The Best Resources for Mental Health Professionals
Are you a psychologist, social worker, counsellor, or mental health professional looking to improve the way you work?
Gone are the days of a trek to the library to find a small section in an encyclopaedia or searching through outdated books and journals for answers. These days, you can find a wealth of information and stay up-to-date with the latest industry news at the click of a button using your PC, laptop, or smartphone.
No matter where you live if you’re a mental health professional in need of some support, there are online options that you can dig into right now. And while there are brilliant resources across the globe, today, we’re focusing on the best options available in:
Live somewhere else? There are still some valuable resources for mental health professionals here that are worth a look, wherever you are in the world.
Here’s a round-up of the best resources for mental health professionals.
Australia
Australian therapists, there’s a wealth of incredible resources just a click away:
Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA)
The Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia is a professional association for Australia’s counsellors and psychologists. Their goal is to respect diversity in the field, offer support training and research, foster a professional identity, and ensure public accountability.
PACFA has branches and colleges across Australia, running short courses and hosting in-person events and major conferences every two years. You can opt for online modules, webinars, and accredited courses.
One of the benefits of the PACFA website is that it offers some excellent reports, research papers, and literature reviews that are free to download and perfect for student resources.
Resources: Publications | PACFA
Professional Development: Education | PACFA
Australian Counselling Association
The Australian Counselling Association has 12 years in the business, publishing their premium journal for counsellors and psychologists across Australia.
With over 8000 readers per edition, the journal is available for delivery in full color, high gloss quality paper copy, or as a PDF.
The association hosts many different events, including conferences and workshops that you can find on their website.
Publication: Journal | ACA
Professional Development: Education | ACA
The Australian Clinical Psychology Association (ACPA)
The Australian Clinical Psychology Association (ACPA) has a range of resources for its members.
Beyond being added to their directory, their 20,000 members have access to thousands of academic journals, databases, and video training programs.
Not only is membership a networking opportunity, but you can attend video conferences, workshops, training, and access resources at a reduced cost.
If you’re a student, there’s great news- student membership is free!
Resources: News | ACPA
Professional Development: Events | ACPA
Australian Psychological Society (APS)
The Australian Psychological Society (APS) is a professional association for psychologists practicing in Australia. They are the largest professional body for psychologists in the country, with over 27,000 members.
They have a member’s only publication called InPsych, which has extensive insight into a wealth of topics. There are a limited number of articles available to the general public.
Furthermore, APS offers many professional development opportunities. Members have access to an online learning portal, eLearning, live webinars, learning on demand, and supervised training.
Joining the Australian Psychological Society can be done online. You’ll need to send your academic transcripts and fill out an online application that takes about 10 minutes.
Members-Only Publication: InPsych | APS
Professional Development: Education | APS
Australian Association of Psychologists Inc
The Australian Association of Psychologists Inc (AAPi) was formed in 2010 with the aim to represent a united voice for psychologists, uphold the standards of the profession, and advocate for improved access to professional psychology services. Their guiding values of democracy, unity, and diversity drive their initiatives and overall vision.
AAPi offers many professional development activities, such as live and on-demand online workshops, journals, videos, and webinars.
Members can also take advantage of discounted or complimentary indemnity insurance, depending on whether they are a student or fully qualified practitioners.
Member Resources: Resources | AAPi
Professional Development: Webinar Library | AAPi
United Kingdom
The UK has some wonderful resources for mental health practitioners; here are a few top picks:
The British Psychological Society
The British Psychological Society has resources available for members and some for the public.
They host regular conferences and webinars on a wide range of fascinating topics, but they come with a fee. Non-members are welcome to join, but members receive a massive discount.
For the latest news in the UK industry and abroad, follow their magazine, The Psychologist, where a monthly issue is released.
If you’re looking to hone your skills, the British Psychological Society has a brilliant Personal Development Program worth looking at.
Publication: The Psychologist | BPS
Training: Professional Development | BPS
British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy
The British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) runs through the motto that counselling changes lives.
BACP runs networking events, conferences, and talks in various parts of the UK and online webinars for easier access. They regularly update their events calendar.
Their magazine, Therapy Today, is released monthly in print and digital versions. Members receive a magazine delivered to their door, and non-members can subscribe to the digital or print version.
Publication: Therapy Today | BACP
Professional Development: Events | BACP
UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP)
The UK Council for Psychotherapy offers a wealth of knowledge for members of the public and therapists alike. They aim to regulate the profession and promote access to therapy for all.
UKCP doesn’t offer direct training but will guide you in the direction of leading providers. In addition, they host a number of professional podcasts and events on various interesting topics.
Professional Development: Psychotherapy Training | UKCP
British Association for Behavioural & Cognitive Psychotherapy (BABCP)
The British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy (BABCP) is a leading organisation that focuses specifically on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and works in the UK and Ireland.
You can access accreditation for a fee in order to practice as a registered therapist in the field. What’s more, BABCP runs a brilliant program of online workshops and webinars that can be accessed from all over the globe.
Publication: Journals | BABCP
Professional Development: Events | BABCP
United States
United States-based therapists and mental health professionals, it’s your turn. Here’s a list of resources worth reviewing in 2022:
American Psychological Association (APA)
The American Psychological Association (APA) aims to promote mental health awareness as a priority. They believe that successful leaders should promote mental health amongst their workers.
APA has an events calendar where you can join talks, meetings, conferences, seminars, and workshops on the latest industry developments by leading professionals across the country.
Their monitor on psychology advertises the leading industry news, and you can even download past copies from their website.
Lastly, their educational resources are brilliant for those studying or wanting to improve their skills.
Publication: Monitor on Psychology |APA
Professional Development: Education and Career | APA
American Counseling Association
The American Counseling Association is a jam-packed resource for mental health professionals across the US.
Their knowledge center provides information on industry ethics and licensing requirements and has some great resources to explore.
In addition to educational opportunities, ACA has a huge publications section where you can find their magazine, Counseling Today, book proposals, journals, and newsletters, all neatly cataloged.
Publication: Counseling Today
Professional Development: Continuing Education | ACA
American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT)
The American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT) is a professional association for therapists that focus on family matters.
They have a wide range of resources to help those looking to enter the field, as well as established professionals.
Their publication, Family Therapy Magazine, is released every second month and can be downloaded from the AAMFT website. It boasts a readership of approximately 24,000 and is open to ideas for featured topics.
You can use the site to apply for accreditation and find career opportunities. Their large library of webinars is available for free and on-demand.
Publication: Family Therapy Magazine | AAMFT
Professional Development: BUILD Your Career and Webinars |AAMFT
American School Counselor Association
Well, the name speaks for itself. The American School Counselor Association is a hub providing various resources for therapists working in the educational sector.
You can join their online network, access outstanding educational resources, and join live or virtual events, including their annual conference held in Austin, Texas.
Publications: Magazines – American School Counselor Association | ASCA
In Conclusion
While this is a limited list of resources available for mental health professionals, we know that there’s a lot of great information out there.
If you have a professional resource you can’t live without, we’d love to hear from you! Pop us an email at [email protected].