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Pathways to Success:
Professional Development Throughout the Career-Span

Dedication

At a professional meeting much like ours, someone was standing by a door and asking passersby “Are you just passing by, or are you going somewhere?” My friend, who was so greeted, told me the story. He was stuck by the simplicity of the words, the profundity of the question.

Are we here at the American Psychological Association Convention merely passing by or are we going somewhere? Are we just passing time at APA or will APA go somewhere through our leadership. Will we make a difference?”

We each face this challenge in our professional lives on a daily basis, in our commitments to our patients, their families, the schools, universities, hospitals agencies and organizations we serve. What are our values and ideals? Who will pass them on to the next generation?

One such individual who made a difference was a psychologist named Lewis W. Field, PhD. He did not merely pass by. He chose a career path that clearly and consistently demonstrated that he would make a difference through his leadership, and his leadership changed my life.When I met Lew he was Membership Chair of the American Society of Psychologists in Private Practice, and shortly thereafter became the President and the Society became the Division of Independent Practice. It was through his leadership and encouragement that I got involved with the Society and the Division.

Lew died earlier this year. I would like to recognize Dr Lewis Field’s many contributions to professional practice by dedicating this symposium to him.

Introduction

The independent practice of clinical psychology and psychotherapy can be very rewarding and deeply satisfying. Yet, when clinicians fail to maintain a balance in their lives among work, family and leisure, they are vulnerable to stress, anxiety and burnout.

This symposium will focus on professional development throughout the career span. We will address the issues of supervision, continuing education, peer supervision and consultation, and ongoing professional development from a variety of perspectives of independent practitioners, from student to senior psychologist.

We will be addressing issues such as the importance of continuing professional development and education at each stage of our career to enhance clinical effectiveness and ethical practices, prevent professional obsolescence and burnout, and prepare for changes in the profession to ensure competence, survival and success.

In Ellen Baker’s book Caring for Ourselves: A Therapist’s Guide to Personal and Professional Well-Being (2003) she argues that self-care is an ethical and professional imperative. We will also discuss some of the ways we attempt to achieve balance between our professional and personal/family lives and how it contributes to our functioning as independent practitioners.

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