private
employers will place those requirements on their employees, knowing that
it will help raise the standard of therapy provided at the institution.
Of course, an unfortunate side effect can occur within those states and
organizations that have credit requirements. Rather than use those
minimum standards as just that, professionals simply get what they need
to stay employed and nothing more. The best professionals in the field
see those requirements for what they areminimumsand move beyond them
each and every year.
Every therapy center depends on the knowledge and ability of their staff
in order to build a reputation. And a reputation is all any such
organization really has. Whether it is a government agency or a private
institution, the goal should always be the provide the best care
possible. This is an impossible goal to achieve if the staff is not
immersing themselves in academics, learning the latest techniques and
trends that are being developed around the country and throughout the
world. Without this continual learning, the field grows stagnant and
patients are no longer likely to make the kind of progress they should
be making.
The soft sciences are living fields of study. They cannot exist in a
vacuum, only to be read about in stuffy textbooks. What you learned in
college ten years ago may be largely obsolete in todays practice.
However, if you never take the time to further your studies, youll
never know this. There are a number of ways to accomplish counseling
classes. Ask your employer or seek out ways to do so, even if it means
going well beyond the minimum standards.