Keeping Up

It's been more days than I expected since writing my last blog post. With the weather cooling down in New Jersey and the leaves already changing in New England, it usually means apple picking, pulling out sweaters and putting up Halloween decorations. But for people in my profession, it's time to renew licenses and certificates.

To remain a Licensed Professional Counselor in New Jersey, I have to earn 40 continuing education credits (an hour of educational training is equal to 1 credit) every two years that has to include a credit on opioid abuse, three on social and cultural competency and five on ethics.

For the off-year when I am not renewing my license, I am counting up continuing education credits and signing up for trainings to renew my certificates in trauma and narcissistic abuse. Luckily there are a lot of resources online that offer trainings in both.

Along with keeping up with CE credits, I like to read psychology and practical self-help books that can help me in my practice. I also read them so I can confidently recommend the books I read to clients.

I know I'm reading a good psychology book in two ways: while reading a passage, a client comes to mind and when it takes me longer than usual to finish the book.

I also like to read psychology books because psychotherapy is not stagnant. It is an evolving field that has changed tremendously since I decided I wanted to get into psychology decades ago. Keeping up is not just a hobby; it nourishes me as a psychotherapist.

Bonus: ask your therapist what was the last psychology book they read and when they finished it.