Continuing education is an essential part of being a therapist. Whether you take professional development trainings because you’re a lifelong learner or because your regulatory body or licensing board requires it of you, the cost can add up. If you’ve searched for therapy trainings online, you’ve probably noticed some pretty hefty price tags associated with them and finding affordable and cost-friendly therapy training courses is no small feat.
That’s why I wrote this article, to share with you a cost-friendly therapy training resource.
If you’ve been in the field for a while, you’ve probably have heard of PESI.
But if case you haven’t, here’s a little background: PESI is a non-profit organization based out of the United States that aims to provide affordable online training. PESI offers a variety therapy-focused training courses that are accepted for continuing education hours by many regulatory bodies and licensing boards. You may wish to check with your regulatory body to determine if they accept PESI courses for CEC hours.
I’ve taken PESI courses and I love them! For me, I’m all about doing things on my time. I love that the PESI trainings are pre-recorded so that I can listen to the lessons when and where I want. I usually listen to lesson while walking my dogs.
If you’re scrambling to get your continuing education hours in before year end, here’s 5 cost-friendly therapy training courses that PESI offers:
(1) Complex Trauma Certification Training with Janina Fisher
(According to PESI Website you can earn up to 47.75 CE Hours)
As therapists, we are no strangers to working with clients who have experienced trauma. But not all of us, have the tools to navigate complex trauma. Having a deeper understanding of complex trauma, triggers and having the tools to help clients heal can be a game-changer.
PESI offers a Complex Trauma Certification Training Course. According to the PESI website, this training gives you with the neurobiological background of the impacts of trauma and trauma-informed strategies to help clients take back their lives.
I’m actually enrolled in this course! And I’m slowly (but surely) making my way through.
So far, I’ve felt the course has been a great experience and Dr. Fisher makes it so easy to understand clinical concepts.
Based on the amount of continuing education hours you can receive by taking the course, it appears to be one of the most comprehensive trainings that I’ve listed in this article.
Check out the Complex Trauma Certification Training by Clicking Here.
(2) How the Body Keeps the Score Intensive Trauma Treatment Course by Dr. Bessel Van Der Kolk
(According to PESI Website you can earn up to 14.5 CE Hours)
Ever heard of the book The Body Keeps the Score?
It’s probably one of the most referenced book in the trauma field and the book even has a 4.47 star rating on Goodreads.com [1]. The book’s author, Dr. Bessel Van Der Kolk is one of the most well-known trauma experts in the field. (I’m pretty sure that I even cited his work in my first ever social work assignment).
PESI offers a course by Dr. Bessel Van Der Kolk called How the Body Keeps the Score Intensive Trauma Treatment Course. According to the PESI website, in the course you’ll learn how past trauma reshapes the brain and shows through physical experience as well as practical strategies for incorporating various therapeutic modalities so you can help clients heal from traumatic experiences.
Check Out How the Body Keeps the Score Intensive Trauma Treatment Course by Clicking Here.
(3) Certified ADHD Professional (ADHD-CCSP) Intensive Training Course: Evidence-Based Strategies for Managing ADHD Across the Lifespan
(According to PESI Website you can earn up to 30 CE Hours)
Understanding neurodivergence is important for therapists, whether you’re working with children, teens or adults. In Canada, Attention Deficient Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), a neurodevelopmental condition, affects between 5 and 9 percent of children and between 3 and 5 percent of adults [2]. As a result, regardless of your private practice niche, you may work with clients who experience divergent thinking.
Understanding the neuroscience behind ADHD and evidence-based interventions for supporting those with the diagnosis, can help clients move towards their therapeutic goals. According to the PESI website, when you take this training, you’ll learn the approaches, interventions and strategies to effectively work with clients who are living with ADHD.
Check out the Certified ADHD Professional Intensive Training Course by Clicking Here.
(4) Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) Intensive Online Course
(According to PESI Website you can earn up to 23.75 CE Hours)
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) “encourages people to embrace their thoughts and feelings rather than fighting for feeling guilty for them” [3] ACT is known as one of the therapeutic modalities that are now considered the third wave of Cognitive Behavioural Therapies [4]. In my opinion, in recent years, ACT has taken the therapy world by storm. According to the PESI website, in this training, you’ll learn both theoretical and practical strategies for using ACT with clients.
As a therapist who uses ACT as my therapeutic approach of choice, I definitely support any therapist who wants to grow their arsenal of modalities and learn ACT.
Check Out the Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Intensive Online Course by Clicking Here.
(5) Internal Family Systems: A step-by-step guide through clinical application of the IFS model
(According to PESI Website you can earn up to 12.75 CE Hours)
If you’ve taken (or are taking) social work courses, you’re likely no stranger to Family Systems theory. Internal Family Systems (IFS) is a therapeutic modality that is rooted in Family Systems theory.
PESI offers an Internal Family Systems Course. According to the PESI website, this training teaches you the foundations of IFS and its clinical application when working with clients.
This course is definitely the next therapy course on my bucket list!
Check out the Internal Family Systems course by Clicking Here.
There you have it, 5 cost-friendly therapy training courses to get your continuing education hours before year end.
Want a complete review of PESI courses and its platform?
Check out Are PESI Courses Worth it? A PESI Training Review.
Disclaimer #1:
Any links, referrals or promotional codes listed may be affiliate links where Evaspare Inc. may receive a small monetary compensation, at no extra cost you, when you click or use links or promotional codes.
Disclaimer #2:
This blog contains informational purposes only and is not a personal review. I have not personally taken all of the trainings listed in this article.
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References
[1] Goodreads (n.d.). The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, And Body in the Healing of Trauma. Retrieved on November 12, 2022 from https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18693771-the-body-keeps-the-score
[2] Centre for ADHD Awareness Canada (n.d.). What is ADHD. Retrieved on November 12, 2022 from https://caddac.ca/about-adhd/in-general/
[3] Ackerman, C.E. (2017, March 1). How does acceptance and commitment therapy work? Retrieved on November 17, 2022 from https://positivepsychology.com/act-acceptance-and-commitment-therapy/
[4] Hayes, S.C. & Hofmann, S.G. (2017). The third wave of cognitive behavioral therapy and the rise of process-based care. World Psychiatry, 16(3), 245-246. DOI: 10.1002/wps.20442.