National Psychology Training Consortium

Course Description and Target Audience

The presentation is focused on the topic of self-care for psychologists. The presentation will include three primary focus areas. The first is prompting self-assessment of participants' own personal and professional distress, as well as their current self-care regimen. The presentation will then discuss the research on burnout, vicarious traumatization, and problems with competency. Research on self-care will also be discussed. The third focus area is intended to suggest a framework and specific strategies to allow attendees to create a personalized self-care action plan. Prompts and time will be provided for the attendees to create such a plan and therefore leave with actionable next steps. All mental health professionals are the target audience; some specific elements specific to psychology trainees are also included, but the overall presentation is applicable to all mental health providers.

The topic is useful to any mental health provider, as effective self-care is an ethical imperative for psychologists and psychologists are at particular risk for burnout and vicarious traumatization (Carter & Barnett, 2014) which would certainly impact their ability to practice (Warlick et al., 2020; Collins & Cassill, 2022). 18 different references are utilized, most of which are peer-reviewed research, and 15 of which were published within the last 10 years. The limitations are primarily that there is always more research needed on the topic of self-care, especially with varying groups of people (e.g., trainees, psychologists at varying career levels, those with marginalized identities). There are no known risks associated with this training.

There is a specific emphasis throughout the presentation on individual needs - every participant's risk factors for burnout or vicarious traumatization will be different as will their most effective methods of self-care. Research regarding diversity factors and their relation to burnout are discussed. The concepts are placed within the context of our inherent systems of power that will affect everyone differently; those with marginalized identities may need to work harder to achieve the same self-care results as compared to those with privilege.

Learning Objectives

• Participants will be able to describe the current status of their personal/professional distress, as well as their current self-care regimen.
• Participants will be able to explain their own risk factors for burnout, vicarious traumatization, and problems with competency.
• Participants will be able to explain why engagement in self-care is considered an ethical imperative.
• Participants will be able to list their own SMART goals within their personalized self-care action plan.

Presenter Information

Dr. Melissa Webb is a MO licensed psychologist who currently serves as the Director of Psychology Training at Compass Health Network. Dr. Webb has provided a variety of clinical services, including individual therapy and psychological assessment across the lifespan, as well as within outpatient community mental health, integrated health care, and correctional settings. Currently, her primary focus is management of Compass Health's training program, including mentorship and supervision of students at all levels of training. Dr. Webb has attended a variety of trainings on the topic of self-care, and considers it to be an area of special interest with regard to trainee and psychologist functioning.

Video Homestudy Format

CE’s for this homestudy training will be earned through completing the following tasks:

• Watch the presentation video and review all provided documents in their entirety.
• Pass the post-test questionnaire with at least 80% correct.

A program evaluation form will be provided to all who registered following the training. Please be sure to complete this form since your feedback helps direct future CE programming from our organization.

Registration Cost

This cost includes video links, materials, and tests required to obtain CE’s. Your CE certificate will be made available to you upon successful completion of the training (80% or higher on exam).

National Psychology Training Consortium (NPTC) is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. NPTC maintains responsibility for this program and its content.