Professional Development

Therapy can be serious, but that doesn’t mean that there isn’t room for a joke here and there. Here, clinicians share how they used humor to help clients... Read more

During the pandemic, many of us have realized how convenient teletherapy can be for us and our clients. But is the flexibility of teletherapy leading to more... Read more

I practiced for almost 50 years, and just retired with a feeling of satisfaction. Here’s what I’ve learned in my journey to contentment. These are my tales... Read more

Three therapists share their stories about the learning experiences and “happy accidents” that helped make them better clinicians. Read more

When the pandemic first struck, I was concerned about its impact yet able to handle the anxiety about infection pretty well. After all, managing anxiety is my... Read more

Many grief specialists talk about helping clients finding meaning after loss. But often, loss feels meaningless. One therapist working with grieving clients... Read more

Self-care has long been touted as a panacea for burnout. Emily Nagoski has a different solution. Read more

Most therapists struggle with guilt and self-blame related to their work. Thankfully, there are ways to leverage these feelings so we can grow from them. Read more

Meditation is generally considered one of the safest practices for our clients. But one organization says that’s not always the case. Read more

A therapist feels her sessions are getting a little dry and is looking for a way to bring play and humor into the work. Five therapists share how they do it in... Read more

Integrating art therapy tools into your practice doesn’t have to be complicated, nor does it require artistic skill from you or your client. Read more

Three clinicians share their experiences of the power of supervision. Read more

Over 40 years, a long-term client gives a therapist an opportunity to recover from clinical mistakes and apply new frameworks and modalities. Read more

Training to become technicians in particular areas isn’t what best serves our clients. Read more

How do therapists create a great training culture, one in which we become substantially better at what we do? Read more

Teacher? Guide? Gatekeeper? Consultant? How clarifying your role as supervisor helps. Read more

The stakes for quality supervision are high. And yet, live supervision is increasingly considered more a bonus than a staple. Read more

We’re in the midst of a major shift in our understanding of just what clinical trainees need to know in order to be an effective therapist in today’s world. Read more

A client has a lot of regret about past decisions he’s made, and although his therapist has talked with him about them at length, the client still can't seem... Read more

Seeing clients through the COVID-19 crisis has shown us not only that psychotherapy can be effective outside the traditional frame—complete with an office... Read more

A graduate student has to pick a focus to train on, but is unsure of which to choose. Here, clinicians offer advice. Read more

Bestselling author Brené Brown’s opening keynote address ignited the Symposium audience with its call to take risks and have the courage to be vulnerable. Read more

Writing progress notes doesn’t have to be a bore. Read more

The debate around surrogate partner therapy. Read more

Despite our best intentions, sometimes our problems grow so big that they slam into our work—and the result can be surprising. Read more

Is the problem of compassion fatigue that we get tired of being compassionate toward others—or that we aren’t being compassionate toward ourselves? Read more

When a therapist finally confronts his tendency to dissociate, his work takes a life-changing turn. Read more

Many therapists fear coming out about their own mental health struggles, even in front of colleagues. The heartening news is that it’s beginning to change. Read more

As each of us grows older, we can try to embrace the full possibilities of aging, even alongside its challenges. That’s a genuine gift for our clients as... Read more

When therapy stagnates, sometimes it takes a mistake to catalyze change. Read more