CPD Training for Counsellors: Why is it Important?

There is a lot of work that goes into becoming a professional counsellor, starting with time at school, followed by gaining practical experience before becoming fully accredited. There are some counsellors who believe that they can simply settle into their chosen profession and get to work at that point, but the best professionals are those who never rest on their laurels. For those looking to excel in their chosen career, continuing professional development (CPD) is the way to go. CPD is important for countless different reasons, some of which we are going to discuss below.

Not only does counselling CPD benefit the professional, it also benefits the people that they choose to help. The reality is that the counselling standards that are in place today may not be the same 5 weeks or 5 years from now, which is why professionals need to stay on top of any and all changes that are brought into action. CPD training will also ensure that you will be able to keep up with the latest news and knowledge concerning your industry. This is something else that is in a constant state of flux, and failing to keep up with the most current changes means falling behind the competition.

While some counsellors choose to work alone in their own private chamber, many more operate as part of a team. If you are the only person on that team who does not have counselling continuing professional development training, it will be impossible to stay on the same page as the rest of the group. When that happens, it is the client or patient who ends up suffering, as they will not be receiving the best possible care. People who choose counselling as a career do so in order to help as many people as possible, and that can only be done when your skill and knowledge levels are up to date.

No matter how much you love your job, there can be times when it gets boring or unsatisfying. When you get into these periods of stagnation, learning new techniques and ways of thinking can help break you out of that torpor. With counselling continuing professional development, you are introduced to these new ideas, which will help you glean a better understanding of your profession. It’s tough to become bored with what you do if you are always learning something new.

We are really just scratching the surface of the benefits you can receive when entering into counselling CPD, as the list is almost endless. The important thing to remember here is that while continuing to gather knowledge about your profession is important for career advancement, it is perhaps more important to the people that you serve on a daily basis. It is those people who need help who will get the most out of you. You would be totally up to date on the techniques and advice that can help them out of a problematic situation.