Mental health professionals have stressful and critical jobs; they also have a vast array of mental health counseling organizations for education, networking and support. Professionals in mental health counseling organizations education and training benefits practitioners by setting the accreditation criteria for graduate programs, providing sources of continuing education and offer information for professionals through seminars and presentations. If you're in mental health field, you should consider joining one or more mental health professional associations.

As a mental health professional, there are a variety of national counseling associations you can participate in, no matter what branch of counseling you practice. Psychologists, licensed mental health counselors and licensed clinical social workers can all benefit from these organizations. Mental health professional groups can provide:

1. Local seminars and courses just for the members of professional counseling associations. Peers or nationally recognized speakers give classes on topics of interest to the group.

2. Reputable education opportunities. In most cases, mental health professional associations sponsor or approve continuing education standards needed to maintain licensure.

3. Networking opportunities. This is not something to be overlooked as your experiences with others in mental health professional organizations can turn into mentoring relationships and job opportunities.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Obtain education through organizations for mental health counselors

As a licensed mental health counselor, you'll need however many continuing education units your state requires. This is a minimum; in addition, professionals often enroll in these classes just to improve their knowledge in a particular subject area. For example, if you would like to focus on therapies for treating bipolar disorder, taking a course or a seminar would greatly enhance your capabilities.

I recommend: Take continuing education units offered through the partners of the American Mental Health Counselors Association. The American Counseling Association offers online courses for post-graduate licensure or for those wanting to renew their certification.

Learn new techniques through psychology professional associations

If you're a licensed clinical psychologist, you know that it's imperative to stay at the forefront of current knowledge. By attending conferences, taking classes and networking with colleagues, you'll learn new techniques to use with your patients. For example, you may choose to learn cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) if you work with a lot of patients with personality disorders. Again, this can greatly expand your practice.

I recommend: Attend the annual American Psychological Association convention, which offers a multitude of educational opportunities for professionals, like research presentations. Check out the different kinds of training offered by the National Association of School Psychologists, if that is where your expertise lies.

Consider joining a professional counseling association for social workers

Licensed clinical social workers also often engage in counseling activities. The nature of the work differs from that of licensed mental health counselors and psychologists, but it is counseling nonetheless. Obtaining that extra education can help you perform your job better, from counseling domestic abuse victims to interviewing potential foster parents.

I recommend: Find the continuing education units you need at the National Association of Social Workers. If you work with cancer patients, consider attending the annual conference held by the Association of Oncology Social Work.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Remember that the majority of mental health worker associations require at least a Master's degree in the area (e.g., psychology professionals must have a Master's or doctoral degree in a psychology field) and a valid state license. Some organizations have student memberships, so if you're still in school and unlicensed, you can get involved that way.
• •  You can also participate in local chapters of national counseling organizations. There are plenty of seminars and lectures that you can attend through professionals in mental health counseling organizations in your immediate area.

Mental health counseling organizations bring passionate professionals together. They share their knowledge and experiences in a supportive environment, exchanging ideas and solutions. Associations also serve to promote research in the mental health field and high standards of conduct, ethics, achievement and education.

Professional counseling associations link you to professional contacts, meetings, papers, reports, discussions and publications. Psychological knowledge is at the forefront and the exchange of ideas is promoted. As a result of your membership, your professional development is fine-tuned. Consider:

1. Using mental health professional associations to network and develop as a professional in the counseling field.

2. Researching various membership levels to professional counseling associations.

3. Making the most of educational courses.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Join mental health professional organizations to network and enhance your skills

Mental health professional groups can be international groups, state wide associations or local gatherings. They have one thing in common, though, they bring together people with a common goal to advance the mental health field.

I recommend: Find Counseling.com has a list of all mental health counseling organizations. American Psychological Association (APA) is a scientific and professional organization with 148,000 members. The APA's goal is to advance the science and profession of psychology promote education, health and human welfare. Membership includes many discounts to events and places, including those to help finance additional education. The Association of Black Psychologists (ABPsi) has more than 1400 members. The ABPsi's goal is to influence change and address the social problems affecting the Black community. Register for upcoming conferences to enhance your professional growth.

Pay membership dues to belong to mental health worker associations

Dues to mental health professional associations vary, depending on the membership level you choose. Once you decide on an association, choose a level based on what type of commitment you're willing to give.

I recommend: The American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT) provides resources for consumers and practitioners of marriage and family therapy. Members benefit from networking, publications, tools and events. Complete the online application process to join AAMFT. American Association of Psychotherapists, Inc. (AAP) is a professional association for mental health professionals with the goal of developing and supporting psychotherapy. Dues usually range around $100 per year and you can register online.

Enjoy the benefits a mental health professional organization has to offer

When you join mental health worker organizations, you obtain access to publications, business reports, groups, events and forums. The networking and educational opportunities help you grow as a professional and personally.

I recommend: Asian American Psychological Association (AAPA) is a visible and influential counseling professional organization that advocates on behalf of Asian Americans. AAPA offers licensee information, along with postdoctoral trainings and positions. International Psychoanalytical Association (IPA) is an organization for psychoanalysts worldwide. Benefits include access to their online newsletter, directory, handbook, member services and events.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Professionals in mental health counseling organizations are encouraged to participate in online forums as a way to increase networking opportunities.

Joining a mental health counseling organization can be very beneficial to you as a mental health professional. Be sure to learn some basic key terms as you narrow down your search. Understand what the term counseling means and the types of professionals who make up a counseling team. Make sure you know what an organization is asking for when it refers to your specialty statement, license and your position on public interest. Look for organizations that offer continuing education and national certification as perks.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Counseling

The term counseling refers to using a variety of techniques that strive to help a client grow emotionally, adjust to life's challenges, cope with a loss or deal with childhood issues. Counseling professionals are psychologists, therapists and social workers.

I recommend: Find Counseling defines the term counseling.

Specialty statement or niche specialty listing

Mental health professionals who want to join a counseling organization are often asked to submit a niche specialty listing or a specialty statement. This is a written statement by the professional declaring his or her specialty in the mental health field or the special training and experiences he or she has.

I recommend: Counseling Seattle discusses niche specialty listings and gives examples for mental health professionals to use.

Public interest

Public interest refers to mental health organizations that seek to promote the practice of psychology and counseling to improve human welfare, health-care systems and the treatment of mental illnesses.

I recommend: The American Psychological Association describes its public interest mission.

Continuing education

Continuing education (CE) or continuing education units (CEU) are required for most mental health professionals to maintain their license or certification. CE or CEUs are courses that mental health professionals take to continue their professional development and learning, and stay current with new techniques and practices. Many mental health organizations offer CE credits at a discounted rate to their members.

I recommend: To learn more about CE credits and view course listings, take a look at CEU-Hours.

National counselor certification

The national counselor certification assures the public that the counselor has met the national standards set for counselors by other counselors, not legislators.

I recommend: The National Board for Certified Counselors explains the national counselor certification and the benefits it provides.

License

Most mental health counseling organizations require their members to be licensed. Having a license is different than having a certification, in that a license is what a mental health counselor or a social worker must have to legally practice.

I recommend: To find out more about license requirements by state, and the difference between a license and a certification, visit American Counseling Association.